Ahead of its official review embargo, Ninja Gaiden 4 has received its first round of early reviews—and the critical response so far is overwhelmingly positive. Two outlets, both based in Arabic regions, published their assessments before the embargo was officially lifted, giving fans an unexpected early look at how Team Ninja and PlatinumGames’ highly anticipated action title is being received.
One of the earliest reviews comes from Digitale Anime, where critic Raouf Belhamra awarded the game an impressive score of 9.5 out of 10, describing it as “A successful return of a legendary title.” Belhamra praised the collaborative effort between Team Ninja and PlatinumGames for “redefining precise, masterful combat” while blending “Japanese rigor with modern cinematic flair.” The review lauded Ninja Gaiden 4 for rewarding player skill and punishing complacency, asserting that it restores “action to its original place in an age of simplification.”
Another Arabic publication reportedly rated the game 8.5 out of 10, further reinforcing the notion that Ninja Gaiden 4 is shaping up to be a major comeback for one of gaming’s most respected action franchises. Both reviews appeared to have gone live due to a timezone discrepancy, as the official embargo is not scheduled to lift until October 20, 2025, one day before the game’s global release. According to the official Metacritic Twitter account, the embargo is expected to end at 7 AM PDT / 10 AM EDT / 3 PM BST / 4 PM CEST, at which point a full wave of international reviews will go public.
Ninja Gaiden 4 launches worldwide on October 21, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam, with full support for cross-platform play. The title will also be available on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass from day one, giving subscribers immediate access to its high-intensity ninja combat at no additional cost.
Developed jointly by Team Ninja and PlatinumGames, the fourth installment marks the first mainline entry in the franchise in over a decade. Early impressions suggest the game successfully modernizes Ninja Gaiden’s punishing yet rewarding combat style while maintaining the depth and speed that defined its predecessors. The inclusion of cinematic storytelling and enhanced visuals powered by current-generation hardware adds further polish to what appears to be a confident and revitalized direction for the series.
With the review embargo lifting imminently, the broader critical consensus will soon determine whether Ninja Gaiden 4 lives up to its early acclaim. If these initial impressions are any indication, however, the legendary series may have finally reclaimed its throne in the action genre—proving that Ryu Hayabusa’s blade remains as sharp as ever.
