After more than a decade, Ninja Gaiden 4 finally revives the iconic hack-and-slash legacy with a modern, punishingly fast experience. This latest entry by Team Ninja and PlatinumGames combines cinematic storytelling with high-intensity combat set in a futuristic Tokyo. Whether you’re here to slash through the story or aim for full mastery, it’s worth knowing exactly how long your journey will take — and how many chapters you’ll face along the way.
All Chapters in Ninja Gaiden 4
Ninja Gaiden 4 features 20 main chapters, each filled with combat-heavy sequences, intense boss fights, and exploration zones that reward precision and skill. You’ll play primarily as Yakumo, a Raven Clan ninja, but series veteran Ryu Hayabusa also takes the stage in select missions.
Here’s the complete list of all story chapters in order:
- Chapter 00: Dark Descendant
- Chapter 01: Bloodsoaked Tokyo
- Chapter 02: Haunted District
- Chapter 03: Phantom Pleasure Quarter
- Chapter 04: Pilgrim’s Windswept Path
- Chapter 05: Raging Valley
- Chapter 06: Guiding Winds
- Chapter 07: Altar of the Mountain God
- Chapter 08: Drowned District
- Chapter 09: Realm of Silent Dead
- Chapter 10: Bounding Spirits
- Chapter 11: Infiltration
- Chapter 12: Dragon’s Maw
- Chapter 13: Clash of Convictions
- Chapter 14: Unholy Descent
- Chapter 15: Fanged Gate
- Chapter 16: Downpour
- Chapter 17: Howling Ravine
- Chapter 18: Darkness Reborn
- Chapter 19: Ebon Wings
Each chapter introduces new enemy types and occasionally revisits previous areas under new conditions. Later stages push players into larger-scale encounters that test mastery of parrying, aerial combos, and weapon switching — especially on higher difficulties.
How Long Does It Take to Beat Ninja Gaiden 4?
The time to complete Ninja Gaiden 4 varies significantly depending on your chosen difficulty, playstyle, and completion goals:
Main Story (Normal Mode)
Expect around 9–10 hours to finish the main campaign if you focus purely on progression without revisiting earlier chapters.
Main + Side Missions
Completing optional Umi missions — which include hunting specific enemies, collecting artifacts, and defeating powerful mini-bosses — adds several more hours. On average, this will push your playtime to around 15–18 hours.
Full Completion Time: Every Collectible and Challenge
If you’re aiming to find all collectibles, tackle every Trial, and beat the game on Master Ninja difficulty, expect a total of 25–30 hours. This includes replaying missions with Ryu Hayabusa and attempting no-hit runs for special achievements.
Ryu Hayabusa’s Role in the Story
While Ninja Gaiden 4 primarily focuses on Yakumo’s struggle against the Dark Dragon’s forces, Ryu Hayabusa remains an essential part of the story. He’s playable in four chapters, mostly revisiting locations Yakumo has already cleared — but with new objectives and more challenging enemy setups. After completing the campaign once, players can replay the entire game as Ryu, giving long-time fans more of his signature gameplay style.
Post-Game Content and Replayability
Beating the main campaign unlocks the Master Ninja difficulty — an ultra-hard mode designed for veterans of the series. It introduces deadlier enemy behavior, limited healing opportunities, and more aggressive boss patterns.
Additionally, Trials Mode allows players to replay select battles under timed or specialized conditions, perfect for testing advanced combat techniques and weapon mastery. Play Now!
Quick Recap: Ninja Gaiden 4
- Total Chapters: 20
- Main Story Length: 9–10 hours
- Full Completion: 25–30 hours
- Playable Characters: Yakumo, Ryu Hayabusa
- Post-Game Content: Trials Mode, Master Ninja difficulty, collectible hunts
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