NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM 4 Road to Boruto is a 3D arena fighting game that brings the final arcs of the Naruto Shippuden series and the start of the Boruto era to the Nintendo Switch. Players control a large roster of ninja characters in fast combat encounters drawn directly from the anime's key battles.
Gameplay
Combat centers on arena-based battles where fighters exchange basic attacks, combos, and powerful jutsu techniques. A core mechanic allows switching between an active character and two support allies during fights by using the right analog stick. This system encourages strategic timing for assists that deal extra damage or restore energy before unleashing ultimate secret techniques.
Each character features unique move sets tied to their abilities in the source material, with over 100 playable options spanning the Naruto timeline. Battles emphasize quick reactions and positioning in open arenas rather than complex input sequences. The Switch version maintains responsive controls during fights, delivering the series' signature cinematic camera work and large-scale jutsu animations without major interruptions in most encounters.
Game Modes
Story Mode follows the Fourth Great Ninja War through a sequence of fights and events that conclude the Shippuden narrative. Players progress through major confrontations with minimal overworld navigation, focusing instead on direct combat sequences and key story moments.
Adventure Mode serves as an epilogue set after the main story. It features separate campaigns for Naruto, Shikamaru, and Gaara, each with its own short storyline involving exploration and battles in village and outdoor settings. Road to Boruto adds further content centered on the next generation, including Boruto as a controllable character and related boss encounters.
Free Battle lets players set up matches against the CPU or local opponents, with options to create custom tournaments and leagues. Survival Mode challenges players to defeat successive waves of opponents. Local multiplayer supports versus play, while online battles extend competition to remote players.
Content and Roster
The complete package includes all prior downloadable content, expanding the character selection and adding costumes from the Boruto era. The roster covers core figures from the Hidden Leaf Village, rival villages, and antagonists across both series, allowing matches that pit early-series characters against later ones.
Visuals and audio draw from the anime with detailed models and voice lines. The Switch port handles the transition to handheld and docked play effectively during core battles, though some slower segments in exploration areas show occasional performance dips.
Is It Worth Playing?
This title suits fans of the Naruto series who want to experience the story's conclusion and early Boruto events through interactive fights. The combat loop rewards practice with support switching and jutsu timing, while the combined story and adventure content provides dozens of hours across multiple campaigns.
Players seeking pure versus matches will find value in Free Battle and online options with the extensive roster. Those less invested in the anime may find the narrative presentation less engaging due to its reliance on static images for some cutscenes. The game runs as a complete edition on Switch with no additional purchases required for the full experience.
Reception highlights the refined fighting system and sheer volume of content as strengths, with some noting the adventure segments feel repetitive. It remains a solid choice for Naruto enthusiasts looking for a fighting game focused on the franchise's later arcs rather than a broader action title.
