Mini Ninjas

Mini Ninjas
74
Metacritic
90
Steam
84.48
xDR
Our rating is calculated based on the reviews and popularity of the game.
Price
$1.49
Release date
8 September 2009
Developers
Publishers
Steam reviews score
Total
90 (3 047 votes)
Recent
90 (22 votes)

Mini Ninjas is a game that combines furious action with stealth and exploration for an experience that appeals to a wide audience across age groups and preferences. It’s an action-adventure with a strong focus on allowing the player freedom to explore the world and has the depth to allow for very varied gameplay and approaches to getting...

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Mini Ninjas system requirements

Minimum:

  • OS: Windows XP and Vista
  • Processor: PIV/Athlon 3.2ghz or higher processor
  • Memory: 512MB system RAM (1GB Vista)
  • Graphics: ATI Radeon X1300 or higher / Nvidia Geforce 6600 or higher (shader model 3 required) graphics card
  • Hard Drive: 5.85GB free space
  • Sound: DirectX 9 compatible sound card
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Pizzaface
Pizzaface

this game actually has pretty good controller support for a game that's not listed as having it, pcgamingwiki says it has native xinput support and i was able to get my ps4 controller working pretty well with steam input. i'll have to try with an xbox controller again to compare and see if it's that much better

Xdude22
Xdude22

Fun game as a child, and after a looking back at this game it definitly gives me back the good vibes i had in the past.

Acervans
Acervans

I just bought it for the nostalgia and it was just as awesome as the first time I played it on nintendo Wii :)

Boygethelp
Boygethelp

truly a masterpiece the story is something i have never experienced the graphics truly immerses you in its world and you really do relate to the characters and their struggles and with the clever humor it keeps itself from becoming too serious. The games combat is fast paced and really satisfying bringing down an opponent 3 times or even 10 times your size feels great and its certainly helped with the punch that all the hits and spells give truly a masterpiece 10/10.

Hazard_Compact
Hazard_Compact

Idk why but it every 5 seconds there's a very strange lag. If someone knows how to fix it then pls help. Other than that, very good game. Brings back memories.

stormz
stormz

this game is extremely ahead of his time. from general game mechanics to the insane graphics - this game is definitely worth playing. i remember playing it with my brother on our wii when i was a kid, brought back so much nostalgia and fun! :) 10/10 reccomend!!

Raffy
Raffy

Really buggy on modern operating systems. Does not work very well on windows 10 or 11. No sound on Linux for some reason? If you really have to play this game, you should just use 7th gen consoles

Verynimbleninja
Verynimbleninja

I played this on the ps3 back when i was a kid, then years later I found the game on steam and went "Fuck it" and got it.

What can I say, it's still very good for a game from 2009. here are some pros:
+Fun combat that's smooth and responsive
+soundtrack goes incredibly hard
+very nice visuals and art style
+Bosses are memorable and interesting in appearance (especially Lumbering Fool, Windy Pants and Screeching Owl)
+Story is decently written and quite interesting
+Castle levels are decently designed

However, there are a couple problems with Mini Ninjas that i can't help but point out:
-The game comes with no sound without a separate program (OpenAL)
-Monks and Hatted samurai are pain , especially on hard mode
-No achievements, even after 12 years
-could have had more levels between castles, especially for the snow castle

Verdict:
Based on both the pros and cons, I rate this game a 9/10

men

Akane Really Can't Aim
Akane Really C…

I bought this game to relive some of my childhood nostalgia and to see if being young was what made this game so memorable, but coming back to it, it still is an absolute masterpiece. It looks beautiful, the story is great, the world building and enemy boss design is still phenomenal. This game just makes me happy playing it.
Edit: I FORGOT TO MENTION HOW AMAZING THE SOUNDTRACK IS

Rocket Rooster
Rocket Rooster

(Apparently) I might be the only review here from someone who doesn't start their review with some variation of "I played this when I was a kid". Truth is, I was already wrapping up collage when this game first launched, and it hit shelves just shy of my 23 birthday. So I can't claim that I like this title because I have nostalgia for it as a kiddo. At the time of Mini Ninja's release however I still was very interested in this game though, even knowing it was a low-budget kids game (and that's not a knock at it: it literally was a budget title from a smaller team, and sold at budget cost).

I remember this game receiving mediocre reviews from Official Xbox Magazine, PSM and EGM at the time, but something still peaked my interest about it. I'm not sure why, but I suspect that it had something to do with me just a few years earlier in High School having played thru Namco's I-Ninja on PS2 and falling in love that hidden-gem... a game that more importantly was the source which Mini Ninjas very much took both visual and game-play inspiration from. Mini Ninjas very much is a spiritual successor to I-Ninjas.

Whatever it was, I wanted to try it but sadly never got to do so - I even had it on my Game Wishlist at the time (a printed list I had stapled to my bedroom wall with games I wanted). Fast forward over 13 years later and that fresh faced athletic collage track athlete is a middle-aged guy, with middle-age back problems, middle-age body weight issues, middle-age bad eye-sight, and lots of middle-age life problems.... and in between the pepto, tums and resulting hemorrhoid flair-up from the taco bell I ate that hates my gut - I see Mini Ninjas on steam for a little over a buck and think "why not?".

Suffice to say, I bought it for the same reason everyone else here did: I miss the feeling of what my life was like when this game released. I may have not been a kid who has nostalgia for that time I played this game in my Sponge Bob jammies, under a High School Musical bed sheet, with a Hanna Montana DS next to me... but I AM nostalgic for that careless time in my life when me and my buddies could stay up all night gaming and were bullet proof to everything. This game jogged that feeling when I saw it in 09 and remembered that at one time in my past life, a much more youthful and energetic me had really wanted it.

So now, to avoid making this review depressing with the BS woes of a 35 year old man with irritable bowl and problems remembering to bring my cup with me to the kitchen, who is creepily reviewing a kids game a decade later: I have to say.... I like it. It may clearly be a game that was churned out quickly for a younger demographics during the Kung Fu 'this isn't a polar bear kids' craze - but honestly the developers showed actual talent here in what they achieved on such a low budget and with non-existent expectations of them.

This game reminds me a bit of I-Ninja of course (again: mini Ninjas inspiration)... but it also reminds me ALOT of the first two Tenchu games on PS1 (The nostalgic ninja games MY generation played as a kids), and even a greater deal of Okami. The graphics are plain but charming and clean, the game-play is very much Tenchu-lite, and the inviting world is full of big open areas full of combat and exploration that will remind you a lot of those open world PS2-era platformers that were all the rage in the early 00s.

As you progress the systems and mechanics become more complex and you get access to more gear and great reasons to need it. This is the kind of kids game that much like Sponge Bob: Battle for Bikini Bottom or Simpsons Hit and Run, is fun for parents and adults in general. Especially those who grew up playing Tenchu (PS1), Ninja: Shadow of Darkness (PS1), I-Ninja (PS2), Okami (PS2) or other similar titles. The game has a lot of meat on its bones for what it offers, and is not quite as dumbed down as the typical Lego Ninjahos affair you might have played with you're kids.

I think had this game been around when I was a 12 year old back in the day, I would have fallen in love with it as much as most the reviews on here apparently did ....well, after being mind-blown by the 3D graphics and the High Definition image coming from the giant futuristic Back to The Future Picture frame on the wall it was connected too. Again context: when I was 12, SNES/Megadrive where still out and my family shared a single 13" Black and White 240p CRT TV in the living room that was a foot deep from the wall with a single RF/Coaxial input that resulted in a fuzzy image bathed in a layer of actual static running all up and down it. ...Writing this, I just now realize that most kids today have actually never even seen static before, and don't even know what I am talking about. Jesus. *takes drink*

When I was a kid most young boys (and some girls) dreamed of being a ninjas (thanks 90s kids media), but all the video games and films back in the 80s and 90s where full of teens and grown ups as ninjas (minus maybe the first two 3 Ninjas films and that unabashed child psychopath kevin mccallister). The Karate Kid wasn't even a kid. So to be able to play a game where you see a kid who looks like yourself on the screen as a serious badass ninja kid... that would have been so cool. A huge step up from playing with cheap dull pawnshop swords in the woods with you're friends in black pajamas and dish towels wrapped around your face (lol and that's not just a old southpark reference either; alot of 80s and 90s kids can attest to that being a very real thing that happened all the time back then).

For that reason alone, and the fact that even a guy my age found a good deal of enjoyment here in this charming little game that is full of beauty and oozing with charm, I give the game itself a strong thumbs up for anyone interested in a budget game to play one a weekend or with a beer at night after a long day of adult-ing.

I think ON SALE for a Buck-fiddy that Mini Ninjas is definitely worth a try for sure. If it's not on sale when you read this, and you are wondering if it is worth $10 then my answer is still a similar nod... but with the caveat that this port has frame-stuttering at 4 second intervals (a dropped frame) on my specific hardware. For $1.50 that's completely forgivable for otherwise enjoyable experience. But If I had to pay $10, I would be annoyed if I had to put up with it then given the other options on steam that 10 freedom smackers can net you.

Jay Jay Femboy
Jay Jay Femboy

I downloaded this game, because every playable character is a minority. This is so relatable as I myself am I teenager in the feudal japan edo era. Finally a game I can fully immerse myself, when I come back from working in the fields I rub my 3rd degree sunburn with some nice butter, as it cools the my skin and gives my a nice crispy exterior when I work the next day.

I love being a peasant in feudal Japan I cant imagine a better life, other kids waste their time playing or learning, but I enjoy child labor way too much to not do it (haha).

8/10 game, I played it on Wii and am high off da Nostalgia (old word for perc).

semagnum
semagnum

I played this originally on Xbox 360, bought it on Steam out of nostalgia.

Gameplay:
+ fun, relaxing open world gameplay
+ stealth can be fun
+ multiple characters with their own styles and benefits
- no multiplayer or co-op of any kind
+ good amount of collectibles for replayability
- relatively short campaign
- hard difficulty is not that hard (for more seasoned gamers)

Graphics/sound:
+ cute stylized look
+ runs well
+ great sound, especially with headphones
- as mentioned in other comments, there is a weird stuttering that occurs when trying to find other inputs. Thankfully with my laptop, I turned off my Bluetooth keyboard and disconnected my mouse, and I could play with my controller without issues. But apparently there are cases where it's built into the hardware and can't be disabled.

Overall: it's a fun family-friendly game to play. It may not have a lot to offer for seasoned gamers, but it'll still be satisfying to play. Younger kids will definitely love it.

Nobodyn88
Nobodyn88

Screen is stuttering, it is irremediable, there is no official solution, the patches that are on the internet have malware and the only solution is rare because you must disconnect your mouse and keyboard or disable some things, I do not know how the game is because I could not even try it but I think it is good, in case try an emulated version.

hesolivia
hesolivia

A realy nice game to pass the time.
Combat mechanics are nice, and the game has a realy nice flow to it.

raxybow3798
raxybow3798

Very happy to see it was on steam after I played this game on my xbox 360, The game has still got the small adventure feel to it which is what I loved from the xbox game. I would recommend this game to anyone who wants a story based game with small amount of exploring levels.

MewSix
MewSix

one of my favorite games from the nintendo wii days, suffers from micro stutters on my modern pc though, at a loss as to how to fix.. maybe an emulator would have better performance

Steva
Steva

I have just one thing to say,
Fuck you IO-Interactive and your fucking Hitman franchise, i was waiting for sequel of this game for fucking too long, how many times do i have to complete this game before we get sequel to this MASTERPIECE?
Literally cashmilkers and ass-suckers!

Kiryu
Kiryu

I played this game on the Wii when I was 10

The moment I saw it on Steam it "magically" appeared in my library.

That's all I have to say.

9/10

🔥Scraier🔥
🔥Scraier🔥

Never played this game until now. A definition of a hidden gem. Wish that the game would let you upgrade other characters and focus on them too rather than giving Hiro all of the attention. Especially since all of the other ninjas are unique enough to be memorable both gameplay vise and visually. For what it is, this game is great though. It can be beaten in 12-15 hours if you try to collect everything and even has some replayability after you finish the main story since levels can be approached in numerous ways.

TLDR: had a blast playing it and if you're looking for a sign to get the game - this is it!

markfletcher598
markfletcher598

this is one of my child hood games so i wanted to revisit it 8-10 years later and it still holds up if you like fun action adventure games look no further and buy mini ninjas

Kaiser Lucilius
Kaiser Lucilius

I originally bought this years ago for 1.5 euros because I remember playing it very briefly at the airport. I also really wanted to give this game a chance but it's just so broken. First there was no sound but my xbox controller mostly worked despite it not showing it is supported on the store page, but there was no sound. I lucky found a steam discussion to fix it, and the guide worked. But now the controller dosen't work.

I might give it a go with mouse and keyboard, but right now It gets a bad review for all that it put me through. But if the game is really great even with mouse and keyboard I'll change my reivew and let you guys know.

Maria Cooper
Maria Cooper

i used to play this game when i was a kid as a cracked game because i didn't know that steam exists, loved it and still love it!

Melvin_Guerrero
Melvin_Guerrero

I remember when I bought this game for the Nintendo DS back in 2010-2011 at the Toy'sRUs in Manhattan, it was a great game for the console (what beautiful memories). I bought this version of the game and so far it has been fun and entertaining the only complaing I can make on this version of the game is about the audio; it does not work unless you install OpenAL on your Win10

benny
benny

Pretty good game. Not groundbreaking, but I played it as a kid and replayed it now and had some fun. It's like 2 bucks or something on sale so just get it.

teenypeeny
teenypeeny

One of the top three games of my childhood, I was in love with Mini Ninjas as an 8 year old playing the wii. The game resurfaced on my Steam page and I was shocked to see it still existed on a platform. After replaying the game I once adored, I can confidently say Mini Ninjas - considering its 2009 release - is one of my top five games of all time thanks to the perfectly designed combination of animation, music, action, story content, landscape, attention to detail, and character variety. Long Live Mini Ninjas.

FWOG
FWOG

Just found out this game was on steam and downloaded it instantly. I played this so much when I was younger and it's helped shape me into the person I am today. This game is beautiful in its own way, even if people disagree.

khanking_123
khanking_123

Mini Ninjas is a pretty great game, it is fun and has cool characters in terms of gameplay. However each character lacks some sort of background and personality which is a real shame as it would be better to add personality to each character which would then build more immersion for the player. This game is great in terms of gameplay set pieces, quick time events, and boss battles. The story is not the best but it is understandable and has its moments... such as the cool boss battles. Lastly I would recommend this game if your looking for a unique game which has ninjas and decent combat.

Butcher
Butcher

This game is not even remotely close to what I remember of my childhood, terrible controls and god-awful platforming. That being said, the game is a little adventure from back in the day, and it has somewhat aged pretty decently. If its on sale and you want to give it a try, sure, go ahead, otherwise, steer clear from it

i might pull up w a cannon
i might pull u…

It aged so poorly, ugly forced camera movement, performance problems and fighting system just.. doesn't work.. at all.

Pikachu Cat
Pikachu Cat

True classic game, great graphics, they need to make it run better on newer windows versions though, i know others who have issues with it. If your audio doesnt work install openAL it fixes it. Great storyline. 10/10 game

Lxst
Lxst

can Remember vividly my first or second day of junior high school spent hours at home on this on the 360 and had a blast with it def worth it if you can get into it

SlitherMist
SlitherMist

This game helped cure my depression, I no longer have aids and I'm about to have a child with my wife. I was extremely depressed and tried to commit suicide, my wife found me and rushed to the hospital. I'm glad she did because otherwise I wouldn't have met Freddy. Freddy and I bonded instantly because of our love for ninja's and Asian culture. He said he's got a really cool game that he wants to show me once we get out of the hospital. We got out after a mental examination and I went to his house and he showed me Mini Ninjas. I played the game for hours on his computer and I beat the first three bosses before I left. I fell in love with he game instantly and I banged my wife raw, (doggystyle for you curious fellows) after I came home. She got pregnant and I proceeded to buy mini ninjas after months of working my ass of in the factory. I have played this game for a few hours and I have never cried while playing a game so much in my life (tears of joy of course). Our son is about to be born in two more months and I have never been happier because of this game. I would recommend this game to people of all ages.

Lucid
Lucid

super relaxing and a good story, but the boss fights and the lead ups to them are very repetitive after a while.

Mehrad
Mehrad

the best game for ever and for me :D

Artguy
Artguy

Ghost of Tsushima for the whole family

Dashsnail
Dashsnail

Happened to play this game on Xbox about a decade ago, but wasn't able to finish half of the game. Now I'm able to finish the game. Though I did run into audio issues after certain amount of time.

The fight is not too challenging, including the boss fight. Any child could do it. I'll say the challenging part would be finding all of the hidden items around each level. Which can be both fun and annoying.

The experience may not be as good as I remembered first time playing it, Overall I still enjoyed the game.

Redox
Redox

One of the best games you never heard of! This was my frickin childhood! And will always have a special place in my heart. I have heard this described as "dark souls for children" with a ninja twist on it..Which i guess at face value you could think of it that way. But IMO it is so much more then that. The iconic soundtrack and breathtaking scenery with that ninja flavor, is something i haven't really seen replicated in the same way since. The Gameplay holds up surprisingly well and the story is minimalistic but captivating! If you have 5-10 hours to spare and feel like "ninjaing" your way through some gorgeous landscapes and cozy levels. Then i PROMISE you, you wont be disappointed!

bbubbuu
bbubbuu

Has an interesting story, the action is unique and satisfying, music is amazing and feels natural. I played this on wii when I was in middle school but I never got to the end. In college now, looking for a fresh game and remembered Mini ninjas. The graphics quality is a little old but that doesn't take away much or any at all from the overall experience. Finally looking to finish the game!

MerJIL
MerJIL

---{ Graphics }---
☐ You forget what reality is
☑ Beautiful
☐ Good
☐ Decent
☐ Bad
☐ Don‘t look too long at it
☐ MS-DOS

---{ Gameplay }---
☐ Very good
☑ Good
☐ It's just gameplay
☐ Mehh
☐ Watch paint dry instead
☐ Just don't

---{ Audio }---
☐ Eargasm
☐ Very good
☑ Good
☐ Not too bad
☐ Bad
☐ I'm now deaf

---{ Audience }---
☑ Kids
☐ Teens
☑ Adults
☐ Grandma

---{ PC Requirements }---
☐ Check if you can run paint
☑ Potato
☐ Decent
☐ Fast
☐ Rich boi
☐ Ask NASA if they have a spare computer

---{ Difficulty }---
☐ Just press 'W'
☐ Easy
☑ Easy to learn / Hard to master
☐ Significant brain usage
☐ Difficult
☐ Dark Souls

---{ Grind }---
☐ Nothing to grind
☐ Only if u care about leaderboards/ranks
☑ Isn't necessary to progress
☐ Average grind level
☐ Too much grind
☐ You'll need a second live for grinding

---{ Story }---
☐ No Story
☐ Some lore
☐ Average
☑ Good
☐ Lovely
☐ It'll replace your life

---{ Game Time }---
☐ Long enough for a cup of coffee
☐ Short
☑ Average
☐ Long
☐ To infinity and beyond

---{ Price }---
☐ It's free!
☑ Worth the price
☐ If it's on sale
☐ If u have some spare money left
☐ Not recommended
☐ You could also just burn your money

---{ Bugs }---
☐ Never heard of
☑ Minor bugs
☐ Can get annoying
☐ ARK: Survival Evolved
☐ The game itself is a big terrarium for bugs

---{ ? / 10 }---
☐ 1
☐ 2
☐ 3
☐ 4
☐ 5
☐ 6
☐ 7
☐ 8
☐ 9
☑ 10

abdelzc
abdelzc

I remember playing this back when I had a wii when i was little now i found It again and It's still just as fun to play.

ifoundbard
ifoundbard

Awesome game, brings back memories

Camulo!
Camulo!

i played this game back when i was 3 years. playing it again after all this time, it still holds up really great! its not... a perfect, videogame, you dont even have to pay a lot of attencion while playing (just press the attack botton), but it has a lot of personality and charm. for me its purely nostalgia, but i would lie if i said i think most people looking for a relaxing experience wont get a kick out of this game.

SILVER
SILVER

i would like if this game have a multiplayer character , and we have alot of fun , and ever character have his skills . overall it fun to play

aroha
aroha

It's aged incredibly well, the visuals are still quite pretty and the gameplay is pretty fun. If my prayers are ever answered and we get a sequel I might cry of excitement

Khal2furious
Khal2furious

Maybe i decided to play this game super late, but it felt super out dated. got bored very fast, couldn't play more than 20 minutes.

Corputz
Corputz

This game is frickin sick nasty I don't care what any of you stupid nerds have to say go do some math or something. If your game doesn't have any sound that simply means you weren't chosen to experience the game in its full glory and you must repent all sins of the past, present, and future. When the rapture comes God isn't bringing up his loyal disciples. He's saving those that played this game's demo on the Xbox 360 repeatedly over and over again because you were a stupid broke kid that couldn't buy the game. Finally being able to play this masterpiece has been such an honor and I feel as if I could die with no regrets. Thank you my mini ninja friends. Thank you.