Most ninjas spend their lives training to avoid death. Tachibana Yachiyo however, lives for it. Get killed, rewind time, and come back swinging. It’s a useful talent when your hometown has become a dangerous place filled with enemies who seem determined to introduce you to the sharp end of a sword. Of course, being able to cheat death doesn’t mean you won’t get your backside handed to you repeatedly. It just means you’ll have another opportunity to return the favor.
This week’s Rogue Discovery takes us to Ninja Soul, a fast-paced 2D action roguelite developed by Ash Game Studio and published by Electronic Sheep Games. Originally released on September 16, 2022, it combines hack-and-slash combat, platforming, randomized levels, and an extensive treasure system that encourages players to experiment with increasingly powerful builds. With katana techniques, ninjutsu, hidden treasures, and a rather handy ability to reverse death, there’s plenty here for anyone who enjoys turning a seemingly hopeless fighter into a one-person army.
The Ninja Who Refused to Stay Dead
At the center of Ninja Soul is Tachibana Yachiyo, a kunoichi who unexpectedly awakens a mysterious ability known as death backtracking. Rather than meeting a permanent end whenever she’s defeated, Yachiyo can return and attempt her journey again, gradually uncovering the truth about the land that was once her home.
It’s a fitting premise for a roguelite, where dying repeatedly is practically part of the job description. Each attempt takes you through levels that change between runs, introducing different enemy encounters, treasures, and opportunities to improve your abilities.
That means learning the layout of one particular stage won’t necessarily guarantee an easier journey next time. You’ll need to adapt to whatever appears in front of you, whether that’s a dangerous enemy, an unfamiliar platforming section, or a promising treasure chest tucked away somewhere inconvenient.
While the story provides a reason to keep returning, the real attraction lies in discovering how much stronger Yachiyo can become through experimentation.
A Katana, Some Kunai, and a Very Bad Day for Your Enemies
Combat is where Ninja Soul puts its ninja credentials to work. Yachiyo can unleash rapid katana attacks, use powerful weapon skills, and call upon ninjutsu to deal with enemies in different ways. The game gives players room to approach encounters according to their preferred style.
You can concentrate on fast, precise swordplay, relying on movement and timing to defeat opponents before they have a chance to retaliate. Alternatively, you can build around powerful skills and treasure combinations, turning Yachiyo into a devastating fighter capable of wiping out groups of enemies.
One of the more unique combat mechanics involves interrupting enemy attacks. When an opponent prepares to strike, you can throw a kunai to disrupt their action and follow up with a technique called Iisen. It rewards paying attention to enemy behavior rather than simply hammering the attack button and hoping for the best. Learning when to interrupt, when to dodge, and when to commit to an attack becomes increasingly important as the enemies grow more dangerous.
The game also includes movement abilities such as wall jumping, giving Yachiyo additional ways to navigate stages and approach encounters. It’s fun to play a ninja who can bounce between walls, interrupt an incoming attack, and finish the encounter with a perfectly timed sword strike.
Treasure Hunting With a Side of Violence
The treasure system is one of Ninja Soul‘s biggest attractions, offering more depth than simply collecting equipment with larger damage numbers. Treasures can provide different abilities and attributes, while additional modifiers can change how individual skills behave.
Some combinations can alter a skill’s range or even its form, opening up possibilities for builds that play very differently from one another. That creates an interesting relationship between the action combat and the game’s more traditional RPG-style progression. A player who enjoys precise sword fighting can look for treasures that complement that approach. Someone who prefers overwhelming enemies with powerful abilities can concentrate on combinations that strengthen katana skills or ninjutsu.
The possibilities encourage experimentation, especially when a new treasure introduces an effect that could work surprisingly well with something you’ve already collected. As treasures and enemy encounters change between attempts, you can’t always rely on assembling exactly the same setup.
Look Behind Every Corner
Exploration plays an important role alongside the fighting. Hidden treasure chests are scattered throughout the levels, rewarding players who take the time to investigate their surroundings rather than racing straight toward the exit. Finding one could provide an item that changes the direction of your entire run, making those little detours worth considering. Of course, searching every corner comes with its own risks.
The longer you spend exploring, the more opportunities there are to make a mistake, wander into trouble, or discover that an apparently manageable enemy is significantly less manageable than expected. The changing level layouts also mean exploration remains relevant across multiple attempts. You may recognize certain environmental elements, but you won’t necessarily know exactly where the most valuable rewards are hiding.
The Best Souvenirs Survive Death
One of Ninja Soul‘s more interesting progression mechanics comes into play after successfully completing a run. Rather than losing everything you’ve collected, you can choose a piece of equipment to permanently fuse with your character. That equipment’s ability then becomes available in future attempts, giving you a lasting reward for your success.
It’s a clever incentive to keep pushing forward because the benefits of a successful run extend beyond simply reaching the ending. However, there’s a catch. Each time you clear the game, the enemies become more dangerous, increasing the challenge as you pursue additional permanent fusions. In other words, the stronger you become, the more determined the game becomes to knock you back down.
This creates a progression loop where improving your character and increasing the difficulty go hand in hand. You’ll need to make smart decisions about which abilities are worth keeping permanently and how they might complement your future builds.
The game also includes additional difficulty challenges through its Timeline EX system, giving experienced players opportunities to face tougher encounters in exchange for more powerful equipment. So even when you’ve reached the point where ordinary enemies no longer seem especially threatening, there are ways to make your life miserable again.
Why Ninja Soul Deserves A Look
Ninja Soul sits somewhere between a traditional 2D action platformer and a build-focused roguelite. Its swordplay, movement abilities, and enemy interruptions offer something for players who enjoy mastering combat mechanics, while its treasures, skill modifiers, and permanent equipment fusions provide plenty of reasons to experiment.
The game also benefits from having a clear progression hook. Yachiyo’s ability to reverse death fits neatly with the roguelite structure, while the increasingly difficult encounters give successful players a reason to return.
It isn’t without criticism however. Steam’s English-language reviews are currently Mostly Positive, with 74% of 119 reviews recommending the game. Still, for anyone who enjoys games built around rapid swordplay, unusual equipment combinations, and repeated attempts to overcome increasingly difficult enemies, Ninja Soul is worth a look.