Highlights
- The Sound Village shinobi arrives with his bone-based Kekkei Genkai for 4v4 battles across PC and consoles.
- Update features SS+ rank weapons, Boruto-era cosmetics, and a refreshed scroll lineup ahead of the Season 10 launch.
- This content bridges the gap while Studio Pierrot prioritizes a high-quality, seasonal approach for the Boruto: Two Blue Vortex anime.
Bandai Namco Entertainment has dropped a bombshell for the ninja gaming community. As of February 27, the fierce Kaguya Clan survivor, Kimimaro, has entered the fray as the newest playable character in Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker. This latest update gives gamers access to a fan-favorite Sound village shinobi from a pivotal chapter of the original franchise. Players can step into his shoes and take command of his incredible power right now across PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam. To see the new additions in action, fans can check out the recent promo video uploaded to the official Bandai Namco Entertainment America YouTube channel.
Developed by Soleil Ltd., the game offers an epic fighting experience that lets players go head-to-head in tense, frantic 4v4 battles across a wide variety of expansive settings. This unique gameplay style quickly helped the title set itself apart from the competition and establish a fervent fan base. With Kimimaro's arrival, the battles are getting a major meta-shifting update.
He brings his terrifyingly accurate bone-based Kekkei Genkai to the battlefield, featuring signature moves like the Dance of the Camellia, Larch Dance, and Clematis Dance Ninjutsu to shred through the opposition in close-quarters combat.
Fresh Cosmetics, SS+ Rank Weapons & S10 Revealed
Since its release, Shinobi Striker has introduced dozens of playable characters and hundreds of other additions, and this drop is no exception. Beyond the new fighter, the update is packed with fresh cosmetics to help you craft your ultimate custom shinobi. The drop includes the Boruto-era Orochimaru outfit and matching hairstyle, a new digital shrapnel ninja tool, Kimimaro's iconic bone dance weapon, and the honorary title of "The Sound Ninja Five" to strike fear into your opponents.
The game's Scroll Lineup has also been refreshed to feature the Passion Gear "Youth at Full Power" as a brand-new SS+ rank weapon, with the White Light Blade "Kamui" slated to arrive later. To sweeten the pot, the developers confirmed that the game is on the verge of reaching a massive Season 10, with all manner of further updates, as per CBR.
Shinobi Striker Player Base & Critical Reception
Although the game boasts a dedicated player base and remains fully compatible with current-generation hardware like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, it hasn't quite cemented itself as a critical darling. As of the time of writing, Shinobi Striker holds a 61/100 Metascore on Metacritic based on 29 verified critical reviews, alongside a lower audience rating of 5.8/10 based on more than 180 user-submitted reviews.
Despite the mixed reviews, this timely update serves as a wonderful minor consolation for Naruto enthusiasts eagerly awaiting Studio Pierrot's hotly-anticipated anime adaptation of Boruto: Two Blue Vortex. Back in January, Studio Pierrot president Michiyuki Honma noted that the company is producing the new series season-by-season rather than aiming for weekly releases. Honma emphasized that this approach helps the studio prioritize quality over quantity.
More importantly, it completely avoids the dreaded issue of catching up to the source material, a serious problem that has forced production shutdowns for numerous other beloved anime, such as Hunter x Hunter, in the past.
