A whimsical Japanese Goemon 3D adventure. Goemon and Ebisumaru roam a totally bonkers feudal Japan, with two distinct play styles and gloriously absurd humour. The slightly dated tech doesn't stop the genuine fun, especially in two-player.
Your verdict
Category
Action Adventure1 player7+
Co-op
Description
3D platformer starring Goemon and Ebisumaru on a quest to rescue their friends across a fantastical feudal Japan. Published by Konami, released in Japan in August 1998. Two characters with distinct abilities, the series' signature absurd humor, colorful Edo-era settings, and 2-player cooperative mode.
Japanese edition of Goemon's Great Adventure, under its original Ganbare Goemon Dero Dero Douchuu Obake Tenkomori name, distributed by Konami in December 1998. The Japanese cartridge keeps all the cultural references to Japanese obake ghost folklore and a two-player cooperative mode with original voices later dropped in the Western Goemon's Great Adventure release.
An underrated gem
Released in Europe and Japan, this second 3D Goemon pushes the gang's zany adventure further as they set out to save their friends turned into ghosts. Richer and more polished than the first, it nonetheless suffered from a limited release. Its offbeat humour and whimsical feudal Japan will delight fans of colourful platforming and exoticism.
Is Ganbare Goemon - Dero Dero Douchuu Obake Tenkomori still worth playing in 2026?
The first 3D Goemon, Ganbare Goemon - Dero Dero Douchuu delivers a Japanese adventure brimming with whimsy. Goemon and Ebisumaru roam an utterly unhinged feudal Japan, alternating 3D exploration and combat, with absurd humour and a memorable cast of bosses, including the giant robot Impact for showcase duels. The mildly dated tech does not stop genuine fun, especially in two-player. For fans of offbeat Konami adventures and N64 curiosities, it remains a strongly recommended detour today and a window into the series' best era.
