Is Ninja Gaiden 4 worth keeping your Xbox Game Pass subscription?

On paper, Xbox Game Pass is in the middle of a hot streak. Recently added Double Fine's Keeper and Ninja Gaiden 4with Moonlighter 2 and Outer worlds 2 completion of October (along with many other options). It will also be added in November Call of Duty: Black Ops 7one of the biggest franchises in the world, alongside other games. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate arguably remains one of the best gaming values, but that sentiment has recently shifted from a more universally accepted to a more personal one. For example, Ninja Gaiden 4 fans may wonder if this single game justifies the continued cost of Xbox Game Pass.

In early October, Xbox Game Pass prices increased across the board. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, its most comprehensive tier, has increased from $19.99 to $29.99, with the new price effective immediately for new subscribers and on November 4 for existing subscribers. Along with this price increase is the addition of Ubisoft+ titles and Fortnite Crew perks (from November 18). This is great for Fortnite players because it effectively combines both, but there will undoubtedly be fans who wonder if it's worth it when they don't have those benefits. Like many situations, for Ninja Gaiden fans, is it hard?

Ninja Gaiden 4 brings back Ultimate Guidance

Ninja Gaiden 4 is a strong fit for Xbox Game Pass, but…

I beat Ninja Gaiden 4and when I played it, I tried to think of it from the point of view of an Xbox Game Pass subscriber (which I am, but I played it early). I say this for complete transparency when I talk about the cost of it. Ninja Gaiden 4 it's pretty much what you'd expect it to be, so I don't think it's going to disappoint any expectations per se. It's a fun hack-and-slash action game that excels at power fantasy without removing the challenge. It's a challenge that rewards players in the moment, as the finisher and clotted blood jumped out at me more than once.

Trust me, I don't give in to anything that easily. Aside from the basic combat, the story is fine. I don't think it's the best story in the world, so if that's what you're looking for, then you've definitely played this story in the video games: complete the objectives, complete the shorter set of objectives, kill the final boss. That's your setting. I really like Yakumo, but I've seen players split on the new one Ninja Gaiden 4 protagonist. He's very different from Ryu, whose role in the story is mostly fun, but his playable sections (confirmed before release) got me more groans than anything else. You'll see why when/if you play; it's pretty obvious why these sections are my least favorite. All that said: it is Ninja Gaiden 4 Is Xbox Game Pass worth keeping?

Xbox Game Pass in mid-October and November List of games

Guardian – October 17
Ninja Gaiden 4 – October 21st
Bounty Star – October 23rd
Moonlighter 2 – October 23
Outer Worlds 2 – October 29
Terminull Brigade – 31 October
Football Manager November 26-4
Whiskerwood – November 6
Winter Burrow – November 12th
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 – November 14

Ninja Gaiden 4 Hero difficulty will feature auto-block and auto-dodge

That's all to say Ninja Gaiden 4 is a very good game that is well worth the one time asking price if you buy it outright. In other words, if you subscribe to Xbox Game Pass, you're essentially paying half that price for access to that game, others, and benefits. Based on what I've played, I think the price of the Xbox Game Pass subscription is great if you want it Ninja Gaiden and also looking forward to any of the above games/benefits, especially when you're wondering if it's worth keeping the subscription. If the above list didn't interest you, it will be unclear. I think if you're cool Ninja Gaiden fan, then yes, it's worth it – at least to access the game, for a while. If you're an average fan and don't care about any of the above, then no. It's a tricky road.

is it worth it Yes, if you are a super fan of Ninja Gaiden
is it worth it Yes, if they are a casual fan interested in one of the other games/perks
is it worth it Not if it's a casual fan with no interest in other games/perks.

At the end of the day, I recommend playing Ninja Gaiden 4. It's a lot of fun, but whether it's better to buy it outright, keep Game Pass to play it (at least for a bit longer), or wait until it goes on sale is a deeply personal decision. I'm not here to make that decision for you, but as food for thought: the game is damn good. How much you want to play Ninja Gaiden 4? How much do you want to play the rest of the upcoming October/November 2025 Xbox Game Pass lineup? Those are the two biggest factors to consider now. If your answers aren't a universal yes to both, then the waters are very murky and it may be wise to wait for a sale.