Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 75 | 20 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 86% | 79 | 4 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | – | – | 0 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 0 reviews sampled · 0 total reviews in window · weighted 0 up / 0 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (28)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 75
“I enjoyed my brief time with Ninja Five-O. If you're feeling nostalgic for the heyday of the GBA, this is a great way to experience an apparently rare entry in its library.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“It doesn’t have a ton of extras that make this package feel as premium as it should, but the game makes up for it. This is a game that deserves to be played, so if you enjoy classic ninja action, this game would make Michael Dudikoff proud.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Ninja Five-O emerges as a triumphant revival of a bygone classic, weaving together a potent blend of ninja finesse, heart-pounding action, and a narrative that pulls you in with subtle magnetism.”
read full review ↗ - 79
“The saying "They don't make 'em like they used to" is totally applicable to video games, and Ninja Five-0 is a great throwback to how they used to make 'em.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Just don’t expect this to be the GBA’s surprise Ninja Gaiden II or Shinobi III tier masterpiece, and compared to other Konami action games, this one is pretty simple in comparison.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“The gameplay is pretty standard for what it is, but for its time, it would have been incredible to have an action game like this on a portable like the Gameboy Advance. Ninja Five-O was never truly worth the insane eBay prices. Curious gamers will finally get closure and play it to see what they were missing out on. As it turned out, it was just pretty good.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Flying around using your grappling hook is dynamite fun, but the actual fighting can be anticlimactic due to the limited number of weapons in your arsenal.”
read full review ↗ - 72
“Ninja Five-O delivers fast combat, grappling hook action, and modern features. Short but satisfying, it’s the best way to play this classic.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Konami's new original side-scrolling masterpiece. [June 2003, p.58]”
- 85
“An exciting, fun and challenging action game that shouldn't be missed.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“There's only a few things that keep Ninja Five-O from being a perfect game: one save file, tiny graphics, and most importantly, the lack of a connection to "Hawaii Five-O."”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The control is very tight, and the moves are plentiful. [May 2003, p.140]”
NintendoWorldReport
ZTGD
NextGen Player
GameSpot
Seafoam Gaming
Niche Gamer
Cloud Dosage
IGN…and 16 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
No patch announcements found on Steam yet.