Fangs Out Ninja Gaiden 4 is looking more and more like one of the hottest action games of the year, with Team Ninja revealing new details on the title’s length, halls ode modes, and optional battle features. Speaking with Australian outlet Next Play, Game Director Masakazu Hirayama discussed what to expect from the long-awaited game following the release of new gameplay footage.
Hirayama says a majority of players should be able to finish Ninja Gaiden 4 between 15 and 20 hours on their first run through. That’s an estimate, of course, that only considers the story mode — the true depth of Ninja Gaiden 4 lies, however, outside of the campaign. After players complete the story and unlock the Master Ninja difficulty, they will be granted access to a slew of additional content.
Beyond the narrative, Ninja Gaiden 4 offers a substantial number of Challenge Missions and Chapter Challenges for an expansive set of activities beyond the story. It’s important to note that these Challenge Missions aren’t just boss fights; they include encounters with other enemies under special conditions that provide variety and a different level of challenge than fall more in line with the standard gameplay experience.
Another of those additions is Purgatory battles, which Hirayama noted would be a new feature exclusive to Ninja Gaiden 4. These are optional encounters in the game, where players can place wagers before engaging in battle. Similar to the Tests of Valor from the previous Ninja Gaiden games, the Purgatory battles allow players to set the risk level when facing an enemy for bigger rewards. It’s a system designed to exploit that competitive nature and push players to their breaking point.
Team Ninja/PlatinumGames/Xbox Game Studios While great for 2024, Team Ninja is also responsible for development on Ninja Gaiden 4 (2023) alongside Japanese developer PlatinumGames. Ninja Gaiden 4 will be released on October 21 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S|X. Like all Xbox Game Studios games, Ninja Gaiden 4 will be on PC Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass on day 1.
Ninja Gaiden 4 will provide a 15–20 hour main story, difficult extra modes and the always thrilling Purgatory battles to create a wealth of replayable content for returning players and series newcomers alike.
FAQs
The initial run will take 15-20 hours for most players, and there are Challenge Missions and modes to prolong the experience.
High-risk optional fights where players can wager before battling for greater rewards based on difficulty.
Ninja Gaiden 4 releases October 21 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series S|X, and will also be available on Game Pass on day one.
