Every now and then, a game concept comes along that makes you pause, blink, and then immediately grin. Developed by Colombian outfit Madbricks and published by Romania-based Amber Studio, Mexican Ninja is exactly that kind of game.
It’s a loud, proud, and beautifully unhinged 2.5D roguelike beat-’em-up that smashes two distinct cultures together like a pair of speeding lowriders, and we are entirely here for the chaos.
The name caught my eye in the exhibition centre at ENDIX, and I’ve been doing all I can since then, to learn about it.
Nuevo-Tokyo
The premise of Mexican Ninja is beautifully absurd. The game takes place in Nuevo-Tokyo, an urban sprawl born from a literal, fiery collision between Japan and Mexico.
In the aftermath of this geographical and cultural merger, a ruthless new feudal ruling class stepped into the power vacuum: The Narkuzas. Part cartel, part Yakuza, this syndicate runs the neon-drenched, taco-and-sushi-scented streets with an iron fist. As the developers so eloquently put it, “the law SUCKS CULO.”
Enter our titular hero, the Mexican Ninja. Operating from the gritty outskirts of the city, he joins a band of rebels determined to slice and dice their way through the five heads of the Narkuza clan.
Beat-’em-up x Roguelike
At its core, Mexican Ninja plays like a love letter to arcade cabinet classics, but injected with a massive dose of modern roguelike design.
You’ll spend your runs smashing through waves of Narkuza thugs, breaking everything in sight for coins, and trying to stay alive in an unforgiving urban wasteland.
Combat will require precision. Button-mashing will only get you so far before a mob swarms you and sends you straight back to the “ghetto limbo.”
Movement, positioning, and perfectly timed dodges look to be vital. To help you survive the scaling difficulty, you’ll seek the favour of powerful Mexican-Japanese spirits to unlock “Mexican Jutsus.”
Want to rain down a volley of ninja knives from the heavens? You can. Want to unleash a toxic, crowd-clearing blast? Go right ahead.
The progression loop looks to hit that sweet roguelike itch perfectly.
When you inevitably die, you’ll return to basecamp with whatever hard-earned cash you scavenged. From there, you can permanently upgrade your health, boost your light and heavy attacks, and craft a build that fits your playstyle.
The way of the Donkey
One of the most uniquely charming features showcased by Madbricks is the game’s official skill tree, titled The Way of the Donkey.
The developers describe it as a standard skill tree, “except it’s 10x cooler and made for people with peluche en el estuche.”
It provides deep character customisation, allowing players to unlock specialised ninja skills by training with El Mero Mero Sensei, alongside a variety of hidden outfits and swag to make your ninja look like a true cabrón.
Visuals and vibe
Visually, Mexican Ninja drips with a stylised, gritty, and heavily cartoonish aesthetic. The contrast of traditional Japanese architecture blended with vibrant Mexican street culture gives Nuevo-Tokyo a life of its own.
It’s worth noting that the game wears its Mature rating as a badge of honour.
Expect frequent strong language in both English and Spanish, crude humour, drug culture references, and over-the-top cartoon violence.
Creative Director Dario has made it clear that the team’s ultimate goal was to focus purely on “the vibe” and maximise the fun, refusing to take themselves too seriously. It’s a game built, as the devs say, CON HUEVOS.
Mexican Ninja
Based on what we’ve watched and read, Mexican Ninja is proving to be a deceptively deep brawler wrapped in a hilarious package.
If you are looking for a sterile, politically correct corporate gaming experience, look elsewhere. But if you want a fast-paced, high-octane indie brawler that makes you laugh as much as it makes you sweat, keep your eyes on this one.
We always love a roguelike, and the combination of Mexico and Japan just calls to us. Mexican Ninja looks like my personal “game of the show” from ENDIX, but there’s plenty to choose from.
Here’s to the full release! We’ll be covering it here and at dyingartmedia.com for sure. Go wishlist it on Steam, now!
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One Response
Such a great concept and event!