Best Team Ninja Games – Investment Policy

As a long-time fan, what I’ve always loved about Team Ninja games is how satisfying the combat is – it really takes skill to get good, but it’s so worth it! They’ve definitely taken inspiration from the popularity of games like Dark Souls, and Nioh and Wo Long show that off, but honestly, their amazing combat goes way back before those titles. They’ve been crafting incredible fighting systems for years!

For about thirty years, Team Ninja has created some truly outstanding action games, and they’re still making them! While their stories aren’t always the main attraction, Team Ninja consistently delivers incredible gameplay that stands the test of time. With the release of Nioh 3, let’s take a look at the games that have made Team Ninja so well-known.

Ninja Gaiden 4 is not included, as PlatinumGames handled the majority of the development.

10. Hyrule Warriors

Team Ninja’s Zelda Musou Is Filled With Great Fanservice, But It Is Still A Musou Game

Hyrule Warriors combines the familiar world and characters of The Legend of Zelda with the intense, large-scale battles of the Dynasty Warriors series. It’s a fun game that pays tribute to both franchises. Like other Dynasty Warriors titles, the game features a huge cast of playable characters, each with their own unique flair, even though they generally play in a similar way.

Unlike Team Ninja’s other games, Hyrule Warriors has a straightforward and fast-paced combat system, letting players quickly defeat large groups of enemies. This simplicity is both the game’s strength and what causes some disagreement among players. Compared to Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity and Imprisonment, Team Ninja’s version feels most like a traditional Warriors game with a Zelda theme.

9. Stranger Of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin

A “So Bad, It Is Kind Of Good” Story Accompanied By A Kick-ass Combat System

Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin, a game made by Team Ninja and Square Enix, was initially mocked for its over-the-top focus on the character Chaos. However, this quirkiness actually became part of its appeal. The protagonist, Jack, is remarkably aggressive – and that surprisingly fits his true identity.

The game is a quick and exciting action RPG, drawing inspiration from the challenging ‘Souls-like’ genre and the ‘Final Fantasy’ series. While the environments can be a bit dull – a frequent criticism of games made by Team Ninja – the game compensates with non-stop action, enjoyable combat, and memorable boss fights. One of its strongest features is how it reimagines the job system from ‘Final Fantasy’, letting players combine different character classes to completely change Jack’s abilities. Despite some shortcomings, the combat is excellent and deserves to be refined in future installments.

8. Fire Emblem Warriors

One Of The Greatest Warriors Games Ever

Similar to Hyrule Warriors, Fire Emblem Warriors was created through a partnership between Nintendo and Team Ninja. It’s a fast-paced action game where you battle large groups of enemies in a chaotic and satisfying way.

It’s really fun to play as characters from the Fire Emblem series in this action-packed game, and it feels more connected to the source material than Hyrule Warriors. What makes this crossover special is the ability to give simple tactical commands during battles to capture objectives and take down important enemies – it adds an authentic Fire Emblem feel to the fast-paced combat.

7. Rise of the Ronin

Team Ninja’s First Open-World RPG Was A Mixed Bag, But The Good Outweighs The Bad

I debated between including Rise of the Ronin and Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty. While Wo Long might be a technically better game on its own, it feels too similar to the Nioh series and doesn’t stand out. Rise of the Ronin, however, has a more unique feel that distinguishes it from Team Ninja’s other games, even though being their first open-world title means it’s not without its issues.

Instead of relying on supernatural elements, Rise of the Ronin is firmly rooted in Japanese history, leading to a story that takes center stage more than in many of the developer’s previous games. While the story isn’t groundbreaking, it’s much easier to follow than the complicated plot of Nioh 2. What really stands out, though, is the excellent combat. The game features a stance system that encourages players to learn all the different fighting styles, and offers a wide variety of ways to approach battles. While similar to Team Ninja’s recent soulslike games, Rise of the Ronin focuses on adapting to opponents, reading their movements, managing stamina, and taking a more measured, deliberate approach to combat.

6. Nioh

The Fantastic Game That Started Team Ninja’s Soulslike Era

Nioh is likely the most well-known Soulslike game not made by FromSoftware. It helped Team Ninja regain popularity after a period of working on licensed titles like Hyrule Warriors and Dead or Alive, and after the unsuccessful release of Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z. Players control William, a skilled samurai who is both incredibly powerful and vulnerable – enemies can defeat him quickly, just as he can defeat them.

In the game, you’ll fight a variety of enemies, from ordinary people to powerful supernatural beings that can quickly defeat you. Nioh features a complex combat system that encourages players to learn and combine different techniques, including a diverse selection of weapons and innovative mechanics like the Ki Pulse.

Nioh is Team Ninja’s most significant game since Ninja Gaiden. However, unlike the original Ninja Gaiden, Nioh isn’t as enjoyable to play again now that its sequels, particularly Nioh 2, are available.

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5. Nioh 3

Team Ninja Pushes Nioh Into An Exciting New Direction

I might be biased because I just finished it, but Nioh 3 is fantastic! It builds on everything that made Nioh 2 a top-tier action RPG, but it’s also willing to try new things, and those risks largely succeed. Instead of separate missions, Nioh 3 features larger, open areas divided into zones you complete in order. This allows for more exploration, side quests, and a richer story that flows much better than before.

The game’s combat has been revamped, most notably with the addition of Samurai and Ninja fighting styles. The Samurai style plays similarly to previous Nioh games, while the Ninja style feels inspired by Ninja Gaiden, but adapted to fit Nioh 3. Instead of switching weapons mid-fight, players now switch between these two distinct classes, each with unique advantages, disadvantages, and best-use situations. While some weapons are exclusive to the Ninja class, which can be frustrating, the ability to create and utilize two different character builds simultaneously adds a lot of depth. The game encourages players to try out both styles and find what works best for them, rather than sticking to just one.

4. Ninja Gaiden 2

Team Ninia Didn’t Improve On Perfection, But NG2 Came Pretty Darn Close

I was so hyped after the first Ninja Gaiden, and Ninja Gaiden 2 definitely delivered as a sequel! For a long time, it felt like the last really great game in the series. They took what worked in the first one and really ramped up the speed and visual flair of the combat, while also making it slightly easier to pick up. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still tough – even on normal, you’re going to be challenged!

Ninja Gaiden 2 is still a fantastic action game, but it leans more into fast-paced, over-the-top combat than the original Ninja Gaiden Black. This means it’s not quite as mechanically precise. Although generally easier than Ninja Gaiden Black, Ninja Gaiden 2 can sometimes feel unfair, with sudden difficulty jumps caused by too many enemies or attacks that are hard to predict.

Just to be clear, all the above are relatively minor nitpicks, as NG2 is awesome.

3. Dead Or Alive 3

A Groundbreaking Fighting Game In An Underrated Series

The Dead or Alive series is a bit unusual, often remembered for its Xtreme beach volleyball games and its emphasis on appealing character designs. But don’t let that fool you – the main DOA fighting games are consistently among the best of their time. If you enjoy fast-paced fighting action, they’re essential, especially if you find Mortal Kombat or Street Fighter a little slow.

Today, Dead or Alive 5 and 6 are the most popular choices and both offer fantastic experiences. However, looking back at each game when it was first released, Dead or Alive 2 and Dead or Alive 3 were truly the high points of the series. Many would even say that Dead or Alive was the best fighting game series available between 1999 and 2001, thanks to those two exceptional games.

Dead or Alive 3 greatly improved its counter system, making defense feel more skillful and impactful. The game’s stages weren’t just backgrounds; they actively became part of the fighting experience. For its time on the Xbox, Dead or Alive 3 was also a visually impressive game that ran very smoothly.

I chose DOA 3 to represent the entire Dead or Alive series. Otherwise, this article would have been mostly about individual games in the franchise.

2. Ninja Gaiden Black

Team Ninja’s First Masterpiece

While not the beginning of the Ninja Gaiden series or the first to use 3D graphics, the 2004 release revitalized the franchise and brought it up to date. A year later, Team Ninja released Ninja Gaiden Black, a truly exceptional action game often considered one of the best in the genre, alongside Devil May Cry. NGB differs from games like Devil May Cry by emphasizing skillful, precise combat; players need to learn and master Ryu’s many moves to effectively handle the diverse range of enemies.

NGB is a brutally difficult game that can be really frustrating, and new players will likely want to give up at times. However, the satisfying feeling of landing a perfect, one-hit-kill attack keeps you coming back. Once you learn how to play, NGB transforms from great to truly exceptional – a game that redefines its genre.

1. Nioh 2

Team Ninja’s Greatest Masterpiece

As a fan of the first Nioh, I can honestly say Nioh 2 is everything I hoped for in a sequel! The combat, which was already great, feels even better, and they’ve added so many cool new things. One of my favorite additions is the Anima bar – being able to charge it up and unleash these awesome yokai attacks is just incredibly satisfying. It really puts Nioh 2‘s combat system up there with the best action RPGs out there!

This feature is just one example of how much Nioh 2 offers players, preparing them for the challenging journey ahead. Nioh 2 improves upon the original Nioh in every way, making it hard to go back once you’ve experienced the sequel. Beyond simply being better than the first game, Nioh 2 is packed with so much great content that players can easily spend over 50 hours exploring everything new, particularly if they get the DLC – which is highly recommended.

2026-02-10 23:39