Summary
When making a game based on the immensely popularNarutoanime, developers thankfully have plenty of story to cover if they decide to include a campaign mode. Alternatively, they can also create their own original stories to provide longtime fans with a brand-new experience while also featuring familiar faces from the series. Either way, for a story to truly be engaging and memorable, it needs to still have some length to it.
SomeNarutogames opt for only featuring quick and snappy stories, but there are others that go all-in with creating a long and enjoyable narrative that can immerse players into the world of ninja once again. When sizing all of theNarutogames up against one another, here is how they match up in terms of length. Before jumping in, it should be prefaced this list will only be considering individual games, so bundles like theStormcollection will not be counted, and the times to beat each game will be determined by data provided by HowLongToBeat.
While the firstNaruto Ultimate Ninja Stormgame set out a promising blueprint for this new series of entries to follow, the second game not only improved the core gameplay but also included some truly outstanding boss fights. As players make their way through several story arcs, they will be thrust into epic battles that are packed full of spectacle and multiple phases, resulting in an epic retelling ofShippuden’s story.
In fact,Ultimate Ninja Storm 2is a great place to start for anyone who wants to get into the second part of the series but feels a little intimidated by the length of the anime. In about 12 hours, players will be able to experience the first half of Shippuden, while also being a part of many thrilling encounters along the way.
The third game in theNaruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Stormseries kicks off after the Pain arc with the Five Kage Summit and stretches all the way to the beginning of the Fourth Great Ninja War. There are a lot of crucial moments to pack into this particular part of the story, including Sasuke’s plan of revenge against Danzo, Naruto’s training to controlKurama, and the declaration of war which involves every village in theNarutoworld.
As a result, this is the longest story mode in the series, clocking in at roughly 13 hours for a full playthrough. The addition of extra flashback battles, alongside the numerous QTEs that appear in every boss fight, also helps to extend the story so that it never feels too short or forgettable.
Ultimate Ninja Heroes 2
Ultimate Ninja Heroes 2features an entirely original story that sees a mysterious fortress showing up aboveKonoha. Naruto and his friends are tasked with scoping out the multi-floor arena, but as they go, one by one, they begin getting picked off by the eerie ghosts and spirits lurking in the shadows.
However, there’s a lot more going on behind the scenes concerning a young princess known as Kasumi and her connection to some of the series' early major villains. The length of the story almost makes it feel like its very own filler arc, but one which is well worth experiencing considering how many twists and turns are included to keep things fresh.
5Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Heroes 3
How Long To Beat: 14 Hours
Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Heroes 3features yet another original story, alongside an extra story mode focusing on the early Shippuden arcs. The original arc pits Naruto and the gang up against a new enemy only known as the “Leaf Anbu” who are trying to steal secrets from Konoha to expose them to the world.
When paired together, the two stories add up to about 14 hours of playtime which involves watching brief cutscenes and facing off against opponents in the classic2D fightingformula that the series was known for. The gameplay by this point had admittedly started to become a little outdated, but the original story is yet another homerun from CyberConnect2 which gives players plenty to chew on and quite a bit of extra lore.
How Long To Beat: 15 Hours
Naruto: Path Of The Ninja
NARUTO RPG STYLE! BELIEVE IT!EXPLORE NARUTO’S WORLD LIKE NEVER BEFORE.• Train your Ninja team to master over 90 different jutsu!• Play as Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, Shikamaru, Neji or Rock Lee!• Use the Touch Screen to boost your jutsu attacks to the next level!
Unlike mostNarutogames which are straight-up brawlers,Path of the Ninjafor the Nintendo DS is an RPG that features a pretty in-depth turn-based combat system. The game chronicles the Naruto story from the very beginning all the way up until the end of the Chunin Exams, with players partaking in numerous battles against some of the series' most iconic enemies, including Zabuza, Orochimaru, and even the Shukaku.
Because players are encouraged to be strategic withtheir Jutsuin order to keep their squad alive while also dealing the maximum amount of damage possible, it means most fights end up being very long. This isn’t a bad thing though, especially for fans of classic 90s RPGs who are undoubtedly the target audience for this niche handheld title.
How Long To Beat: 16 Hours
Naruto: The Broken Bond
Relive the RIVALRY through BOTH of their eyes.Play as Naruto, Sasuke and Others in an All-New Action AdventureIncludes Japanese voices!STEP INTO SASUKE’S SHOESWitness Sasukes quest firsthandEPIC BATTLESFight with the help of your sidekicks.PLAY ONLINEChoose from 30 characters
ThoughNaruto: The Broken Bondonly covers a portion of the first part of the story, what ends up extending the length to a satisfying degree is how open and varied it is in terms of gameplay. Players are able to freely explore smallhub areaswhere they are able to complete side quests and explore around for hidden items which can help to enhance Naruto’s stats.
There are also a fair few puzzles included which will require players to use specific Jutsu abilities, such as Naruto’s Shadow Clones and Shikamaru’s Shadow Jutsu, and that isn’t even mentioning the battles which are some of the flashiest and most stylish out of anyNarutogame. All of this results in a title that manages to be just long enough without ever feeling like it overstays its welcome.
2Naruto: Uzumaki Chronicles 2
How Long To Beat: 17 Hours
Uzumaki Chronicles 2is split up into 10 chapters, each of which will involve players partaking in random encounters, while also leveling up their stats and gear as they go. The aim of the game is to defend the Leaf Village from the Shirogane Clan, a group of puppet masters who were briefly mentioned in the anime, but get the opportunity to assume the role of major villains this time around.
Since players are encouraged to collect as much Valor as possible to level up each of their characters, it can end up making the game alittle grindyif players want to be fully prepared for some of the later chapters. While only a handful of enemies will show up at first, the game will begin throwing hordes of enemies at the player the longer it goes on, which also contributes to the game’s length.
How Long To Beat: 23 Hours
Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Impact
Hurricane Force!Re-live current Naruto anime storylines with large scale melee battles through a 360 degree rotating camera view. Experience new updated playable characters from current anime & collect character card combinations to enable special player effects!- All-new “Rush Battle” System- Huge Bosses!- Entire NARUTO Story line- Ad-hoc Co-op and Versus Mode
Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Impactis one of the severalNarutogames that follows the open combat system inspired by theDynasty Warriorsfranchise. Anyone who has played that respective series will know very well just how long even a single battle can be, and the same can be said here as players navigate their way around an open area and take on swarms of grunts with their explosive Jutsu abilities, while also encountering durable commanders every so often.
Players are also free to experiment with their characters thanks to the Card system which can bolster certain stats to help out in a fight. The game also covers a lot of ground, beginning at the start of Shippuden and going all the way up to the Five Kage Summit, so it’s understandable why it can feel about as long asa light JRPG.
