Sega's sidescrolling hack n' slash retro-revival Shinobi: Art of Vengeance releases August 29

After a two-decade hiatus, Sega’s Shinobi series is preparing for a return. The 2D sidescrolling ninja-themed franchise is returning as Shinobi: Art of Vengeance on August 29, 2025. 

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance has been developed by French studio Lizardcube in collaboration with Sega’s Japanese team. Lizardcube has helmed game revivals like Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap and Streets of Rage 4. Notably, Streets of Rage 4 returned to its roots with hand-drawn animations inspired by Japanese manga, married with the retro vibes of the Sega Genesis era.

Published by Sega, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance will release on the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series S|X, and Xbox One for $26.99 for the Standard edition. Furthermore, a digital deluxe edition costing $35.99 will include add-ons like starter packs.

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance tells the story of protagonist Joe Musashi, on a quest to exact vengeance after his ninja village was destroyed by an evil corporation. Joe will go on a rampage against hordes of henchmen, mechanical enemies, and bosses across each level like burning castles, neon-lit urban sprawls, and underground bases with “Cool Japan” vibes.

The game clocks in with roughly 10 hours of gameplay for the main campaign, sprawling with fluid movement mechanics, gruesome melee combat, and a dash mechanic allowing players to chain numerous combos.

Shinobi defined the arcade and console gaming landscape in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The first game debuted in 1987 in the original Shinobi Arcade. Through the years, the series received 11 titles, including systems like the Commodore 64, Atari ST, and Sega’s console lineup during its hardware-focused era.

Shinobi received its last major console release in 2003 on the PlayStation 2, followed by a less successful Nintendo 3DS game in 2011 known as Shinobi 3D in Japan.

The game pays homage to classics like The Revenge of Shinobi and Shinobi III with nostalgic moves, enemies, and bosses. The game was first teased at the Game Awards in 2023 as a part of Sega’s “Power Surge” movement to revive dormant IPs. The game joins revival announcements for classics like Jet Set Radio, Golden Axe, and Crazy Taxi.