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If you missed it the other day, Sega’s first Shinobi game since 2011 is on the way this year, slicing consoles and PC this summer.
Katana at the ready
Once one of Sega’s premier series’, Shinobi has basically fallen off the face of the Earth. The (largely) side-scrolling ninja-action games got their start in the arcades, before making the jump to the Sega Master System, and rolling through editions for everything from the Genesis to the Game Gear to the Wii, and lastly, the 3DS.
That particular game was simply titled “Shinobi” and arrived for Nintendo’s portable in 2011. It also closed things out for the brand for a long time, until Shinobi: Art of Vengeance was first announced last year. And while there’s been precious little information about the new adventure in ninjitsu since, it’s back in a big way.
Debuting at Sony’s State of Play event a few days ago, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is looking sharp, and seems to be a full-on callback to the original formula. That’s not to mean that it looks like a game from the 80s though, as this new action extravaganza will hail from Lizardcube, the studio behind Streets of Rage 4. And yeah, that should be impetus enough to hit ‘play’ on that video below.
SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance follows longtime series protagonist and master of the ninja arts, Joe Musashi, who arrives home from a previous adventure to find his village burned to the ground and his clan turned into stone. Driven by vengeance, Joe sets off on an epic quest, battling hordes of enemies and larger-than-life bosses across stunning hand-drawn worlds. Rife with multiple paths to discover or unlock and packed with smooth, satisfying gameplay, SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance will have players attacking and reacting on the move— and keep them coming back for more.
Sega press release
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance seems to be a digital-only title, and will be coming to the PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC this August the 29th. Pre-orders are open right now for everything other than the Switch version (which is coming up at some point), and offerings include both standard ($29.99 USD) and Digital Deluxe Editions ($39.99 USD).
The latter stocks the game of course, plus some bonuses. Natch’.
- SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance Digital Deluxe Edition ($39.99 USD): Fans looking for the ultimate experience will receive early access to the game along with the Digital Deluxe Season Pass which includes:
- Starter Pack with the Ghost Outfit, the Medic Lite Amulet, and In-Game Currency
- Digital Art Book + Soundtrack
- SEGA Villains Stage (Coming Early 2026) featuring bosses based on iconic SEGA villains!
- Pre-order Bonus: Fans who pre-order the game will receive a 10% discount, the Original Arcade Outfit, and Fortune Hunter Amulet.
