Team NINJA and PlatinumGames are embracing their reputation for brutality. The developers are officially asking the community to nominate Ninja Gaiden 4 for the "Best Game You Suck At" category in the 2025 Steam Awards.
It takes a certain level of confidence for a studio to campaign for this specific award, but if any franchise has earned it, it's this one. Since its October release, the game has been humbling veterans and newcomers alike with its unforgiving combat loop. The nomination request isn't just a marketing beat; it's an acknowledgment of the shared struggle that defines the series.
A Badge of Honor
The "Best Game You Suck At" category acknowledges titles that demand perfection. Ninja Gaiden 4 fits this description painfully well. By blending Team NINJA's punishing enemy AI with PlatinumGames' demand for stylish execution, the game creates a difficulty curve that feels like a vertical wall. Nominating it is essentially admitting that while the game beat you down, you kept coming back for more.
Why does this nomination matter?
Winning this category cements the game's identity in the current meta. It signals to potential players exactly what they are signing up for: a grueling, skill-based experience where death is a teaching mechanic, not a failure state. If Ryu Hayabusa has destroyed your ego recently, head over to Steam and cast your vote.