NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound

“The soundtrack is an orchestral punch to the eardrums, perfectly syncing with your steady descent into controller-bit­ing madness.”

“The ost is pure chef’s kiss and probably my favorite of the year, way beyond even heavy hitters like Silksong.”

“The controls are extremely precise, the enemy placement and stage layout are carefully crafted, and the soundtrack is absolutely killer (Sergio de Prado clearly loved the originals. The cover of Unbreakable Determination proves that).”

“Finally 100% and got all the S ranks, really good game. You need to have played Ninja Gaiden 2 since it name drops Genshin and overall the plot is simple of beating the fiends but is really effective since it is a side story. Really liked the new characters Kenji and Kumori and I hope they become mainstays of the franchise since throughout the game they have good interactions, grow to respect each other's abilities, and have really cool designs. Really liked the prologue as playing as Joe Hayabusa which was really dope.”

“The story is straightforward but presented rather well, mostly through short dialogue scenes and gorgeous retro cutscenes which bring much life to the game’s non-playable moments.”

“With a simple story with likeable characters and the building of a relationship between our dual protagonists I think we have a very strong base for a secondary franchise to build upon and improve further, but make no mistake, this game feels complete in what it wants to be and is an absolute joy to play.”

“The cutscenes and artwork are what truly shine with this game; it is a pinnacle of craftsmanship.”

“The graphics are superb, with amazing artwork and smooth animations that make every level stand out.”

“With top-notch pixel art graphics and fluid gameplay, you are driven through an easily likable game which is sure to be one—if not the best—game in 2025 in terms of retro gaming.”

“It does have replayability value as you unlock hard mode, where some levels have different layouts, more spikes, pits, more enemies, faster enemies, which is a fun challenge.”

“The gameplay is challenging but forgiving and the criteria for getting the S ranks is very clear; you can even go beyond with certain talismans to get S++ ranks which adds extra replayability for hardcore completionists. The platforming is definitely challenging but you can get into a rhythm with the level design as you memorize all the enemy spawns and obstacles and get into a flow state where it gets easier the more you replay. The hard mode is true to Ninja Gaiden in difficulty with more enemy variety and stronger variants, more obstacles, turrets, and things to really push you. Some challenges can get you constantly restarting due to the brutal criteria.”

“Honestly, this is just such a fantastic package, it's got tons of replay value with collectibles, challenge levels, unlockable hard mode, and multiple endings.”

“60 fps lock (edit: game update on 08/22 has now removed this restriction. Game runs even smoother!) No Denuvo, and the performance is stellar without noticeable bugs.”

“Performance: excellent (played on Steam Deck, solid 60fps).”

“On default settings, this game actually runs better on the Steam Deck.”

“The pixel art is not merely nostalgic but deeply expressive, with fluid animations and layered environments that give every stage a sense of place and atmosphere.”

“The soundtrack complements this with a mix of driving, energetic compositions and more atmospheric pieces, reinforcing both the intensity of combat and the tone of the world.”

“The game is visually stunning, and the music fits perfectly, enhancing the overall atmosphere.”

“"Also, humorously: it doesn't even feel weird that the 'villain' of this story is functionally the CIA/US government... the US has reached Russia/China/North Korea/Central American cartel levels of villainy, that it's like 'of course it would be them!' Bosses are exceptionally fun for this sort of game and were difficult without ever feeling frustrating or unfair."”

“"They recreated the dismemberment from Gaiden for Xbox in Blasphemous terms, and Ryu's movements and the famous staircase sequence are hilarious in 16-bit."”

“"Movement, combat, story, writing, art direction, pixel art, animations, replayability, humor, all absolute perfection..."”

“The music, the artstyle, the game direction, the story and even the character development is great.”

“Love the amazing pixel art and character designs.”

“The environments looked great, character designs were awesome and the animations were smooth.”

“I love the idea and the vibes were right; the game looks and sounds great, creating a strong emotional atmosphere.”

“The game's design evokes frustration, but the underlying mood and aesthetic kept me emotionally engaged.”

“The emotional impact of the game's atmosphere and sound design is impressive, even if some gameplay elements felt frustrating.”

“Runs great on the Steam Deck.”

“Runs great on the Steam Deck OLED.”