Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound Unveils Second Playable Character

As a fan of the Ninja Gaiden series, I’m excited for Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound. The Game Kitchen worked on the Blasphemous series, which is one of my favorite Metroidvania franchises in recent years. So, this next adventure looks like a fun time, but protagonist Kenji Mozu won’t be going alone.

Thanks to an announcement by Dotemu, we now know that Ragebound will have a second protagonist. Kenji will be joined by Kuromi, a female ninja who has a much different style than Kenji. Here is what the press release says about Kuromi and the latest trailer:

“Publisher Dotemu (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, Streets of Rage 4) and developer The Game Kitchen (Blasphemous series) today unsheathed a demon-slaying gameplay trailer debuting Kumori, the second protagonist of NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound. The all-new 2D sidescrolling action platformer channels the classic and modern NINJA GAIDEN trilogies from KOEI TECMO GAMES in a brand new adventure launching Summer 2025 on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One.

Today’s new footage introduces Kumori, a member of the antagonistic Black Spider Clan central to the NINJA GAIDEN series. Kumori’s fighting style forgoes traditional rules to emerge victorious from battle by any means necessary. She leverages modern weaponry and demonic sources of power to reach her goals and brave challenges unique to her story.

NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound begins immediately after the opening moments of the original NES NINJA GAIDEN. The veil between the human and demon realms has broken, leaving the world linked with a gate to darkness. After Ryu Hayabusa leaves the Hayabusa Village to avenge his father, Kenji Mozu, a fledgling Hayabusa Clan Ninja and one of the two protagonists of NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound, rises to confront the forces of evil.

In this dark era, the destinies of Kenji and Kumori intersect as they overcome the generational grudges of their clans. In the face of peril, their only way to survive is to use the forbidden power that merges Kumori’s spirit with Kenji’s. NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound’s demon-slaying tale unfolds through the journey of two young Ninjas bound together by their shared fate of soul and skill. Their journey, filled with thrilling levels teeming with monsters, will require them to skillfully wield their fusion, “Ninja Fusion,” to maximize the talents of both Ninjas.

Kenji and Kumori’s high-stakes quests develop with show-stopping fights against powerful, boss-caliber behemoths. With upgradable abilities, hidden collectibles, unlockable secret missions, optional challenges[,] and more, NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound is an engrossing modernization of the tense, satisfyingly swift battles and precise, skill-demanding platforming the series is known for.

NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound features exquisite pixel art, evoking the classic 2D games while bringing lush environments and a menacing cast of enemies to life in striking, wonderfully intricate detail. The dynamic action pairs with a pitch-perfect soundtrack featuring contributions from special guest composers, coalescing into an unforgettable adventure.”

I’m excited to play Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound. We don’t have a full release date yet, but I imagine we’ll see more as we get closer to the summer. After all, Summer Game Fest is quickly approaching. Either way, it seems like Kenji and Kuromi’s adventure will be a lot of fun.