7 Most Unusual Naruto Games

Key Takeaways

Naruto video games span various genres beyond fighting games, including RPGs, open world experiences, and hack & slash adventures.
Some unusual Naruto games include a board game, an adventure with a realistic art-style, and an action title with a focus on elemental dragons.
Ubisoft developed Xbox 360 exclusives Rise of a Ninja and The Broken Bond, standing out for mechanics and art style.

As someone who’s spent countless hours immersed in the world of Naruto, I must say that these spin-offs truly show the versatility of this beloved franchise. From hack and slash adventures to chibi fighting games and even an MMORPG, it seems there’s no end to the Naruto experience!

Video games based on the Naruto franchise are abundant, given its global popularity as a leading shōnen action series. While many associate it with 3D fighting games like the Ultimate Ninja Storm series, this intellectual property has been transformed into numerous other game genres as well.

Over the years, the Naruto manga has been around since 1999, giving it plenty of time to venture into various video game genres. Some of the games developed are quite unconventional and surprising, either due to their unique art styles, compelling original stories, or distinctive gameplay mechanics. Here’s a list of the 7 most unusual video games in the Naruto franchise.

7 Konoha Ninpōchō

The First Naruto Game Was Made For An Obscure System

Platform(s): WonderSwan Color
Released: March 27, 2003
Developer(s): Bandai
Genre: RPG

Every big anime franchise’s video game adaptations need a beginning, and Naruto wasn’t any different. The young ninja’s initial step into the digital world was the 2003 game titled Naruto: Konoha Ninpōchō. This game was available only in Japan and was exclusively designed for Bandai’s lesser-known WonderSwan Color handheld device.

The initial Naruto game deviated from typical action-adventure or fighter genres, instead offering a distinctive Role-Playing Game (RPG) experience centered around scrolls containing various Jutsu. Its gameplay was intricate for its era and console, boasting detailed character sprites and environments that were more elaborate than anticipated. Regrettably, due to its limited availability and age, the game known as Konoha Ninpōchō has become largely inaccessible to many fans, fading into obscurity over time.

6 Shinobi no Sato no Jintori Kassen

Naruto Finally Arrived To Home Consoles… With A Board Game

Platform(s): PlayStation
Released: June 26, 2003
Developer(s): Dimps, Denyusha Co., Ltd.
Genre: Board game, Party game

Following the unveiling of Konoha Ninpōchō, it took a few months for the series to grace home consoles. The PlayStation 1 welcomed Naruto: Village Hidden in the Leaves – Jinchūriki Battle! as its first installment. However, what left many fans astounded was that this wasn’t your typical action-packed game, but rather a tactical board game experience instead.

In the game “Shinobi no Sato no Jintori Kassen“, players aim to conquer their opponent’s home base through a process of rolling a random number and navigating various themed boards. Although it isn’t a terrible game, some find it sluggish and lackluster, which is surprising given the creative nature of the “Naruto” franchise. Due to these shortcomings, this board game is not particularly well-regarded among fans.

5 Uzumaki Chronicles

An Adventure Game With A Questionable Art Style

Platform(s): PlayStation 2
Released: November 16, 2006
Developer(s): Cavia
Genre: Action, Adventure

Among the Naruto PlayStation 2 releases, the title “Uzumaki Chronicles” is undeniably one of the fan favorites. However, it’s important to note that this semi-open world game stands out as quite unusual, particularly due to its departure from the cel-shaded graphics featured in earlier titles. Instead, it opts for a more realistic art style and a muted color palette that seems incongruous with the vibrant aesthetic typically found within this franchise.

Thankfully, later installments in the Uzumaki Chronicles subseries returned to a more traditional, comical art style. An unusual characteristic of the initial Uzumaki Chronicles is that the English version of the game edited and omitted content from arcs that weren’t released internationally at the time, such as Naruto’s famous Rasengan technique being renamed to Power Strike.

4 Rise of a Ninja / The Broken Bond

An Xbox 360 Exclusive Developed By Ubisoft

Platform(s): Xbox 360
Released: October 30, 2007
Developer(s): Ubisoft Montreal
Genre: Action, Adventure

Fans frequently regard “Naruto: Rise of a Ninja” and its sequel “Naruto: The Broken Bond” as among the finest titles in the series, thanks to their complex mechanics, enjoyable gameplay, visually appealing graphics that faithfully emulate the anime’s art style, and thrilling boss battles. These games also remarkably adapt the storylines of several early “Naruto” arcs, making them an excellent means for re-immersing oneself in these tales.

What sets both “Rise of a Ninja” and “The Broken Bond” apart isn’t their stories, but rather the circumstances under which they were created. These were the first Naruto video games to be developed by a non-Japanese studio – Ubisoft Montreal, who also launched the first Assasin’s Creed that same year. What’s more, these titles were exclusive to Xbox 360, making Naruto a significant figure in the console battles during the seventh generation.

3 Dragon Blade Chronicles

A Hack And Slash Game With A Big Focus On Dragons

Platform(s): Nintendo Wii
Released: November 12, 2009
Developer(s): Tomy
Genre: Action

Naruto Shippuden: Dragon Blade Chronicles has gained notoriety among fans as one of the most unusual games within the entire Naruto series. To begin with, it features an unconventional storyline that isn’t part of the canon, introducing the concept of Genryū – a group of dragons with western-style elements. Although this idea is intriguing, it does feel somewhat disjointed in a world primarily focused on ninjas.

However, one distinctive feature of Dragon Blade Chronicles is its combat system, which deviates from Naruto’s usual fist-fighting style by emphasizing the use of bladed weapons. This unconventional approach has raised eyebrows among players. Ultimately, this game can be categorized as a hack-and-slash adventure with a Naruto theme, but some argue that it wasn’t necessary to tie it to the classic manga series and, unfortunately, received unfavorable reviews from both critics and fans alike.

2 SD Powerful Shippūden

A Bizarre Portable Fighting Game With Chibi Characters

Platform(s): Nintendo 3DS
Released: March 5, 2013
Developer(s): CyberConnect2
Genre: Action, Fighting

Among the numerous action and fighting games based on the Naruto IP, it can be challenging to follow them all. However, among these, Naruto SD Powerful Shippuden stands out as the most unique, primarily because of its humorous style.

In contrast to most Naruto fighters, this game adopts a more lighthearted approach. It showcases a humorous and exaggerated art style with chibi versions of familiar characters, and incorporates plenty of comical slapstick into its battles. What’s more, SD Powerful Shippūden was designed specifically for the Nintendo 3DS, making it one of the rare Naruto fighting games made exclusively for a handheld system.

1 Ultimate Ninja Online

A Naruto MMORPG That Can Be Played On An Internet Browser

Platform(s): Internet Browser, iOS, Android
Released: July 20, 2016
Developer(s): Namco Bandai Games, Cyberconnect, Tencent Games
Genre: MMORPG

As a gaming enthusiast with a soft spot for anime, it’s not uncommon to fantasize about stepping into my favorite fictional realms, especially those from the Naruto universe, through a massively multiplayer online role-playing game. Little did I know that the Naruto franchise had already taken strides in this direction with a game titled “Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Online”. Believe it or not, this was a browser-based, free-to-play game – something quite common back in the early 2010s.

Referred to casually as “Naruto Online“, this is a 2D-graphics based Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game (MMORPG) that immerses players in the universe of the iconic anime series, allowing them to engage in thrilling turn-based combats. Upon starting, players pick unique characters with distinct names such as Scarlet Blaze or Crimson Fist; however, later they can also recruit other popular characters from both the heroes and villains side. Although not the most elaborate MMORPG, “Naruto Online” remains a favorite among countless fans, experiencing a surge in popularity following its release on mobile platforms.

2024-10-14 01:54