Shinogi III: Return of the Ninja Master

Tenchu 2 follows teenage Rikimaru and Ayame as they train under master Shiunsai and confront a civil war threatening Lord Gohda's domain. The story reveals Rikimaru's iconic scar and the rise of the Burning Dawn ninja clan.

✦ Best for players craving classic stealth action with deep planning and story

Shadow Dancer is a 1989 action platformer where a ninja master and his faithful dog battle a terrorist group planting time bombs across the city. Players traverse four missions, defusing explosives and confronting enemies in fast‑paced side‑scrolling combat.

✦ Best for retro arcade lovers craving classic ninja action with a dog sidekick

Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse returns players to the haunted halls of Transylvania, where they must battle monsters and solve puzzles to defeat Dracula.

✦ Best for retro platformer fans

Zool is a high‑speed side‑scrolling platformer starring a gremlin‑like creature on a quest to become a Ninja. Players run, jump, climb walls and blast enemies across six worlds, each split into three stages.

✦ Best for retro action platform fans

The evil Shogun Kunitoki returns, using mystic powers to leap through time and forge a tyrannical empire in present‑day Manhattan. As the lone ninja hero, you must traverse gritty city streets, rooftops, and underground lairs to stop his reign of terror.

✦ Best for retro gamers craving 80s‑style side‑scroll action with tight combat

Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon follows the hot‑blooded ninja Goemon and his quirky friends as they thwart the Peach Mountain Shoguns' plan to turn Japan into a Westernized theater.

✦ Best for retro platform fans craving quirky humor and boss battles

The game features multiple rescues that trigger seasonal changes, cooperative multiplayer modes, and iconic retro graphics that have made it a beloved title since its 1985 arcade debut.

✦ Best for retro arcade enthusiasts craving classic ninja hack‑and‑slash with co‑op

Shinobi II: The Silent Fury continues the classic Sega ninja saga on the Game Gear, delivering tight side‑scroll action and challenging boss battles.

✦ Best for retro gamers craving authentic 1990s handheld ninja action

The game features unlimited shuriken, close‑range punches and kicks, and a power‑up that transforms your attacks into explosive gunfire and katana slashes.

✦ Best for retro arcade enthusiasts craving tight ninja combat and high‑score challenges

Set in the 21st century, The Cyber Shinobi follows Joe Musashi’s grandson as he battles the terrorist group Cyber‑Zeed across six diverse stages, from a construction site to a jungle waterfall.

✦ Best for retro sega master system ninja platformer fans

The Revenge of Shinobi continues the legendary Shinobi saga, pitting Joe Musashi against the revived crime syndicate Neo Zeed after they murder his teacher and kidnap his fiancée.

✦ Best for retro platformer fans craving authentic 1989 shinobi gameplay

Shinobi is a third‑person action title where you control Hotsuma, leader of the Oboro clan, as he battles demonic forces across a shattered Tokyo.

✦ Best for players craving fast ninja combat and a concise single-player story

Mega Man X2 builds on the fast‑paced platforming of its predecessor, delivering tight controls, challenging stages, and a memorable soundtrack set in a futuristic world.

✦ Best for retro gaming fans

Castlevania: Rondo of Blood is a 1993 action‑platformer that blends gothic horror with fast‑paced hack‑and‑slash combat. Players control Richter Belmont as he battles through Dracula's castle, rescuing his beloved and confronting iconic monsters.

✦ Best for classic action fans

Batman: Return of the Joker is a 1991 side‑scrolling platformer developed by Sunsoft for the NES. The game follows the comic‑book Batman as he pursues the Joker after his escape from an insane asylum, battling henchmen across Gotham City.

✦ Best for retro gamers craving authentic nes batman platform‑beat‑em‑up

Based on the 1994 film, 3 Ninjas Kick Back is a side‑scrolling beat‑em‑up platformer where you control the three ninja brothers—Rocky, Colt, and Tum‑Tum—through colorful levels filled with enemies and comedic moments.

✦ Best for families craving retro co‑op platform action

The game retains its signature side‑scrolling hack‑and‑slash action while expanding the original experience with longer stages and a revamped final showdown.

✦ Best for retro arcade fans craving four‑player split‑screen co‑op

The game blends fast‑paced combat with precise jumping puzzles, offering both single‑player and multiplayer modes for arcade cabinets. Its simple yet addictive gameplay has made it a nostalgic favorite among retro gaming enthusiasts.

✦ Best for retro platformer fans craving tight controls and co‑op arcade action

Shinobi Legions, known as Shinobi X in Europe and Shin Shinobi Den in Japan, is the fifth and final entry in the classic Shinobi series.

✦ Best for retro gamers craving deep ninja combo platformers

Shinobi is a 1991 side‑scrolling action title from Sega, crafted specifically for the Game Gear handheld. Players control a ninja battling through enemy‑filled stages with fast‑paced combat and platforming challenges.

✦ Best for retro handheld fans craving authentic 1990s ninja action

The Revenge of Shinobi is a 2002 hack‑and‑slash action game developed by 3d6 Games and published by THQ and Sega for the Game Boy Advance.

✦ Best for retro ninja hack‑and‑slash fans craving gba action