In recent years, Team Ninja has dominated the action RPG scene with challenging titles like Nioh and Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty. But fans have one question in mind: When will Ryu Hayabusa make his comeback?

With so many years since Ninja Gaiden 3 (and its follow-up, Razor's Edge) and the success of the Master Collection, the question is no longer if there will be a Ninja Gaiden 4, but when. Here’s what we expect and why now is the perfect time for a new entry:

Why Now? Team Ninja at Its Peak

Team Ninja has mastered combat systems over the last seven years. This experience could make Ninja Gaiden 4 a true masterpiece:

1. Tactile Combat: The refined hit feedback and fluid animations perfected in Nioh and Wo Long could take the speed and intensity of Ninja Gaiden to the next level.

2. Next-Gen Power: With the capabilities of PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, the signature dismemberment mechanics of Ninja Gaiden II could return with even more detailed, dynamic, and intense combat scenes.

3. Proven Demand: The strong sales of the Master Collection prove the series still has huge commercial potential. It’s time for the studio to crown its action RPG success by returning to pure action-adventure roots.

What Do Fans Want? A Return to Form

For Ninja Gaiden 4 to truly succeed, it must deliver on some non-negotiable fan expectations:

Story Expectations: New Foes for Hayabusa

Ryu Hayabusa is always caught between revenge, demons, and ancient conspiracies. In Ninja Gaiden 4, fans expect a more personal story arc:

• Ryu’s struggle to control the power of the legendary True Dragon Sword.

• Side characters from the Dead or Alive universe could appear, but without overshadowing the main story.

Ninja Gaiden 4 has the potential to redefine not just action games, but the entire adventure genre. Now, all that’s left is for Team Ninja to answer the call and reclaim the throne of action gaming.