Ninja Gaiden 4: Should You Play the Previous Games First—or Dive Right In?

So you just heard Ninja Gaiden 4 is out and now you are wondering if you have to marathon two decades of lore to keep up. Short answer: you do not. Longer answer: it helps, but it is not mandatory.

Do you need to play the older games first?

The series, primarily developed by Team Ninja, has a bunch of story threads running alongside each other. Ninja Gaiden 4 slots into the mainline series that kicked off back in 2004 on the original Xbox. That run was widely considered finished after 2012’s Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge... until Team Ninja brought the mainline back with NG4 on October 21, 2025.

Here is the important bit: the lore across these games talks to itself, but the mainline entries are built to stand alone. You can jump into NG4 without plowing through the earlier titles. If you are the type who likes extra context, sure, playing the mainline up to Razor’s Edge will add some flavor. Not mandatory, just helpful.

Who you play as this time

NG4 introduces a new lead, Yakumo. That is the headline change. But before longtime fans panic: Ryu Hayabusa is still here, still playable, and still a big deal in the story. New face at the front; franchise icon very much in the mix.

Why NG4 is getting so much buzz

This thing basically sells itself. It is one of 2025’s most polished action-adventure releases and it leans into what Team Ninja is known for: tough-as-nails combat that rewards precision. Think the same sort of brutal satisfaction you get from a FromSoftware game, with Ninja Gaiden’s speed and edge.

Here is a neat dev note: Team Ninja actually tuned NG4 to be more welcoming to newcomers than past entries. Those adjustments came after player feedback during the Xbox Showcase in June. So yes, it is still punishing, but the on-ramp is wider this time.

The combat is the reason to show up. Every encounter asks for real mastery, and NG4 brings in mechanics the series has not tried before. If you have been here since the old days, it still feels fresh. If you are new, it is a clean entry point with a very sharp learning curve.

• Mainline series began in 2004 on Xbox; widely thought to have ended with 2012’s Razor’s Edge
• Mainline revived with Ninja Gaiden 4 on October 21, 2025
• New protagonist: Yakumo; Ryu Hayabusa remains playable and story-important
• Lore is connected, but NG4 works on its own; prior games are optional homework
• Signature difficulty intact; more accessible after feedback at the Xbox Showcase in June
• New combat mechanics inject fresh ideas for veterans
• Platforms: PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S
• Developer: Team Ninja (primary)