Best Female Ninjas in Games, Ranked

Female characters in video games have faced several struggles in their quest to enjoy fair representation, instead of being turned into objects for the male gaze and nothing else. This is why it’s refreshing to see strong women make an impact in the games they’re featured in. Often, being a ninja is a shortcut to achieving that goal.

Players will love the idea of interacting with or controlling these ninjas, who use their swift movements and powerful skills to slice up their enemies in no time. Watching these kunoichi complete sensitive missions or give people a beatdown never ceases to be satisfying.

8 Nagase (King Of Fighters)

A Ninja Assassin

• Appears in KOF: Maximum Impact 2 & KOF Maximum Impact Regulation A

The King of Fighters series features a rotating cast of characters who are a joy to interact with, and Nagase is no exception here. This character boasts powerful skills, and her training as a ninja allows her to beat down enemies twice her size with no problems.

Despite working under Addes, Nagase isn’t loyal to anyone, and fights to test the limits of her strength. She’s an interesting character who needs to make an appearance in upcoming King of Fighters games so that players can appreciate her fun character for themselves.

7 Ibuki (Street Fighter)

A Ninja-In-Training Who Would Prefer To Live A Normal Life

Being a ninja isn’t easy, and even the ones gifted to take on this role would prefer to do something else instead that doesn’t endanger their life. This is the case with Ibuki, a character who must follow the path of the ninja to honor her family, even if all she wants to do is live the life of a regular teenage girl.

All she’d love to do is eat sweet potatoes and gush over boys her age, but the expectations on her shoulders prevent her from unfurling her wings. This inner conflict may seem simple, but goes a long way in making Ibuki one of the more memorable characters in Street Fighter.

6 Momiji (Ninja Gaiden)

The Dragon Shrine Maiden Of The Hayabusa Clan

A shrine maiden who boasts impressive skills as a ninja, Momiji is a kindhearted woman who looks out for the well-being of others, even if it comes at a personal cost. However, anyone who underestimates this kunoichi and fails to take her seriously in battle will be breathing their last in no time.

Momiji is playable in Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, letting gamers control one of the best characters in the series —and one who was trained by the protagonist himself. This makes her a fearsome warrior, given that she learned from the very best.

5 Kunimitsu (Tekken)

Uses Her Ninja Skills For Thievery

Kunimitsu isn’t a name per se, and is instead a title reserved for two rogue kunoichi. In the Tekken series, she’s usually depicted as a master thief who used to be a member of the Manji Clan before defecting.

As one would expect, this character is swift and a lot of fun to control as players master her moveset and unleash a torrent of pain on their enemies. The fact that she was stealing from right under Yoshimitsu’s nose takes some guts, and makes it clear why fans love this character so much.

4 Ayane (Dead Or Alive)

A Member Of The Mugen Tenshin Ninja Clan

The Dead or Alive series has attained a less-than-stellar reputation for many reasons, but most people will agree that the core fighting games are a joy to play every time. The simple arcade fun and a wealth of memorable characters ensure that players can come back to this series and fall back into a familiar gameplay loop in no time.

One of the most popular characters in Dead or Alive is Ayane, who has a complicated relationship with the main character, Kasumi. This kunoichi is a joy to control in battle, and players can easily beat down their enemies as long as they know the best moves to use with this character.

3 Yuffie Kisaragi (Final Fantasy 7)

A Cheeky Ninja Who’s Bursting With Energy

Final Fantasy 7 is a game with a diverse cast of characters. The ninja who joins the group when they’re trying to battle an evil corporation trying to suck the life source of the Planet is a great example.

Yuffie can be a nightmare to recruit for players who are unaware of her wily ways. Players must make the correct dialogue choices and not open the menu or use the Save Point in this field to recruit this character successfully. But once they do, it’s worth it. Yuffie plays a central role in a quest line where she steals the party’s materia when they land in Wutai, allowing her character to grow as a result of this side adventure’s conclusion.

2 Kitana (Mortal Kombat)

A Fighter With Ninja Skills Who Switches Over To The Good Side

Kitana is one of the most iconic video game characters of all time. This character is portrayed as Shao Kahn’s adoptive daughter who uses her skills as a kunoichi to great effect. However, unlike most of this tyrant’s minions, Kitana has a crisis of faith and can’t bear to work for the side of evil.

This leads to her switching sides and becoming a friend and lover to Liu Kang, helping Earth combat the Netherworld in Mortal Kombat time and time again. She’s a great character who has made many noteworthy appearances throughout the series. Her simple yet engaging moveset allows players to catch enemies in a combo that will deplete their health bar in a flash.

1 Ayame (Tenchu: Stealth Assassins)

A Member Of The Azuma Ninja Clan

Tenchu is one of the most important stealth-action games ever made that no one talks about. Modern stealth gameplay was molded by this series, allowing players to sneak around and assassinate enemies from behind.

Players who want to solely focus on the stealth in these games should always control Ayame whenever they get to choose their playable character in the series. Her physical might is nothing to boast about, but she’s an excellent ninja who’s a master of subterfuge and can wipe out an entire base from the shadows.