Mark of the Ninja

About

Mark of the Ninja is a single player action adventure game. It was developed by Klei Entertainment and was released on October 16, 2012. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"Mark of the Ninja" is a single-player platformer action-stealth game with an interesting plot, masterful graphics, and outstanding music. It follows a ninja's story in a modern setting, featuring a themed conflict between tradition and technology, with dense atmosphere and wholesome story. Despite some bugs and grinding, its perfect game mechanics and replayability make it a must-play.

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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97%

Audience ScoreBased on 9,569 reviews

gameplay1.4k positive mentions

stability37 negative mentions

Fantastic stealth mechanics that allow for multiple playstyles, including lethal and non-lethal approaches.
Beautiful hand-drawn art style and smooth animations that enhance the immersive experience.
Engaging gameplay with a variety of tools and upgrades that encourage exploration and creativity.

Controls can feel clunky and inconsistent at times, leading to frustrating moments during gameplay.
The story, while interesting, is somewhat predictable and lacks depth compared to the gameplay.
Some players may find the game too short, with limited replayability beyond achieving high scores.

gameplay
2,683 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
44%
2%
The gameplay of "Mark of the Ninja" is widely praised for its fluid mechanics, engaging stealth elements, and the ability to approach challenges in multiple ways, allowing for both lethal and non-lethal playstyles. Players appreciate the intuitive controls, beautiful art style, and the rewarding nature of executing stealth tactics, which create a satisfying experience throughout the game. While some critiques mention a lack of depth in the story and occasional repetitiveness, the overall consensus highlights the game's strong focus on gameplay as its standout feature.
- “The gameplay is robust and fun to toy around with.”
- “It's that consistency of mechanics that really elevates this game above most other stealth games I've played.”
- “The gameplay excels with its precise controls, rewarding stealth mechanics, and a compelling upgrade system that encourages various playstyles.”
- “The gameplay and stealth mechanics in particular felt incredibly shaky and poorly executed.”
- “The gameplay is repetitive and boring.”
- “The gameplay is solid, if you learn how to do everything effectively you will be able to slide straight through levels and it is just too fun, I am not much on 100%'ing a game, but I can't stop myself from restarting levels or checkpoints multiple times just so I don't end up not losing a goal or a challenge on a mission, too much fun.... not enough to make you not want to play either, perfect.”
story
2,506 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
51%
4%
The story of "Mark of the Ninja" is generally described as engaging yet straightforward, revolving around themes of revenge and betrayal within a ninja clan. While some players find the narrative predictable and simplistic, others appreciate its execution and the emotional weight it carries, particularly towards the end with unexpected twists. Overall, the story serves as a solid backdrop to the game's exceptional stealth mechanics and gameplay, enhancing the player's experience without overshadowing the core action.
- “The story is surprisingly deep for a game where you can spend half your time hanging from the ceiling like a sneaky chandelier.”
- “The plot twists kept me on the edge of my seat, and the atmospheric soundtrack had me fully immersed in this stealthy world.”
- “The story is engaging and adds depth to the gameplay, and the sound design is fantastic, adding to the tension and atmosphere of the game.”
- “Unfortunately, the game flounders with its story and character.”
- “The story is very simple with a predictable twist, with a moral choice at the end making it good enough that it doesn't stick out like a sore thumb.”
- “The story is a bit rubbish, but that's usually the case for games like this.”
graphics
1,474 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
36%
1%
The graphics of "Mark of the Ninja" are widely praised for their stunning hand-drawn art style, which combines a cartoonish aesthetic reminiscent of shows like "Samurai Jack" with fluid animations and atmospheric lighting. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to convey stealth mechanics through visual cues, such as character visibility in light and shadow, enhancing the overall immersive experience. While some players noted that the graphics may appear simplistic compared to modern standards, the unique artistic direction and cohesive design contribute significantly to the game's charm and appeal.
- “I love the art style; it's this sketchy hand-drawn Klei style adapted to a more realistic, serious setting, and it works super well.”
- “The art style is a true treat for your eyes, and playing in darkness really immerses you in the world.”
- “The graphics are beautiful, and the shadow and light theme of the game is also done extremely well, making it easy to see when you are hidden in shadow or standing out in the light.”
- “I found the graphics, sound, game mechanics, and settings all to be lacking to some degree.”
- “The graphics are well animated, but really boring, and after half an hour struggling with the controls, I felt like I'd probably seen most of the sprites.”
- “The graphics are lackluster, but you can't expect Hollywood graphics from an indie game.”
replayability
543 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
52%
1%
The game boasts high replayability, driven by its diverse playstyles, unlockable outfits, and a scoring system that encourages players to revisit levels for better performance. Features like new game plus, optional challenges, and multiple paths to complete objectives further enhance the replay value, making it appealing for both casual and completionist players. While some reviews mention a lack of replayability after mastering the game, the overall consensus highlights its engaging mechanics and variety as key factors that keep players coming back.
- “The game does a good job using a great variety of abilities and equipment to take on situations in many different ways, keeping the game fresh and quite replayable with things like different difficulties and new game+.”
- “The sheer number of options for terrorizing, sneaking past, distracting, or outright murdering guards can give a lot of replayability, as well as hidden scrolls and items to find.”
- “The game is also quite replayable with optional objectives and additional challenges in the form of masks.”
- “The varying playstyles, multiple ways to pass any given point, and many puzzles and secrets give this game a ton of replay value, and it is easily one of my favorite games.”
- “The replayability factor is huge, due to several new 'play modes' being unlocked throughout the game.”
music
388 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
45%
2%
The music in "Mark of the Ninja" is generally described as atmospheric and fitting for the game's stealth theme, enhancing immersion during tense moments. While some players appreciate the dynamic nature of the soundtrack that reacts to gameplay, others find it repetitive and not particularly memorable. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's ambiance, though it may not stand out as exceptional compared to other titles.
- “The confrontation music before and during major fights is fantastic; the way it changes and grows as you get closer to your target is fantastic.”
- “Beautifully crafted world and calm or tense music tones depending on the situations.”
- “The music fits the mood of every encounter (very important in a stealth game!), and the audio cues are distinct and, even without ever hearing them, you can instantly tell what they mean.”
- “The music in Mark of the Ninja is perhaps its weakest element.”
- “Well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves; after about the fifth level, I realized that the music hadn’t seemed to change at all.”
- “The music is extremely forgettable and basically all of the levels feel the same.”
atmosphere
198 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
27%
2%
The atmosphere in "Mark of the Ninja" is widely praised for its stunning hand-drawn art style, immersive sound design, and atmospheric soundtrack, which together create a captivating and tense environment for stealth gameplay. Reviewers highlight the intricate level design and the effective use of lighting and sound to enhance the overall experience, making players feel fully engaged in the role of a ninja. The combination of visual aesthetics and audio elements contributes to a unique identity for the game, solidifying its status as a standout in the stealth genre.
- “The visual style, while classic for a 2D game, is elevated by its atmospheric design, which imbues the game with a unique identity.”
- “The lighting and sound design are stellar, making the atmosphere more alive and further adding to the gameplay.”
- “The art style, sound design, and general aesthetics throughout the gameplay experience are beautifully crafted to produce a tense stealthy atmosphere.”
- “Sound is ok but don't expect bucketloads of atmosphere.”
- “The in-game tasks made it feel like a competitive game, common to sports genre, whereas it should have focused more on the immersion and atmosphere.”
- “Atmosphere drops about halfway through the game, but it is an overall excellent game.”
humor
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its dark, satirical elements, where players find amusement in stealth mechanics that allow for creative and often absurd ways to incapacitate enemies, such as stringing up guards to terrify their comrades. The voice acting and character interactions add a layer of comedic relief, while the game's mechanics encourage players to explore humorous strategies, leading to hilarious moments of chaos among guards. Overall, the blend of clever gameplay and comedic scenarios makes for a uniquely entertaining experience.
- “It's quite funny to spook a whole room-full of guards, and have them kill each other off.”
- “As a final sidenote, I should note that I found messing with guards and leaving them in a state of terror (which usually happens when they see another guard step into a trap and die in front of their eyes) absolutely hilarious, 10/10 would do again.”
- “It's absolutely hilarious to kill a guard and then string him up to a tree, then watch as a terrified guard proceeds to fire his gun wildly, killing everyone in front of him.”
stability
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
80%
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with some players reporting significant bugs and glitches that can hinder gameplay, such as freezing issues and unreliable checkpoints. However, many users also praise its overall performance, noting that it runs well even on low-end hardware and has minimal issues in certain versions. While some players experienced frustrating bugs, others found the game polished and enjoyable, suggesting that stability may vary depending on the version and individual hardware setups.
- “Runs great on low-end hardware.”
- “The game looks and runs great.”
- “It is balanced perfectly - no glitches that I am aware of - and an excellent game and storyline.”
- “It's buggy and borderline unplayable.”
- “Yeah, I found a bug; the exit game sometimes freezes up your computer, forcing you to sign out of your session.”
- “However for me, the game freezes way too often requiring me to exit the game using task manager.”
emotional
43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
2%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its impactful storytelling, which, while not universally deep, resonates with players through surprising twists and personal choices that evoke a range of feelings. Many reviewers noted that the game successfully captures the essence of stealth gameplay, making them feel like true ninjas, while also prompting introspection about their actions and the narrative's themes of loyalty and evolution. Overall, the combination of engaging gameplay and emotional moments creates a memorable experience that leaves a lasting impression on players.
- “The game does have a story, albeit a heartbreaking one at that, but I won't spoil it.”
- “This is not just a game that was thrown together; it was made with heart and love. This is a one-of-a-kind game that you can't just come by; you have to try it. The ending, oh my god, it was a real thing for me, and I bet for all of us. It made me feel all of it; it gave me a moment to think of all that I did and all I learned... and what I must do.”
- “Mark of the Ninja made me cry, because for all the badassery possible in this amazing stealth game, it made me realize that despite dreaming almost exclusively of it since age 8, this is just a game.”
- “The story was really boring.”
grinding
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
5%
87%
The reviews highlight a mixed perception of grinding in the game, with many players finding certain aspects tedious, particularly related to checkpoints and repetitive gameplay. While some appreciate the challenge and skill development in stealth mechanics, others feel that the need for grinding achievements and upgrades detracts from the overall experience, leading to frustration and a sense of monotony. Overall, the game is praised for its engaging stealth gameplay, but the grinding elements can become a chore, especially in later levels.
- “Mark of the Ninja is challenging but not tedious at all, as you develop skill and adapt to new challenges the game throws at you.”
- “Not tedious like a lot of stealth games - in fact, it feels like an action game.”
- “Somehow the game makes stealth not tedious.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “This became tedious and frustrating, and if you make a mistake and select the restart level option, the game gives you no recourse and brings you back to the very first checkpoint of the level, invalidating your progress.”
- “The enemy AI is inconsistent and glitchy, the story is about as lackluster as any I've seen, voice acting is regrettable, the checkpoints are terribly spaced, and the gameplay (while fun at first) grows repetitive and tedious the further you get.”
optimization
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
28%
11%
Overall, the game is praised for its strong optimization, running smoothly across various platforms, including older hardware. Players appreciate the fluid animations, crisp graphics, and stable performance, although some mention minor performance issues. Despite these concerns, the game's design and mechanics contribute to a positive experience, making it a well-optimized choice for fans of stealth and 2D platformers.
- “It is however very well optimized, it flows nicely with all the animations and design.”
- “This game is well optimized and performs very well.”
- “It is well optimized, the game runs very smoothly, the graphics are very nice (cartoonish), voice acting is done really well and the controls are one of the best I have ever encountered in a game.”
- “Just awful; one of the worst optimized console ports I've seen.”
- “Animations are mostly fluid (if the game isn't chugging from sucking up all the resources, a common problem with indie titles and optimization, I think), but the same stealth kills will get boring, and the odd tendency of the game to vacuum enemies into the right position for your little fatality show can be off-putting.”
- “While not all are available from the start, which is somewhat understandable, more can be unlocked based on the player's performance.”
character development
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
33%
20%
Character development in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the fluid animations and unique art style that enhance the overall experience, others feel that there is a lack of depth and relatability in character progression. Many reviewers noted that despite the game's strong visual elements and engaging gameplay, the character development feels limited, with repetitive enemy designs and a linear storyline detracting from the potential for deeper character engagement. Overall, while the game excels in aesthetics and gameplay mechanics, it falls short in delivering a compelling character development experience.
- “Everything in the game, from the character development to gameplay, stealth, abilities, and items, is just so well thought out and implemented. It creates an amazing experience throughout.”
- “Great storytelling, perfectly balanced puzzle problems, and character development make this game stand out.”
- “Mark of the Ninja is easily one of the best stealth games I've played; the character design, artwork, and story all work well together to help move the game along.”
- “Despite the power-ups, I didn't feel like there was much character development going on.”
- “The only things I didn't like so much were the lack of character development and the limited replayability due to the linear storyline.”
- “So there goes character design and relatability out the window.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy has been criticized as a blatant cash grab, particularly disappointing for players who purchased the original game. Despite the positive feedback on sound design and visual feedback, the monetization approach has left some users feeling undervalued.
- “My opinion is that this is an obvious cash grab and it feels like a slap in the face for those of us who bought the original.”

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76%Critics’ scoreBased on 6 critic reviews

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11h Median play time

14h Average play time

8h Main story

21h Completionist

8-20h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 35 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Mark of the Ninja is a action adventure game.

Mark of the Ninja is available on PC, Mac OS, Windows, Linux and others.

The main story can be completed in around 8 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 21 hours to finish. On average players spend around 14 hours playing Mark of the Ninja.

Mark of the Ninja was released on October 16, 2012.

Mark of the Ninja was developed by Klei Entertainment.

Mark of the Ninja has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its stability.

Mark of the Ninja is a single player game.

Similar games include Aragami, Styx: Master of Shadows, Dishonored, Dust: An Elysian Tail, Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun and others.

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