Hiding in the dark, crouching on a rooftop, studying your mark, and preparing to strike. Some of the best ninja games are all about stealth, subterfuge, and springing the perfect trap. Other ninja games are about quick attacks – a flurry of steel against soft sinew – until your enemies freeze in place, a geyser of crimson erupts from them, and they drop to the floor, dead.
Whether they’re Naruto-running and throwing down caltrops or grappling between rooftops, there’s no one thing that defines the ninja. It’s a combination of proficiency in combat, slick stealth, agility, and the ability to improvise, adapt, and overcome overwhelming odds. Whichever kind of ninja you vibe with the most, we’ve got something for you in our list of the 10 best ninja games ever made.