NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM 4: Complete Guide

A guide to CyberConnect2's 2016 arena fighter and its Road to Boruto expansion: the team battle system, story and adventure modes, unlocking characters, online play and PC tips.

Researched September 2026 — current as of the final PC build (the Road to Boruto patch of 3 February 2017 added 60 fps, Spectator Mode and 8-player endless mode; no gameplay patches since). Live games change; check the linked sources if something differs.

Quick Start

• You fight as a team of three. One fighter is on the field; the other two are supports you can call in or swap to mid-fight.
• Swapping is a core mechanic. Build meter with one character and switch to another. The shared resources carry across.
• Substitution Jutsu saves you, but it is limited. Substitutions draw from a gauge that refills over time. Spend them to escape combos, not every stray hit.
• Guarding is not safe forever. Grabs and guard-breaking attacks punish players who just hold guard.
• Walls are part of the arena. Wall-running is back, and one fighter can even be on a wall while another fights on the ground.
• Elements have side effects. Fire can burn clothing (move or use water attacks to put it out), and other elements have their own effects.
• Story first. Story mode unlocks most of the roster and stages as you progress. Play it before diving into online.
• Road to Boruto is the complete package. If you own the Road to Boruto edition, you get Boruto's Tale plus seven extra fighters.

Core Battle System

The basics

Action | What it does

Chakra charge | Build chakra to power jutsu, dashes and ultimates

Chakra dash | Close distance quickly; costs chakra

Melee combo | Basic string of attacks

Ninjutsu | A chakra-powered special technique

Ultimate / Secret technique | A cinematic finisher that costs heavy chakra

Guard | Blocks most attacks

Substitution | Instant escape using a gauge segment

Support call | Summon a teammate to attack or defend

Character swap | Switch your active fighter mid-battle

Controls vary by device; the in-game tutorial and Training mode show the exact button for each action on your controller or keyboard.

Team building

• Pick one main you are comfortable with and two teammates whose support attacks cover its weaknesses.
• Fast, long-reaching supports are easiest to use: they interrupt enemy pressure and extend your combos.
• Swapping mid-combo keeps pressure going while your main's chakra rebuilds.

Awakening and team ultimates

• Awakening turns your fighter into a powered-up form (Kurama modes, Susanoo, Sage Mode and so on). It changes moves and adds damage but has trade-offs.
• Team Ultimate Jutsu combine two or three fighters into a single devastating attack when the right conditions and teammates are met.
• These are your comeback tools. Save them for when a hit will decide the round, not the first opening you see.

Substitution gauge

• Every substitution consumes part of the gauge. It regenerates over time.
• If the gauge is empty, you cannot escape combos. Play defensively until it recovers.
• Baiting an opponent's substitution, then punishing the reappearance, is the heart of competitive play.

Wall-running and arena control

• Running up walls lets you dodge ground attacks and approach from angles.
• A fighter on a wall can still be hit, so do not linger there.

Elements

• Some jutsu have elemental properties. The Wikipedia summary highlights fire burning clothing, which you can extinguish by moving or with water attacks.
• Clothing damage is also visual; torn outfits carry into the rest of the fight.

Modes

Mode | What it is

Story Mode | The Fourth Shinobi World War arc, with parallel chapters for Naruto and Sasuke; a post-game unlocks side stories

Adventure Mode | Unlocked after the main story; explore an open world and recreate battles from earlier games in the series

Free Battle | Offline versus against CPU or a friend

Online | Ranked and player matches, tournaments, Spectator Mode and an 8-player endless mode (added in the Feb 2017 patch)

Boruto's Tale (Road to Boruto) | A new story following Boruto, including Sasuke's battle with Kinshiki, with an open Hidden Leaf Village hub

Story Mode tips

• Boss battles include cinematic prompts and multi-phase fights; failing a quick-time prompt costs you the bonus, not the fight, in most cases.
• Replaying chapters on higher difficulty and completing secret conditions earns extra rewards.
• Story progress unlocks fighters, supports and stages for all other modes.

Adventure Mode tips

• Treat it as your collectible and currency hunt; revisiting battles earns rewards for character customization and extras.
• Explore thoroughly; items and side battles are scattered around.

Roster Notes

The complete game counts 106 fighters including character variants. The Road to Boruto expansion added seven:

Road to Boruto fighter

Boruto

Boruto (Scientific Ninja Tool)

Sarada

Mitsuki

Naruto (Seventh Hokage)

Sasuke (Wandering Shinobi)

Mecha-Naruto

Beginner-friendly picks share a few traits: fast approach tools, reliable projectiles, and simple combo routes. Series headliners like Naruto and Sasuke variants are good starting points because the story makes you learn them anyway.

Online Play

• Ranked matches reward consistent fundamentals: guarding, substitution management and punishing whiffs.
• Many online players rely on long-range projectiles; approach with chakra dash when they are recovering, not head-on.
• Spectator Mode lets you watch matches, which is a good way to learn team setups.
• As an older title, online player counts vary by region and time. Use player matches and friend invites if ranked queues are slow.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Spending substitutions on every hit. You will be empty when the real combo comes.
• Holding guard forever. Grabs and guard breaks will punish you.
• Ignoring supports. They are a third of your team; call them to break pressure and extend combos.
• Wasting awakenings early. Use them when they will swing the round.
• Spamming the same jutsu. Experienced players read it and punish recovery.
• Skipping Story mode. You lock yourself out of most of the roster.
• Chasing opponents up walls. It usually hands them the high ground.

Advanced Tips

• Bait the substitution. Hit with a quick, safe attack to draw out a substitution, then punish where they reappear.
• Mix up approaches. Alternate chakra dashes, jumps and projectile cover so opponents cannot guard on reflex.
• Swap to extend combos. Swapping mid-combo keeps damage flowing and resets your pressure.
• Know matchups. Some characters' ultimates and awakenings outclass others at certain ranges; learn when to avoid a fight.
• Use Training mode for timing. Practice support timing and combo-to-ultimate routes until they are automatic.
• Keep chakra in reserve. Having enough chakra to punish with an ultimate is often more valuable than using it early.

A First-Week Practice Plan

• Day 1–2: Story mode on a comfortable difficulty. Learn the basic actions in context and unlock the roster.
• Day 3: Training mode with one main. Practice a basic melee combo into a jutsu, then the same combo into your ultimate. Repeat until you can do it without looking at the controller.
• Day 4: Supports and swapping. Pick two supports and practice calling them mid-combo, then swapping to them. Note which support reliably interrupts an opponent's pressure.
• Day 5: Defense. Set the CPU to attack and practice guarding, then substituting only when a combo actually lands. Watch your gauge.
• Day 6: Free Battle on higher CPU difficulty. The AI punishes sloppy approaches and teaches you to mix up dashes and projectiles.
• Day 7: Online player matches. Low pressure, real opponents. Move to ranked once you win about as often as you lose.

PC Tips

• 60 fps is available in the PC settings since the February 2017 patch.
• A controller is strongly recommended; the game is designed around one.
• If you want the full content, check your edition. The Road to Boruto expansion can be bought separately or as part of the Road to Boruto edition.
• For the rest of the series, Bandai Namco launched a series overview page in November 2025 covering all Ultimate Ninja Storm games.

FAQ

How many characters are in Ultimate Ninja Storm 4? 106 fighters counting variants, including the Road to Boruto additions.

Is Road to Boruto worth it? Yes if you enjoy the game: seven new fighters, new costumes, new stages and Boruto's Tale.

Can I play Storm 4 online? Yes, through ranked and player matches. The 8-player endless mode and Spectator Mode were added in the February 2017 patch.

How do I unlock characters? Mostly by progressing Story mode; others unlock through additional play and modes.

Is there a newer game? Yes. NARUTO X BORUTO Ultimate Ninja STORM CONNECTIONS (2023) is the series' newest entry, but Storm 4 remains the one with the deepest Shippuden story mode.

How well did it sell? Combined with Road to Boruto, the game had sold 15 million copies by June 2026 according to Wikipedia, making it one of the best-selling fighting games ever.

What platforms is it on? PS4, Xbox One and Windows launched in February 2016 (Steam: 4 February 2016). The Road to Boruto version came to Nintendo Switch in April 2020. When does Adventure Mode open up? After you finish the main story campaign. It is an open world where you recreate fights from earlier games in the series, so clear Story mode first.

Sources

• NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM 4 – Wikipedia
• Steam store page (app 349040)
• Steam news: Road to Boruto and 60 FPS now available (Feb 2017)
• Official Ultimate Ninja Storm series page