Most Iconic Ninja Characters In Fighting Games

Summary

• Ninjas in fighting games have unique moves like stealth and shurikens, adaptable to any fight.
• Major fighting game series feature notable ninjas like Kage-Maru and Bang Shishigami.
• From Taki in SoulCalibur to Ryu Hayabusa in Dead Or Alive, iconic ninjas stand out.

One of the most common character archetypes in fighting games is the ninja. These mysterious Japanese assassins have a lot of unique tricks up their sleeve to make them stand out. From hiding from enemies to avoid detection, to attacking when their opponents least expect it, to signature weapons like shuriken and kunai, ninjas have movesets that are easily adaptable to any type of fighting game.

It’s no surprise that every major fighting game series has at least one notable ninja on its roster. These characters range from names who have become staples in their series, to more oddball picks who’ve only appeared once, to relatively new faces to their games. But only a few have become such fan favorites that they’re considered among the all-time greatest ninja, not only in fighting games, but in all entertainment.

10

Kage-Maru

Virtua Fighter

As the first ever 3D fighting game, Virtua Fighter laid the groundwork for all 3D ninja when it introduced Kage-Maru as one of its eight original fighters. Compared to other characters that came after him, he’s a lot less flashy, only focusing on hand-to-hand combat rather than using weapons, spells, and teleportation. Given Virtua FIghter’s focus on more realistic combat, it limited his potential, but in spite of that, he remains a fan favorite among Virtua Fighter enthusiasts.

Notably, he is one of the most important characters in the series’ story, as his mother was kidnapped and turned into a cyborg, and her abductors would later go on to assassinate his father. Kage entered the game’s tournament for revenge, and would find that his mother was now Dural, the series’ antagonist and final boss.

9

Bang Shishigami

BlazBlue

BlazBlue’s Bang Shishigami is a ninja who fights for a sense of justice. He was first motivated to join the call to action when Jin Kisaragi, the arch-rival of series lead Ragna the Bloodedge, attacked his village and killed many people, including his master, Tenjo. Debuting in the first game, he would become a staple character throughout the series.

Bang, as his name implies, can be best described as an over-the-top parody of ninja characters. His signature weapon, rather than any traditional ninja gear, is a giant nail that causes massive damage whenever he hits opponents with it. He also regularly makes dramatic entrances and poses in the vein of the Power Rangers and other tokusatsu heroes, and loves to shout things in a bombastic manner.

8

Taki

SoulCalibur

Taki has been a fan-favorite in the SoulCalibur series ever since her debut in the original Soul Edge game in 1996. A member of the Fu-Ma clan, she later becomes a lone wolf when her master wanted an evil sword she found for himself. Not wanting it to fall into the wrong hands, she sets out to destroy the sword.

Taki appears in almost every SoulCalibur game afterward, often serving as a rival to the series’ resident samurai Mitsurugi. In SoulCalibur 5, she was replaced by her apprentice Natsu, whose cheerful personality wasn’t well received by fans of her no-nonsense attitude. Thankfully, she was brought back for the next game, which served as a reboot of the series.

7

Galford

Samurai Shodown

Most ninjas in fighting games are unsurprisingly Japanese, but Samurai Shodown added a twist when it introduced one of its few non-Japanese fighters. A former American sailor, Galford decided to become a ninja when he encountered Hanzo Hattori, another series staple. He seeks out ninja training in Japan, and then begins a quest to avenge the death of his father, who was shot by a criminal when Galford was a young boy.

Galford plays similarly to Samurai Shodown’s other recurring ninja character, Hanzo Hattori, but his biggest distinction outside his appearance is his dog Poppie, who is always by his side and assists him in some of his attacks. The fifth and sixth games in the series even allow you to fight as his loyal companion as a solo character.

6

Chipp Zanuff

Guilty Gear

Chipp Zanuff became a ninja after he was rescued from an attack by the mafia by a ninja named Tsuyoshi, who would become his teacher; however, after the mafia ordered the assassination of Tsuyoshi, he would go on to avenge his fallen mentor. Chipp has appeared in every Guilty Gear game to date, and remains one of the most popular characters in the series.

His signature weapon is his giant wristblade, which, despite its size, he is able to use in quick and agile melee attacks. He can also use powerful energy blasts, like his Resshou, and throw shurikens at his opponents. For his various super moves, he makes clones of himself that assist him in assaulting enemies from all directions.

5

Mai Shiranui

Fatal Fury & The King of Fighters

Arguably SNK‘s most popular female character, Mai Shiranui was introduced in Fatal Fury 2 as a ninja who trained alongside Andy Bogard, one of the main heroes from the original game. She became a series staple not only for Fatal Fury, but also The King of Fighters. In the KOF games, she is usually a member of Team Women Fighters. The original line-up put Mai with Art of Fighting’s Yuri Sakazaki and King, and while characters would swap in and out of the team, Mai has remained a constant on the team.

Mai’s fighting style, personality, and appearance have made her a fan-favorite in the fighting game community, and it’s no surprise she is one of SNK’s go-to choices for crossovers. She has appeared in every Capcom vs. SNK title, in both Dead or Alive 5 and 6, and in Street FIghter 6 alongside fellow SNK hero Terry, and was only excluded from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate due to concerns about the game’s rating.

4

Ibuki

Street Fighter

One of the most popular newcomers from Street Fighter 3 is the teenage ninja Ibuki. A member of a famed ninja clan, she is sent to steal documents belonging to Gill, the game’s main villain. Her moveset consists of a wide array of palm strikes, agile kicks, and signature ninja abilities like teleportation and knife throwing.

Following her debut, she returns for the fourth and fifth game in the series, as well as crossover games like Street Fighter x Tekken and Puzzle Fighter. Her jump into the third dimension also gave her an English voice actress for the first time, as well as costumes outside her traditional ninja garb.

3

Ryu Hayabusa

Dead Or Alive

When Dead or Alive was introduced, many fans were surprised to see NInja Gaiden protagonist Ryu Hayabusa make the cut. And it was no one-off cameo. Not only did Ryu appear in every game in the series, but it paved the way for a Ninja Gaiden reboot set in the Dead or Alive universe, with DOA elements and characters making canon appearances in Ninja Gaiden games, and other characters introduced in the reboot eventually joining the fighting game.

While his moveset is limited compared to what he can do in NInja Gaiden, Ryu is still a very versatile character, able to attack with impressive aerial combos and grab opponents with his devastating Izuna Drop throw. Both Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden fans will agree that he is one of the most iconic characters in video game history for good reason.

2

Yoshimitsu

Tekken

Tekken has a diverse roster of characters, and the one who stands out from the pack the most is Yoshimitsu. This armor-clad ninja samurai has typically been the only swordfighter in the game, and he is able to attack from various stances, perform acrobatic maneuvers, and harm himself in battle. Additionally, in every game he gets an elaborate redesign, each one more outlandish than the last.

His popularity eventually inspired Namco to add his ancestor to their other hit fighting game series, SoulCalibur. That version of Yoshimitsu is faithful to his Tekken counterpart in several ways , but has his own set of tricks exclusive to SoulCalibur, so he’s more than just a copy-paste of the original.

1

Scorpion

Mortal Kombat

Mortal Kombat is known for its many color-coded ninja fighters, and the most iconic of them all is Scorpion, the yellow-clad fire-breathing ninja. He, alongside his rival, the ice ninja Sub-Zero, have served as series mascots for Mortal Kombat ever since the series’ debut in 1992.

Scorpion’s moveset has become a thing of legend in fighting games. His signature attack is his spear, in which he throws at his opponent to pull them closer while shouting his catchphrase, “Get over here!” His many gruesome fatalities include “Toasty!”, where he burns his opponent with his skull head hidden underneath his mask.