Softonic just reported that Naruto is finally getting a live-action movie, with a director coming off a new theatrical release. The announcement pulled a lot of dormant ninja-action fans back to their libraries and started the same question on Reddit and Discord: what actually plays like Naruto on PC right now? The honest answer is that “Naruto-style” splits into two lanes on desktop. One is the CyberConnect2 Storm series, which is the direct anime power fantasy. The other is a wider set of ninja and shinobi-flavoured action games where the combat feel, the vertical movement, or the assassin fantasy hits the same nerves without the anime license.
We picked eight best apps for Naruto-style ninja fighting games on desktop that cover both lanes. Two are the Storm entries themselves. Six are the strongest ninja-adjacent PC action games worth loading up between now and the movie’s release window.
What to look for in a Naruto-style ninja fighting game
- Cinematic combat, not just spectacle. The Storm games earn their reputation on framing. Camera work, wall runs, and finishing cutscenes matter as much as raw combo depth.
- Vertical or shadow movement. Ninja fantasy lives or dies on how the character moves. Wall-running, teleport-dashes, shadow jumps, and rooftop traversal all count.
- A signature weapon or ability. Whether it is a katana, a chakra jutsu, a yokai transformation, or a stealth kill, one iconic tool should carry the fantasy.
- Solo depth. Online scenes on PC come and go. A real story mode or a challenge ladder is what keeps you booted after the launch window ends.
- Native PC support with modern controls. Ports from console can still ship with locked frame rates or awkward keyboard mapping. Games with proper mouse-and-keyboard remaps and controller support age far better.
- Rewatchable fights. The Storm ultimates are memorable because they play like anime clips. Any Naruto-style game should give you fights you want to rewatch.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Platforms | Free plan | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Naruto x Boruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections | Full-series anime brawler | Windows | Demo windows | Around $60 base |
| Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 | The best-tuned Storm entry | Windows | No | Around $50 base, deep sales |
| Sifu | Cinematic melee outside anime | Windows | No | Around $40 |
| Katana ZERO | Solo ninja assassin fantasy in 2D | Windows | No | Around $15 |
| Nioh 2 – The Complete Edition | Ninja and samurai action RPG | Windows | No | Around $50, deep sales |
| Aragami 2 | Shadow-jumping stealth shinobi | Windows | No | Around $40, deep sales |
| SHINOBI NON GRATA | Retro pixel shinobi platformer | Windows | No | Around $15 |
| Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut | Open-world samurai with Ghost tactics | Windows | No | Around $60 |
1. Naruto x Boruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections — best for the full-series anime power fantasy
Storm Connections is the newest CyberConnect2 entry and the one built to mark the franchise’s 20th anniversary. The roster is the biggest the series has ever shipped, pulling characters from classic Naruto through the Boruto arcs into a single 1v1 arena fighter. The Special Story Mode plays as an animated highlight reel of the anime rather than fresh narrative, but the combat, wall-run duels, and team ultimates are the most polished the series has produced.
Where it falls short: New story content is thin. Online matchmaking outside Japan can take a while to find a balanced opponent, and the roster is stronger on nostalgia than mechanical depth.
Pricing: Paid one-time purchase in the low-to-mid $60 range at base. Deluxe and Ultimate editions add cosmetic packs and DLC characters.
Platforms: Windows.
Download: Steam · Bandai Namco
Bottom line: The obvious first pick if the movie news pulled you in and you want to play as the anime cast tonight.
2. Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 — best for the tightest Storm entry
Storm 4 has held its reputation as the sweet spot of the series since 2016. It follows the Fourth Great Ninja War arc, arguably the most cinematic run in the anime, and the game engine matches it with its best-lit environments and set-piece boss fights. The Very Positive user score on Steam has held for years, and Road to Boruto adds a full extra campaign for the next generation.
Where it falls short: Fewer characters than Storm Connections. Delay-based netcode on international matches is showing its age.
Pricing: Paid base in the sub-$50 range, with the Road to Boruto expansion sold separately or as a bundle. Both drop into the low double digits during Steam sales.
Platforms: Windows.
Download: Steam · Bandai Namco
Bottom line: Buy this if you want the strongest single-player campaign in the Storm series and the tightest boss fights.
3. Sifu — best for cinematic ninja combat outside anime
Sifu is not sold as a ninja game, but it captures the Storm cutscene feel better than most PC action releases. The kung-fu combat is filmed like a Gareth Evans set piece, with parries, environmental takedowns, and single-take corridor fights. The aging mechanic — every death makes your character older and more fragile — pushes you to master enemy patterns the way an anime protagonist learns a new jutsu.
Where it falls short: No online multiplayer. The learning curve is steep in the first hour, and the fixed camera can fight you in narrow rooms.
Pricing: Paid one-time purchase in the $40 range. Free content updates from Sloclap have added arenas, modifiers, and difficulty settings since launch.
Platforms: Windows.
Bottom line: The closest thing on PC to a live-action Storm cutscene you actually play.
4. Katana ZERO — best for the solo ninja assassin fantasy in 2D
Katana ZERO is a neo-noir side-scrolling action game where a katana-wielding assassin cuts through rooms in seconds, dies in one hit, and rewinds time to try the same room again until it plays out clean. It reads and feels like a ninja movie framed as a puzzle, and the pixel art plus synthwave score sell the mood harder than any 3D game on this list.
Where it falls short: Short main campaign that takes most players under ten hours. The story is deliberately fragmented, which some players love and others bounce off.
Pricing: Paid one-time purchase in the low double digits.
Platforms: Windows.
Download: Steam · Devolver Digital
Bottom line: The cleanest solo ninja fantasy on PC and one of the easiest recommendations if you want a short, high-density run.
5. Nioh 2 – The Complete Edition — best for ninja and samurai action RPG depth
Team Ninja’s second entry blends the Storm series’ supernatural spectacle with a Souls-like structure. You build a half-yokai warrior, unlock ninjutsu skill trees alongside samurai weapon schools, and channel spirit-beast transformations that pattern almost exactly like Naruto’s tailed-beast forms. The Complete Edition bundles the base game with all three DLC campaigns.
Where it falls short: Difficulty is punishing in the opening region. Menu overload is real, with dozens of stat categories to learn.
Pricing: Paid one-time purchase in the sub-$50 range at base and often deeply discounted during Steam seasonal sales.
Platforms: Windows.
Download: Steam · Team Ninja
Bottom line: The pick if you want the longest run for your money and the deepest ninja-style progression system on PC.
6. Aragami 2 — best for shadow-jumping shinobi stealth
Aragami 2 is the closest thing on Steam to playing a Naruto shadow-clone chapter as a stealth game. The main mechanic is teleporting between shadows to close distance, chain silent takedowns, and vanish before the alarm goes up. The full campaign runs solo or in three-player co-op, which is rare for ninja-themed games on PC.
Where it falls short: Combat outside stealth is stiff. Level design leans on repeated fortress layouts by the second half.
Pricing: Paid one-time purchase in the $40 range. Historically discounted 60 to 80 percent during Steam sales.
Platforms: Windows.
Download: Steam · Lince Works
Bottom line: The stealth-first pick, and the only three-player co-op ninja game on the list.
7. SHINOBI NON GRATA — best for retro pixel shinobi platforming
SHINOBI NON GRATA is a Japanese indie side-scroller built as a love letter to the classic Shinobi arcade games. You play as Kaina, a descendant of the Fuuma clan, and cut through side-scrolling stages of demons and rival ninja. The pixel art, cadence, and enemy patterns land like a 16-bit era shinobi platformer with modern controls.
Where it falls short: Short overall length. Boss patterns can feel unfair on a first blind attempt.
Pricing: Paid one-time purchase in the low double digits.
Platforms: Windows.
Download: Steam · Flyhigh Works
Bottom line: The palette cleanser between longer runs — a short, dense pixel-art shinobi campaign for under $20.
8. Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut — best for open-world samurai with Ghost tactics
The PC port of Ghost of Tsushima brought the full Iki Island expansion to Steam and holds up as the most visually ambitious samurai game available on desktop. The combat has a stance system built for one-versus-many duels, and the Ghost path leans into stealth kills, smoke bombs, and rooftop assassinations that read as pure shinobi fantasy despite the samurai wrapper.
Where it falls short: Modest RPG depth compared to Nioh 2. Combat is more forgiving than dedicated soulslikes, which some players read as easy.
Pricing: Paid one-time purchase in the low-to-mid $60 range. Includes the Iki Island expansion and Legends co-op mode.
Platforms: Windows.
Download: Steam · PlayStation
Bottom line: The open-world entry on the list, and the strongest pick if you want the Ghost stealth path in a AAA production.
How to pick the right one
If you loaded this article because of the live-action movie news and just want anime Naruto right now, start with Storm Connections. It has the biggest roster and the newest visuals, and the story mode doubles as a franchise retrospective. If Storm Connections feels thin on story, drop back a generation to Storm 4 with Road to Boruto — the Fourth Ninja War arc is still the best-directed run in the series and the DLC campaign adds tens of hours.
If you already have the Naruto itch handled and want the ninja fighting feel without the anime license, split by playtime. For short high-density runs, Katana ZERO and SHINOBI NON GRATA give you a full campaign in ten to fifteen hours for under $30 combined. For a long single-character build, Nioh 2 – The Complete Edition is the deepest pick on the list. For stealth, Aragami 2 solo or Ghost of Tsushima on the Ghost path both deliver. And if what you actually want is the Storm cutscene feel in live action, Sifu is the closest desktop game we can point at.
FAQ
Are there any free Naruto games on PC in 2026? No fully free official Naruto game is on Steam at the moment. The Storm titles occasionally run free weekends or open beta windows, and both Storm 4 and Storm Connections drop into deep discount ranges during Steam seasonal sales. Free fan projects exist outside Steam but sit in a legal grey area and are not worth the risk.
Is Storm Connections better than Storm 4? It depends on what you value. Storm Connections has the bigger roster and better visuals. Storm 4 has the stronger single-player campaign and, in Road to Boruto, a full extra chapter that Storm Connections does not match. For pure fighting, Connections wins on presentation. For story, Storm 4 with the DLC still holds up.
Which of these games have rollback netcode? None of the games on this list ship what most competitive fighting-game communities would call proper rollback. The Storm games use delay-based online netcode, Sifu and Nioh 2 have no versus mode, and the stealth and platformer picks are single-player. If rollback is a requirement, look at the anime fighting-game list separately.
Can I play any of these on Steam Deck or handheld PC? Katana ZERO, SHINOBI NON GRATA, Sifu, Aragami 2, and both Storm games all have working Steam Deck compatibility with good performance. Nioh 2 and Ghost of Tsushima are heavier and will run better on a desktop or a full-power gaming laptop.
How similar is Sifu to a Naruto Storm game, actually? Not similar in genre — Sifu is a beat ’em up, not a versus fighter. What matches is the framing. Sifu’s camera and choreography deliver the same feeling of watching a fight scene from an anime episode, complete with pauses on impact frames and cinematic finishers. It is the closest desktop game we can recommend to anyone who plays the Storm series for the spectacle.
Do any of these support co-op? Aragami 2 runs its full campaign in three-player online co-op. Ghost of Tsushima includes Legends, a separate co-op mode with two- and four-player raids. The rest are solo or one-versus-one competitive.
