Every Ninja Theory Developed Game, Ranked

Founded as Just Add Monsters at the turn of the century before transitioning into its more famous name in 2004, Ninja Theory has cemented itself as one of gaming's main studios when it comes to western action titles. Since its inception, the developer has worked on single-player console exclusives, Disney Infinity, VR games, and even a mobile title; if nothing else, Ninja Theory has proven to be quite versatile. Ninja Theory's games tend to attract a passionate following, be it for their inventive combat, sense of adventure, or association with iconic franchises.

Updated on October 3, 2024 by Connor Wright: Although the Hellblade and DmC: Devil May Cry developer has been creating varied video game experiences since the dawn of the new millennium, their catalog of titles has varied in quality since 2000. Beyond that, the range of genres and styles the Cambridge-based game studio has developed has slowly evolved and become more elaborate as time has gone on.

From on-rails arcade shooters and tie-in VR experiences to narratively-led BAFTA-winning masterpieces, Ninja Theory has gone from an "independent AAA" studio to one of Xbox Game Studios' most valuable assets.

13 Disney Infinity 2.0

An Incremental Sequel That Fails To Capture The Marvel Of The Original

While Ninja Theory is a team with a unique creative vision in the video game space, that is not to say that their talents are sometimes required to provide another publisher's title with that extra bit of polish. As such, while Avalanche Software handled the bulk of development concerning Disney's toys-to-life sequel, Ninja Theory's combat prowess was brought on board to provide the superhero characters of Disney Infinity 2.0 with a little more 'thwack', 'crash', and 'blam'.

Creating unique movesets for characters such as Loki, Green Goblin, and even Princess Jasmine; Ninja Theory's efforts were not in vain. While the title itself was reportedly shrugged off as a harmless sequel, the combat itself was seemingly praised by critics at the time.

12 Bleeding Edge

A Creative Yet Unsuccessful Entry As The Studio's First Microsoft Title

As an "independent AAA studio", Ninja Theory was constantly under immense internal pressure to stay afloat - which almost always ensured that the developer's creative vision was limited to make their end product more commercially appealing. However, with the 2018 acquisition of Ninja Theory by Microsoft, the team was able to put their creative efforts into titles unencumbered - for better, or for worse.

Bleeding Edge was the first title produced under this partnership. The creativity on display in the MOBA title - from character designs, core concept, and the world itself - is seemingly second to none. However, the gameplay loop and lack of support seemingly put players off from picking up the hero shooter-esque installment. As a result, the title's most recent update is still marked as that from July 2020 - not even six months from release.

11 Fightback

An Adept Mobile Brawler Hampered By Intense Microtransactions

• Released: July 2, 2013
• Platform(s): iOS, Android
• Genre(s): Action-Adventure, Beat 'Em Up

Emblematic as the studio's first foray into "different business models and non-console platforms", Fightback is more than just an adequate beat 'em up. It was Ninja Theory's semi-successful attempt at extending their unique vision for video games beyond that of console titles.

In patrolling the cyberpunk streets of a near-future city, Fightback presents players with an old-school 2D brawler framework that reportedly worked astoundingly well on mobile devices. However, with the mobile space comes a more accepted place for monetization. As such, much of the title's criticism came from Ninja Theory's fledgling understanding of the microtransaction economy on mobile.

10 Kung Fu Chaos

An Original Xbox Cult-Classic, With A Satirical Spin On The Party Brawler

While it may be the oldest of Ninja Theory's commercial catalog, this "multiplayer brawler" exhibits the heart and ambition the studio would later pour into its more contemporary projects. Unfortunately, some of its attempts at satire towards Kung-fu martial arts cinema now come through as poorly aged stereotypes.

Given Ninja Theory's recent attempts at more mature titles, the cartoonish stylings of Kung Fu Chaos are a remnant from an older time in the studio's history. With a cult-like following on the original Xbox, Kung Fu Chaos is a solid pick for the sixth-generation console. Still, it is easily overshadowed by Ninja Theory's more elaborate contemporary efforts.

Related

Best Games To Play If You Like Hellblade

Players who can't get enough of the Hellblade series should take a look at the following games if they haven't already.

Posts

By  Matthew Hill

9 DEXED

Ninja Theory's Colorful, Yet Forgettable, First Foray Into Virtual Reality

• Released: 02 January, 2017
• Platform(s): PlayStation 4, PC
• Genre(s): Arcade, Shooter, Virtual Reality

Ninja Theory's first VR title is a colorful, on-rails experience with Tetris Effect-like visuals and atmosphere. However, the lack of modes and the shortness of the experience make for a game that is as experimental as it is underwhelming.

While wielding dual fire & ice pistols and shooting at appropriately colored orbs is captivating due to DEXED's trance-like atmosphere, the title struggles with a peculiar lack of spit-and-polish usually reserved for Ninja Theory titles. Although high-score chasing players will find more to enjoy than others, the experience is one that - albeit enjoyable - is over before it can make too much of an impact.

8 Disney Infinity 3.0

A Polished & Expansive Final Entry In Disney's Toys To Life Endeavor

• Released: August 28, 2015
• Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 3/4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, WiiU, iOS, Android
• Genre(s): Action-Platformer, Toys-to-Life

While Ninja Theory was drafted late on into Disney Infinity 2.0's development to "clean up" the title's combat, Disney Infinity 3. 0 not only saw the introduction of the Star Wars license to the toys-to-life title, but Ninja Theory's skills from the get-go.

The studio's fighting system prowess can be seen as LucasArts themselves "were excited that Ninja Theory was going to be working on lightsaber combat" for the new Disney Infinity title. With multiple worlds and characters from across the Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars universes, Disney Infinity 3.0 can be seen as arguably the magnum opus of Disney's toys-to-life aspirations. With retroactively improved older characters, and inspiring new ones, the title is an action-platformer with masses of content.

7 Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series

A VR-Exclusive Experience Set In A Galaxy Far, Far Away

• Released: May 21, 2019
• Platform(s): Oculus Quest, Oculus Rift, PlayStation 4
• Genre(s): Action, Virtual Reality

With its talents for introspective narratives and gameplay, along with a strong working relationship with the Star Wars property, Ninja Theory blended its talents with a unique Star Wars video game experience.

Working alongside Lucasfilm's ILMxLAB studio to produce Vader Immortal, Ninja Theory presented players with a title that allowed them to virtually plug in some gaps between Revenge of the Sith and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Controlling a smuggler with force sensitivity as they travel to find an ancient relic, Vader Immortal is the studio's last non-traditional video game title in the last five years - as their efforts have since gone into more conventional gaming ventures.

6 DmC: Devil May Cry

A Westernized Reboot Of The Beloved Series, That Has Aged Gracefully

Topping off Ninja Theory's seventh-generation titles, the studio's collaboration with Capcom to reboot the beloved hack-and-slash Devil May Cry series for Western audiences was lambasted at the time. However, Devil May Cry 5's return to the series' aesthetic roots and the kindness of time, has aged Ninja Theory's 2013 title incredibly well.

While the change of protagonist was reportedly despised by series fans at the time, Ninja Theory's polished combat was equally praised. With fluid combat, a bombastic soundtrack, and off-the-wall action, DmC: Devil May Cry is seemingly being appreciated by fans once again. Beyond that, Capcom game director Hideaki Itsuno also believes that "DmC is just as important as any of the other titles in the series, and he’s just as proud of it".

5 Heavenly Sword

Stellar Performances & Polished Combat Highlight This PS3 Exclusive

While the title spawned an animated series and CG film, alongside introducing some beloved moments and mechanics, Ninja Theory's first hack-and-slash showcases some of the worst elements of the seventh console generation.

In Heavenly Sword's seven-hour run-time, Ninja Theory presents some of the core elements of its design ethos that have kept it creatively disparate from 2007 to the present day. With a curiously introspective protagonist, superbly tight combat, and excellent motion capture from Andy Serkis; Heavenly Sword was a masterful God of War-esque experience that is yet to be made available on multiple platforms.

Related

Best Games Based On Books, According To Metacritic

Video games aren't often adapted from books, but some fantastic titles definitely were. Here are the ten best games based on books, via Metacritic.

Posts

4 Nicodemus: Demon Of Evanishment

A Perfectly Balanced Augmented Reality Horror Experience

• Released: August 23, 2018
• Platform(s): Hyperreality AR
• Genre(s): Adventure, Horror, Virtual Reality

In collaboration with augmented reality specialists The Void, Ninja Theory has been able to get one step closer to realizing its form-progressing aspirations for video games. In developing the horror puzzle AR title Nicodemus: Demon of Evanishment, Ninja Theory showed that they are capable of developing games in numerous genres.

Through incorporating haptic suits and VR goggles - technology that once seemed relegated to science fiction - Ninja Theory tapped into its pseudo-patented psychological, introspective game design and narrative to create a genuinely horrifying yet fulfilling AR experience.