also known as Ninja Gaiden III - The Ancient Ship of Doom
NES / Famicom
🇯🇵
Reviewed in 1991
78
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✪ Reviewed on May 10, 2025
70
The third and final Ninja Gaiden on NES. Slightly below the first two but still excellent. Even higher difficulty. A worthy conclusion to an exceptional trilogy.
Your verdict
Category
Action1 player12+
Description
Third Japanese Ninja Gaiden featuring Ryu battling on the ancient ship of doom. Published by Tecmo, released in Japan in 1991. Ryu with enriched techniques and complex narrative cutscenes. Third Ninja Ryuuken Den on Famicom.
Ninja Ryuuken Den III - Yomi no Hakobune review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
3/5
Story
★★★★★
"Solid"
Concluding the NES trilogy, the entry deploys melodic, heroic themes of great intensity, faithful to the series' dramatic spirit. Tecmo's music supports Ryu's final battles with a constant urgency and emotion. This sonic mastery worthily seals one of the console's finest action adventures.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first minutes"
Addictiveness
"Captivating"
Difficulty
"Difficult"
Lifespan
"Average"
Technical info
💾0,16 MB📅27/09/1991
Published by Tecmo
Ninja Ryuuken Den III - Yomi no Hakobune (NES) price, value & rarity
The original Japanese edition of Ninja Ryuuken Den III - Yomi no Hakobune, released by Tecmo in September 1991 under the series' native title. Less scarce than its American NES counterpart, it draws those who favor the source version and the trilogy's authentic Japanese name. A common Famicom cartridge yet a coherent piece for a complete saga set, its appeal rests on authenticity more than rarity.
Memorable bosses
The trilogy's most merciless climax, this third entry pushes demand to the extreme against massive biomechanical guardians. The chains to learn forgive no approximation, and the smallest mistake costs dearly. Its feared difficulty, paired with a high-tension conclusion, makes it an ultimate test for anyone who already masters Ryu's blade.
Is Ninja Ryuuken Den III - Yomi no Hakobune still worth playing in 2026?
Ninja Gaiden III - The Ancient Ship of Doom concludes Tecmo's action trilogy on NES, in which Ryu Hayabusa faces cosmic forces across a succession of levels of fearsome intensity. The snappy sword action, wall-climbing and cinematic staging of the cutscenes stay striking, faithful to the series' excellence. The extreme difficulty, raised even further in the Western version, may frustrate. For fans of demanding retro 2D action and the Ninja Gaiden saga, it is a peak of the genre reserved for seasoned players.
