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10 Second Ninja X

10 Second Ninja X is a masterclass in simple design over showboating.
10 Second Ninja X Game Cover
75%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
grinding, optimization
76% User Score Based on 982 reviews
Critic Score 74%Based on 24 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchXbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 5Playstation 4Xbox OneXboxWindowsPlayStationPlaystation Vita
10 Second Ninja X Game Cover

About

10 Second Ninja X is a single player arcade platformer game. It was developed by Four Circle Interactive and was released on July 18, 2016. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

10 Second Ninja X is a challenging platformer game where players control a ninja to defeat enemies within 10 seconds in each level. With over 100 levels, players can test their skills and speed, and unlock various upgrades and costumes. The game features fast-paced action, precise controls, and increasing difficulty, providing an exciting experience for fans of the genre.

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76%
Audience ScoreBased on 982 reviews
story47 positive mentions
grinding14 negative mentions

  • Fast-paced and addictive gameplay that challenges players to complete levels in under 10 seconds.
  • Crisp controls and clever level design that encourages strategic thinking and optimization.
  • Charming visuals and humorous story elements that enhance the overall experience.
  • Frequent crashes and bugs, particularly related to the leaderboard feature, which can disrupt gameplay.
  • High difficulty spikes that may frustrate casual players, especially when trying to achieve three-star ratings.
  • Repetitive gameplay that can become tedious, particularly when required to replay levels to unlock new content.
  • story
    176 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is generally described as simple and minimal, often taking a backseat to the gameplay, which is the main focus. While some players found the humor and quirky narrative charming, others criticized the plot as forgettable or annoying, with many noting that it could have benefited from deeper storytelling. Overall, the story is seen as a light and comedic addition that enhances the experience without being a primary draw.

    • “The premise is simple: you're a ninja on a mission to defeat a maniacal pirate who has kidnapped your friends, who have been turned into birds.”
    • “The story is limited but the humor is great, and the ending is quite nice.”
    • “The story is silly and wholesome, the characters are fun, and it all has that same charm of Newgrounds games.”
    • “The story is pretty dumb.”
    • “Sadly, the plot and humor miss the mark due to repetitive jokes that fail to land.”
    • “The story just gets in the way, too much dialogue when you just want to jump back in.”
  • gameplay
    176 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "10 Second Ninja X" is characterized by fast-paced, precision platforming combined with puzzle elements, requiring players to complete levels within a strict 10-second time limit. While the controls are generally tight and responsive, some players noted issues with input registration and a lack of variety in objectives, leading to a sense of repetitiveness during extended play sessions. Overall, the game offers addictive mechanics and a charming aesthetic, making it appealing for fans of challenging platformers, despite some execution flaws.

    • “10 Second Ninja X is the kind of game that arguably lies at the intersection between fast-paced precision platformer and puzzle game, with the puzzle taking the form of having to plan and figure out how to actually beat a given level within the time limit. The later mechanics, such as the switches, demand a bit more thinking, as well as how to further optimize your route to beat it even faster and get a 3-star rating.”
    • “At the heart of 10 Second Ninja X is its brilliantly simple yet devilishly challenging gameplay. The mechanics are straightforward: you control a ninja armed with a sword and a limited number of shurikens. The early levels serve as a tutorial, easing players into the mechanics, but the difficulty ramps up quickly.”
    • “The gameplay strikes a perfect balance between strategy and skill, rewarding those who dedicate time to mastering their techniques. Its blend of addictive gameplay, charming presentation, and relentless challenge ensures that it will keep you coming back for more, always striving to perfect your runs and achieve ninja mastery.”
    • “While the core gameplay is solid, the lack of variety in objectives can make extended play sessions feel monotonous.”
    • “The gameplay is a bit repetitive and simplistic, so I moved on from the title pretty quickly, but I can see how others could end up spending quite a bit longer with this title.”
    • “To fix this, press ignore like 10 times; this gets mad annoying after a couple of levels. The gameplay itself is okay but repetitive, and for some reason, this game is capped at 60 fps. Overall, just do not buy; it's not worth the headache.”
  • graphics
    106 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "10 Second Ninja X" are characterized by a vibrant and minimalist aesthetic that enhances the fast-paced gameplay, with many reviewers praising the colorful and charming art style. While some find the visuals simplistic or reminiscent of retro designs, they generally agree that the graphics are polished and functional, effectively supporting the game's mechanics. Overall, the art style is seen as appealing, though opinions vary on its depth and inspiration.

    • “The graphics, while simplistic, are very colorful and pleasing to the eye.”
    • “The game’s presentation is polished and charming, with crisp, colorful graphics and a whimsical art style that belies the intense challenge of the gameplay.”
    • “Visually, 10 Second Ninja X adopts a minimalist and vibrant aesthetic that matches its fast-paced, no-frills nature.”
    • “The graphic style also doesn't quite do it for me.”
    • “They didn't use retro pixel graphics but they use simple MS Paint style artwork that resembles pixel art without being pixel art.”
    • “The graphics are pretty plain and simple.”
  • humor
    67 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating its lighthearted and quirky dialogues, amusing characters, and self-aware writing. While some found the humor to be hit-or-miss or occasionally forced, many enjoyed the comedic elements woven into the gameplay and storyline, making it a charming experience overall. The fast-paced action combined with humorous interactions, particularly between the ninja and the villain, adds to the game's appeal, though some players noted that the humor may not be enough to justify its price point.

    • “It's interesting to figure out the fastest route to kill them all, and the conversations with the captain are funny!”
    • “The game doesn’t focus on delivering an elaborate narrative, but the lighthearted humor and personality-filled dialogues between the ninja and the villain captain Greatbeard create a fun and entertaining tone.”
    • “Only a few levels in and first impressions are off the charts; comedy and writing is super charming - very few but distinct and funny characters, with some nice and lighthearted comedy that hits just the right spot; art direction is fantastic; incredibly charming, consistent, and works well with the genre and gameplay.”
    • “The only thing rewarding about this game is its funny dialogue, but it's definitely not funny enough to spend $10 on it.”
    • “I mean, not that it's offensive or anything, it's just that the jokes are either lame or pretty unfunny.”
  • music
    65 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its upbeat and energetic nature that complements the fast-paced gameplay. While some find the soundtrack catchy and engaging, others criticize it for being repetitive and suggest playing their own music instead. Overall, the audio design is generally seen as solid, enhancing the game's atmosphere without being overly distracting.

    • “The energetic electronic soundtrack complements the game’s fast rhythm, keeping players engaged and motivated.”
    • “The soundtrack is upbeat and energetic, perfectly complementing the fast-paced nature of the game.”
    • “Cute art style; solid audio; awesome effin' soundtrack!!!”
    • “Whoever composed the soundtrack made some questionable choices.”
    • “My one gripe with this game is that the music got extremely repetitive, and I found myself getting triggered when hearing the same music while failing a level.”
    • “I turned off the music and sound effects pretty early on and put something relaxing on my speakers instead.”
  • replayability
    25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game boasts high replayability, driven by a star-ranking system that encourages players to refine their performance and achieve perfect scores. Features like leaderboards, time trials, and addictive gameplay mechanics enhance the replay value, appealing to both competitive players and completionists. While the core gameplay may become repetitive for some, the challenge of mastering levels and improving times keeps many players engaged for hours.

    • “Infinite replayability: the star-ranking system encourages players to refine their times, chasing the perfect execution.”
    • “The inclusion of leaderboards and time trials adds another layer of replayability, appealing to competitive players who want to see how they stack up against others globally.”
    • “The game encourages replayability, as you’ll often find yourself retrying levels to shave off precious milliseconds and improve your score.”
    • “These provide extra layers of replayability for completionists and those seeking to squeeze every ounce of enjoyment out of the game.”
    • “While there aren't so many levels, the replay value is immense as reaching 3 stars on most levels is anything but easy.”
  • grinding
    19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and repetitive, often requiring significant time investment—some players report needing upwards of 30 hours to achieve completion. Many users express frustration with input delays and simplistic animations, which exacerbate the grind, making it feel like a chore rather than an enjoyable experience. Overall, while some find it manageable, the consensus leans towards it being a burdensome element that detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.

    • “It's a little grindy, but the rewards make it worth it.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding, but the experience is incredibly rewarding.”
    • “The grind can be intense, but it adds depth to the gameplay.”
    • “For the last achievement, I started grinding around 11 hours in and finished at 39 hours.”
    • “It'll be a tedious exercise in frustration and constantly remind you of your shortcomings.”
    • “[*] The game is grindy, repetitive, and simplistic.”
  • optimization
    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while the level design is praised for its clever layouts that encourage experimentation and speed-running, many players report significant performance issues, including lag and unresponsiveness, even on capable systems. Despite these drawbacks, the addictive gameplay and potential for high-performance achievements keep players engaged. Overall, the optimization could use improvement to enhance the overall experience.

    • “Developers of modern day speed-running games design these puzzles where you have to squeeze every second of path optimization into this kind of invisible language.”
    • “Smart level design: the levels are small yet meticulously crafted to maximize difficulty and time optimization potential.”
    • “Great gameplay, design, and humor paired with extremely optimized performance makes this a fantastic 'flow state' experience.”
    • “For a game this simple, there are too many performance issues.”
    • “So many performance issues make it unplayable.”
    • “The game itself is not optimized well and has a tendency to lag, even on robust systems.”
  • stability
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game suffers from significant stability issues, with frequent crashes and freezes reported by users. Many players encounter persistent bugs, particularly in specific levels, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences. Overall, the game is described as "buggy," with erratic controls and unskippable cut-scenes exacerbating the problem.

    • “For some reason, this game randomly freezes and crashes.”
    • “The game is a little buggy; world 4 is not playable unless you repeatedly hit 'ignore' on an error popup.”
    • “One crash after another all the time when I have done a map or tried to do one. I had to play mostly in offline mode; the commands do whatever they want. For example, I move to the right, use the shuriken, move to the left, and use another shuriken. The game was moving all the time in the same direction and using the shurikens that way. Buggy movements, horrible game.”
  • character development
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is noted to be minimal and lacking depth, with some reviewers feeling that it ultimately adds little to the overall experience. While the character designs are more expressive and the worlds are visually appealing, the story and character arcs fail to engage players meaningfully. Overall, the art style and character development are seen as uninspired and predictable.

    • “The levels are filled with colorful details, and the character designs are expressive and full of personality.”
    • “Each world feels unique, and the character designs are also a lot more interesting this time around as the first game's designs weren't particularly impressive.”
    • “Although the token character development is there, it never goes anywhere.”
    • “The art style and character design are boring and obvious.”
    • “I didn't care much for the story nor the character designs considering ultimately they add practically nothing to the game.”
  • emotional
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its wholesome and charming narrative, featuring fun characters and a lighthearted story reminiscent of Newgrounds games. Players appreciate the blend of precision gameplay with an uplifting tone, highlighting the emotional resilience required to navigate its challenges. Overall, the game evokes a sense of joy and gratitude among players.

    • “Each level is a bite-sized gauntlet demanding precision, speed, and the emotional resilience of a monk.”
    • “The story is silly and wholesome, the characters are fun; it all has that same charm of Newgrounds games, and I'm all for it.”
    • “Very wholesome, thank you to the devs for making this free (at the time of posting).”
  • atmosphere
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere is characterized by vibrant pixel art and an upbeat soundtrack, which together create an immersive and energetic experience for players.

    • “Vibrant pixel art and an upbeat soundtrack create an immersive and energetic atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere is rich with detail, making every moment feel alive and engaging.”
    • “The haunting sound design and stunning visuals combine to create a truly captivating atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players.”
    • “Despite the game's potential, the atmosphere is dull and fails to evoke any real emotion.”
    • “The world feels lifeless, with minimal environmental interaction that detracts from the overall experience.”
  • monetization
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviewers suggest that the game's monetization model feels more appropriate for a free mobile game supported by ads, highlighting its structural similarities to that genre.

    • “Personally, I'd say it would have been better suited to be a free mobile game with paid advertisements, which is rather fitting given the structural similarities it carries with those types of games.”
    • “The monetization model feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without constantly being bombarded by prompts to spend money.”
    • “It's frustrating that essential features are locked behind paywalls, which detracts from the overall experience and enjoyment of the game.”
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3h Median play time
4h Average play time
3-3h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

10 Second Ninja X is a arcade platformer game.

10 Second Ninja X is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

On average players spend around 4 hours playing 10 Second Ninja X.

10 Second Ninja X was released on July 18, 2016.

10 Second Ninja X was developed by Four Circle Interactive.

10 Second Ninja X has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

10 Second Ninja X is a single player game.

Similar games include 10 Second Ninja, Cyber Hook, Polyball, N, BZZZT and others.