The first Goemon on Famicom establishes all the foundations: the mischievous thief, the insane feudal Japan, the absurd humor. Colorful and inventive action-adventure. The origin of a franchise still alive today.
Your verdict
Category
Action Adventure1 player7+
Co-op
Description
First Ganbare Goemon featuring the popular thief battling in the streets of Edo. Published by Konami, released in Japan in 1986. Goemon in side-scrolling view in Edo's lively streets with his pipe and varied enemies and level bosses. First founding Ganbare Goemon game on Famicom.
Ganbare Goemon! - Karakuri Douchuu review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
3/5
Music
★★★★★
"Memorable"
3/5
Story
★★★★★
"Solid"
The first instalment sets up the series' vocabulary: town streets seen from the side, shops open onto the road, wooden bridges, tiered castles. The topknotted, pipe-carrying thief stands out through his bright colour, and the passers-by drawn in the background give the towns an animation few games of the period allowed themselves.
Gameplay
"Solid"
Fun
"Pleasant"
Addictiveness
"Engaging"
Difficulty
"Balanced"
Lifespan
"Average"
Technical info
💾0,11 MB📅09/09/1986
Published by Konami
Ganbare Goemon! - Karakuri Douchuu (NES) price, value & rarity
Complete: box, manual and disc/cart very clean. Lightly handled.
Q1 damagedQ6 completeQ10 new
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Collector interest
The first Famicom entry in the Goemon line, founder of the entire Konami series to come. The Japanese cart stays accessible, but boxed CIB with original cardboard sleeve and manual is a mandatory starting point for Goemon or Konami Famicom collectors. The cote climbs steadily over a decade, sustained by the series' renewed prestige via Konami Collector's Series releases and foreign curiosity.
Is Ganbare Goemon! - Karakuri Douchuu still worth playing in 2026?
Ganbare Goemon! - Karakuri Douchuu is the first Famicom Goemon, laying every foundation: the mischievous thief, the unhinged feudal Japan, absurd humour and colourful action-adventure. Konami's title blends top-down exploration, pipe combat and mini-games into a patchwork of mechanics surprisingly coherent for 1986. Japan-only, the game remains visually accessible and marks the origin of a still-living franchise. A historical step to know today.
