Parents' Guide to

Mini Ninjas

By Marc Saltzman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Family-friendly cartoon ninja brawler with epic story.

Game Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi, Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3, Windows, Xbox 360 2009
Mini Ninjas Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

  • Mini Ninjas Game: Screenshot #1
  • Mini Ninjas Game: Screenshot #2
  • Mini Ninjas Game: Screenshot #3

Community Reviews

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age 7+

Based on 3 parent reviews

SpecimenB
SpecimenB Parent of 8, 14 and 17-year-old
July 2, 2012
age 8+

Great game on the Wii

I got the Wii version for my 8 year old son. The reviewer mentioned the controls being troublesome on the Xbox360 but they're a breeze with the Wii controller. The visuals of ancient China are very attractive. The enemies are comical and instead of dying, they turn back into cute animals. The levels aren't too challenging. I even got hooked on the game and finished it myself. It really is a safe and fun game for a young audience.
Instantreview4you
Instantreview4you Adult
October 19, 2011
age 2+

Great game

Great game I recommend it HIGHLY. yes it has cartoon violence but it is very mild. No blood or gore no language. This game is great for anyone that knows violence isnt good . This gam is HIGHLY addictive and very fun for everyone. Violence issues are not a problem if ur child tried to pull a ninja flip off well then this game is not for then but if they know how to be mature about this stuff then this is for them. You and your kids will LOVE IT.
See all 3 parent reviews

What’s It About?

In MINI NINJAS, you play as a pint-sized warrior named Hiro, who vows to stop an evil Samurai Warlord bent on world domination (of course). Trite storyline aside, this video game's fun factor lies in Hiro's assortment of tricks -- magic, stealth, weaponry, and agility -- to defeat this malevolent master and his devoted minions. Hiro's powerful \"Kuji Magic,\" for example, comes in handy while exploring the vast and dangerous areas in feudal Japan. He can possess animals, such as turning into a bear to scare off baddies or a wild boar to ram objects. Defeated enemies, by the way, turn back into animals, as it breaks the evil warlord's spell. Hiro can also transform into five other mini ninjas on demand, including the slow but muscular Futo or the swift, female Suzume. Players will also master hiding in tall grass, balancing on ropes hanging above abysses, sneaking up to unsuspecting soldiers, shimmying across cliff edges, and using items to help get past obstacles (such as Hiro's trusty hat that serves as a mini-boat to traverse waterways).

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3):
Kids say (9):

Fighting against baddies is fun, be it with mêlée weapons (such as swords and hammers) or ranged ones (Shuriken throwing stars and cherry bombs), but because the game is designed primarily for younger players, combat is on the easy side -- even against the slightly tougher boss characters, including a flatulent fighter whose poison, er, gas, can kill you. A minor shortcoming in this game is the lack of any multiplayer modes. A co-op option, for instance, would be a lot of fun to play alongside a friend or family member on the same television. When it comes to production values, though, Mini Ninjas doesn't disappoint. The third-person adventure resembles a colorful and fluidly-animated digital cartoon, while the soothing Japanese instrumental tracks nicely match the look and theme of this family-friendly brawler. While not flawless, the game is a fun fall pick for tweens and teens.

Note: All versions of Mini Ninjas are the same between the console and PC platforms, except for the Nintendo DS version which was designed specifically for the portable player.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the violence and crude humor found in this game. Do you think playing a game where you do the fighting affects you? Does your opinion differ if the violence is cartoonish versus realistic?

Game Details

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