Play Naruto: Path of the Ninja 2 Online

Game Overview

Naruto: Path of the Ninja 2 is one of those DS RPGs that actually makes good use of the touchscreen—none of that gimmicky "tap here just because" stuff. You start off leading Naruto and his crew through an original story (not just rehashing the anime), solving puzzles by dragging objects or scribbling quick seals to prep jutsu mid-battle. The combat’s turn-based but way more dynamic than the first game, especially when you start mixing character combos with the new tag-team system.

What surprised me was how many characters they squeezed in—30 playable ninja, including some deep cuts from the series. Early on, you’ll waste too much time just testing who pairs well (protip: Shikamaru’s shadow binds + anyone’s big attack never gets old). The side-scrolling sections between towns feel a bit tacked on, but breaking up the RPG grind with some platforming isn’t the worst idea.

Fair warning: the online battles are long gone since Nintendo shut down DS Wi-Fi, but the single-player campaign’s meaty enough to make up for it. If you ever wanted to yell "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" into your DS mic unironically, this is your chance.