Item: Lil Ninja
Rating: 74
Author: Dinsun

Our Site Score

74/100

Lil Ninja is a charming, fast-paced arcade game that feels like a throwback to classic mobile 'infinite runners' but with a combat twist. You play as a small but mighty ninja traversing dangerous environments, slicing through enemies and dodging traps. The controls are incredibly tight—a must for this genre—and the 'one-more-try' factor is very high.

The art style is clean and appealing, making it easy to track movement even when the screen gets busy. While it doesn't reinvent the wheel, its focus on satisfying combat and fluid movement makes it a great pick for quick gaming sessions. I would have loved to see a bit more variety in the boss encounters, but for a casual arcade experience, it hits the mark.

Reviewed on: Wed Feb 25 2026

Dinsun Review

I've played this game a thousand times under a thousand different names. Lil Ninja is the definition of 'shovelware.' The physics are floaty, the level design is uninspired, and the assets look like they were pulled from a free Unity pack.

There is no 'hook.' There is no reason to play this over Mario, Rayman, or even the dozens of better free platformers on the store. It’s not offensively bad, it’s just completely unnecessary. It exists solely to occupy space and hopefully generate a few ad clicks. Don't waste your time.

Overall Stats

Pros & Cons

Small file size
Functional controls

Completely unoriginal
Poor physics
Forgettable visuals

Technical Report

Performance: Runs well on almost any device.

Accessibility:

Audience Fit

Buy if: You have literally played every other platformer on the App Store.

Skip if: You value your time and original game design.

Similar Games:

Ninja Arashi
Super Meat Boy (as a better alternative)

Reviewer Context

Reviewer: Dinsun, 40-year-old critical gamer
Hardware: iPhone 12
Playtime: 1 hours
Status: Finished 10 levels

The Game

Available on: iPhone, iPad, iPod

1220595256

$0.99 4+★3.7 3 reviews

Author : Anthony Hindle

Pubish Date : Fri Mar 31 2017

Last Update Date : Tue Jun 20 2023

Support Languages : English

Genres :

Version 4Tue Jun 20 2023

Update 4.0 minor bug fix
Tap to jump and climb this lil' ninja as high as you can!
Requires iOS 12.2 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
Tap to jump and climb this lil' ninja as high as you can!

Ratings & Reviews

3.7 out of 5 with 3 Counts

★★★★★

Age Rating 4+

Become the ultimate shadow warrior in Lil Ninja! Test your reflexes in this high-speed action game where you must navigate through treacherous levels filled with enemies and obstacles. Use your katana to slice through foes, perform wall-jumps to avoid deadly traps, and unleash powerful ninja abilities to clear the screen. With intuitive one-touch controls, Lil Ninja is easy to pick up but difficult to master. Collect coins to unlock new skins and upgrades as you strive for the high score in this endless ninja adventure.

Features

Fast-paced arcade action with smooth controls

Unlockable ninja skins and powerful upgrades

Dynamic levels with increasing difficulty

Stylish 2D graphics and animations

Global leaderboards to compete with friends

Offline play support

Tips

Mastering the Ninja Arts

Tap the screen to jump and double-tap to perform a higher leap. Swipe when near an enemy to perform a dash attack. Use the walls to your advantage by jumping against them to reach higher platforms. Keep an eye on the power-up gauges to trigger your special abilities when surrounded by enemies.

Promotion Videos

NinjA AjniN (by Anthony Hindle) IOS Gameplay Video (HD) - YouTube

Gameplays

Endless Challenge

The goal is to survive as long as possible while defeating enemies to increase your multiplier. As you progress, the speed increases and the traps become more frequent. Use the coins you earn during runs to upgrade your ninja's speed and attack power.