Action game with a female ninja in medieval Japan, related to Koei's Nightshade. Fast combat and ninja costumes are enjoyable. A decent niche title for Japanese action fans seeking a female ninja protagonist, accessible and entertaining without being memorable.
Your verdict
Category
Action1 player16+
Description
A Sega and Overworks spin-off released in 2003 (Japan, Asia, Korea), derived from PS2 Shinobi. Players take on Hibana, a young kunoichi pupil of Hotsuma, in a brisk and stylized beat'em up set against modern Tokyo. Sword and shuriken combat, the signature Shinobi combo mechanics: a fast and colorful title.
The Korean version of Kunoichi, the Sega and Overworks spin-off stemming from Shinobi, here in its local run distinct from the Asian edition. Released into a restricted Korean PS2 market, this brisk Hibana-centered beat'em up stays rarer than the Japanese versions and draws fans mindful of territorial variants. Desirability rests mainly on this Korean-pressing scarcity.
Is Kunoichi still worth playing in 2026?
A ninja action game from Overworks, Kunoichi, alias Nightshade, extends the Shinobi spirit with a young kunoichi who chains enemies in snappy combat built on a tate system rewarding fast elimination chains. The fluidity of the movements, the stylised ninja aesthetic and the frantic pace appeal to fans of acrobatic action. The fickle camera and a high difficulty weigh a little. A good action game for fans of ninjas, spectacular combos and the Shinobi universe on PS2.
