On paper, Xbox Game Pass is in the middle of a hot streak. It recently added Double Fine’s Keeper and Ninja Gaiden 4, with Moonlighter 2 and The Outer Worlds 2 rounding out October (alongside plenty of other options). November will also see the addition of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, one of the biggest franchises in the world, alongside other games. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate arguably remains one of the best values in gaming, but that sentiment recently shifted from more universally accepted to more personally applicable. For example, Ninja Gaiden 4 fans may be curious if this one game alone 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 taking effect immediately for new subscribers and on November 4 for current subscribers. Alongside this price hike is the addition of Ubisoft+ titles and Fortnite Crew benefits (beginning November 18). That’s great for Fortnite players, as it effectively combines the two, but there are undoubtedly fans who are curious whether it’s worth it if they aren’t into these benefits. Like many situations, for Ninja Gaiden fans, it’s a hard maybe?
Ninja Gaiden 4 Lands Strongly on Xbox Game Pass, But…
I’ve beaten Ninja Gaiden 4, and as I played through it, I tried to think about it from an Xbox Game Pass subscriber perspective (which I am, but I played it early). I say that for full transparency as I ramble on about the cost of it. Ninja Gaiden 4 is pretty much what you’d expect it to be, so I don’t think it lets down any expectations on its own. It’s a fun hack-and-slash style action game, which excels at power fantasy without removing challenge. It is a challenge that rewards players in the moment-to-moment gameplay because, more than once, the finishers and gore got a pop out of me.
Trust me, I don’t really pop that easily for anything. Beyond the core combat, the story is fine. I don’t think it’s the greatest story in the world, so if that’s what you’re looking for, then you’ve definitely played this story in video games before: complete the objectives, complete a shorter set of objectives, kill the final boss. That’s your set-up. I like Yakumo a lot, but I could see players being split on the new 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 more groans out of me than anything. You’ll see why when/if you play; it’s pretty obvious why those sections are my least favorite. All of this said: is Ninja Gaiden 4 worth keeping your Xbox Game Pass subscription for?
Xbox Game Pass Mid-October and November Games List
- Keeper – October 17
- Ninja Gaiden 4 – October 21
- Bounty Star – October 23
- Moonlighter 2 – October 23
- The Outer Worlds 2 – October 29
- Terminull Brigade – October 31
- Football Manager 26 – November 4
- Whiskerwood – November 6
- Winter Burrow – November 12
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 – November 14
All of that is to say that Ninja Gaiden 4 is a very good game, one worth the one-off asking price of just buying it outright. In other words, if you subscribe to Xbox Game Pass, you’re paying basically half that price to access this game, others, and the perks. Based on what I’ve played, I think Xbox Game Pass’ subscription cost is great if you like Ninja Gaiden and are also looking forward to any of the above games/perks, especially when asking if it’s worth keeping the subscription. Where it gets murky is if you’re not intrigued by the above list. I think, if you are a super Ninja Gaiden fan, then yes, it’s worth it—at least for the access to the game, for a good while. If you’re an average fan and not interested in any of the above, then no. It’s a tricky line to walk.
- Is it worth it? Yes, if a super fan of Ninja Gaiden
- Is it worth it? Yes, if a regular fan with an interest in any of the other games/perks
- Is it worth it? No, if a regular fan with no interest in the other games/perks.
I Recommend Ninja Gaiden 4
At the end of the day, I do recommend playing Ninja Gaiden 4. It’s a lot of fun, but whether it’s better to buy it completely, keep Game Pass to play it (at least a little 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 darn good. How much do you want to play Ninja Gaiden 4? How much do you want to play the rest of the upcoming Xbox Game Pass lineup for October/November 2025? Those are the two biggest factors to consider right now. If your answers aren’t a universal yes to both, then the waters get very murky, and it may be wise to wait for a sale.
- Released
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October 21, 2025
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes
- Publisher(s)
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Xbox Game Studios
