Bandai brings us a new style of Naruto gaming in Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Strikers. With new emphasis on online battles than it’s predecessor “Ultimate Ninja Storm”; Shinobi Strikers is looking bring the Naruto world potentially to the eSports circuit as players face off in combat with both Naruto and created characters.

Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Strikers is a 2018 online action game, it is developed by Soleil and published by Bandai Namco. It is currently available on PC, Playstation 4, and Xbox One.

Editor’s Note: A review copy of Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Strikers was provided by Bandai Namco in support of this review. 

A new Naruto title is looking to take fans into online competition.

While not quite the continuation into the Naruto video game franchise most fans may have been hoping for, Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Strikers is a very solid first attempt at branching the series out from the straight forward fighting genre and into fresh territory with it’s online versus combat gameplay. It sort of takes the foundation of Ultimate Ninja Storm’s gameplay and builds to there. The end results are both surprising and disappointing.

Play as characters created by you or from Naruto in Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Strikers.

THE GOOD: Shinobi Strikers definitely isn’t the first idea that comes to mind when thinking “the next Naruto video game project”, but it’s not a half bad concept. I like what developer Soleil was trying to do and it definitely feels different when pitted up to an industry that feels all too similar with anime games. The emphasis on game map traveling is a fun idea and it’s executed well enough while combat is simple to learn where even those who skipped out on the last Naruto game series will be able to get the hang of quickly. There’s also a decent sized roster of characters from both the Naruto & Boruto worlds to choose from in addition to the create a character mode. 4v4 gameplay is the standard if you have a history with those titles, just more in the vein of a fighting game.

Use your created character to learn famous jutsu in Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Strikers.

THE BAD: While Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Strikers is fun it does leave a lot to be desired. Having online battles with friends and randoms is cool, but I can’t help but think that some kind of campaign would have given it an extra nudge needed to have more than what we were given.

Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Strikers has potential, but it just isn’t quite reached here on the first go round.

OVERALL THOUGHTS: Unless you skipped out on the decade long “Ultimate Ninja Storm” franchise then I’d wait before giving Shinobi Strikers a head first dive. Over time I’m sure it’ll be a great alternative to the aforementioned fighter, even if it takes a sequel to get it done, but for now I’d wait until a sale before deciding to give it a go, or potential with more content having been released throughout the year.