Ragebound will be welcoming and accessible to all types of players

The game kicks off with a straightforward tutorial, teaching you essential moves: wall climbing, dodging, attacking, and utilizing special abilities to dispatch tougher foes or environmental obstacles. After the tutorial, you step into the shoes of Kenji Mozu, a young Hayabusa clan ninja tasked with defending his village in Ryu Hayabusa’s absence. This narrative unfolds as you progress, eventually leading to an encounter with Kumori, a skilled kunoichi of the Black Spider Clan, who also becomes a playable character.

The demo excels at showcasing the game’s intense, yet fair difficulty, even showing the unlockable harder mode, and it teases the diverse bosses and enemies that await in each level. The fast-paced gameplay here is no joke; your primary goal isn’t to eliminate every enemy, but to reach the end, offering a significant nostalgic experience for fans.

Kenji specializes in close-quarters melee combat, while Kumori excels at ranged attacks and can briefly shift into the spiritual realm for unique platforming challenges. The game skillfully blends both combat styles. Each enemy can power up two special, high-damage abilities, marked by a specific color, indicating which attack you need to use to defeat them and unlock that ability for yourself.

Interestingly, once you meet Kumori, you gain the ability to traverse the demon world. Here, you’ll solve puzzles, clear platforming challenges, and find ways to free Ryu and open paths for him. Another excellent addition is the Ninja Fusion mechanic. This allows you to combine character abilities for attacks that can clear multiple enemies, though its use is limited to prevent overuse.

Great chance to try it out before the game launches this summer

Precise platforming is a core component, with sections demanding quick reflexes and careful timing as you’re being jumped by multiple enemies, especially during Kumori’s timed sequences that reset upon failure. The game’s vertical level design adds significant depth, featuring hidden areas packed with collectibles. Overall, this was a truly fun experience; it’s not overly punishing, at least initially, and I’m highly anticipating the hidden shop feature that wasn’t available in demo.

Let’s not overlook the demo’s great visuals, which expertly blend retro pixel art with modern detail. Environments like haunted temples and fiery battlegrounds are richly designed, featuring smooth animations and grotesque enemy designs clearly inspired by The Game Kitchen’s Blasphemous. The music is equally impressive, led by Blasphemous composer Sergio de Prado, and brilliantly complemented by contributions from original NES NINJA GAIDEN composers Keiji Yamagishi, Ryuichi Niita, and Kaori Nakabai.

NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound will release on July 31, 2025, and it will launch across PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. This demo is in fact part of a larger franchise resurgence, with NINJA GAIDEN 4 also set to arrive in October 2025, which is being developed by PlatinumGames.

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Dotemu’s track record with retro-inspired games is impeccable, as seen in their work on Streets of Rage 4 and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, which reflects a deep understanding of beloved classics while pushing boundaries with modern mechanics and visuals. Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, a side-scrolling entry, seamlessly blends the classic lore and gameplay of the original series with the depth and intensity of its modern 3D counterparts, offering the perfect mix of nostalgia and innovation to refresh the franchise’s appeal without alienating its core fans.

Ninja Gaiden has always been notorious for its difficulty, and Dotemu’s statement that Ragebound features mechanics that are “easy to learn but hard to truly master” suggests they are staying true to this tradition. The involvement of The Game Kitchen, further reinforces this. Blasphemous is a game that demands precision and strategy, qualities that align perfectly with the Ninja Gaiden ethos. I expect Ragebound to offer a similarly demanding experience, where every move counts, and every enemy encounter tests your skills to the limit.

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound introduces a new protagonist, Kenji Mozu, a young ninja from Hayabusa Village. He must form an alliance with Kumori from the Black Spider Clan to combat a demonic threat. This narrative twist, combined with the ability to control two characters simultaneously through a mechanic called Ninja Fusion, adds a layer of depth new to the series. It’s a bold move that could redefine how players experience the Ninja Gaiden universe.

Finally, Dotemu’s partnership with Koei Tecmo, the current holders of the Ninja Gaiden IP, is a testament to their credibility. Koei Tecmo’s trust in Dotemu to handle such a beloved franchise speaks volumes about the company’s reputation and capability.

The timing of the demo release during Steam Next Fest on June 9, 2025 is a strategic move. It allows players to get a taste of Ragebound before its full launch on July 31, 2025 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC (Steam) and Nintendo Switch. his builds anticipation and gives Dotemu and The Game Kitchen valuable feedback to fine-tune the game.

The post I’m Convinced The Game Kitchen Will Add a Unique Twist to Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, State of Play Confirms Release Date first appeared on IndieGames.

After revitalizing the beat ’em up genre with critically acclaimed titles, Dotemu and Guard Crush Games have teamed up with top-tier animators and artists from Supamonks to create Absolum. Their goal was to merge the thrilling arcade-style action from their past projects with an innovative approach that enhances accessibility and replayability.

You will be able to unlock items, quests, and permanent upgrades for your heroes, while also exploring the depth of the combat system through various skill combinations and challenging missions. The announcement trailer introduced two out of four playable heroes: Galandra, a swordfighter specializing in close combat, and Karl, a dwarf with devastating melee attacks and a rifle for ranged combat.

Dotemu is well known for reviving classic franchises through modern remakes and adaptations, but with this title, they are stepping into the world of original IPs. Dotemu’s CEO Cyrille Imbert emphasized that their current goal is to push the genre’s potential in a way that stands apart from traditional brawlers.

The post Dotemu Announces Action RPG Absolum, Launching Later This Year for PC and Consoles first appeared on IndieGames.

A win-win situation for all parties. Games Kitchen begins work on a well-known IP that leverages their strengths and connects with the Japanese developer scene, while Koi Tecmo can benefit from an experienced developer with an established fanbase, and fans receive a quality game. This means that Ragebound skillfully combines the traditional gameplay of 8-bit Ninja Gaiden with the modern depth and intensity of 3D titles, all to create a unique blend of nostalgia and innovation.

In addition, this game brings the familiar "pick-up-and-play" action of classic titles, and you can also expect a variety of complex combos and attack types that you will gradually master alongside various platforming elements. The characteristic atmosphere of this series will be present through carefully crafted visuals, with each enemy precisely reconstructed. What exactly you can expect, we definitely recommend checking out the trailer.

The post Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound has been announced, coming to PC and consoles this summer first appeared on IndieGames.