Tecmo's Ninja Gaiden on Game Boy. Ryu Hayabusa on a pre-NES mission, sword and kunai, wall climbing. More accessible than the notoriously brutal NES entries, short levels. The engine is limited but the action lands. A good portable Ninja Gaiden, without the legendary NES harshness. Solid for franchise fans.
Your verdict
Category
Action1 player12+
Description
Action-platformer with ninja Ryu Hayabusa completing secret missions set before the events of the first NES Ninja Gaiden. Published by Tecmo, released in 1991 in Europe and North America. Sword and kunai combat, wall climbing, nocturnal urban levels, and Shadow organization bosses.
Ninja Gaiden Shadow review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
2/5
Story
★★★★★
"Classic"
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first minutes"
Addictiveness
"Captivating"
Difficulty
"Difficult"
Lifespan
"Short"
Technical info
💾0,08 MB📅01/10/1991
Published by Tecmo
Ninja Gaiden Shadow (Game Boy) price, value & rarity
Ninja Gaiden Shadow, a Tecmo action-platform game in which Ryu Hayabusa carries out his ninja missions, released in the United States. More accomplished than the series' direct ports, this title designed for the Game Boy is praised for its handling and atmosphere. Its desirability lies in that acknowledged quality, the Ninja Gaiden franchise's aura and a measured distribution that makes it a piece prized by collectors.
Is Ninja Gaiden Shadow still worth playing in 2026?
Ninja Gaiden Shadow is a Tecmo action-platformer on Game Boy, in which Ryu Hayabusa runs a nighttime mission with sword and kunai through a threatened city. The title shines through its precise handling, its wall-climbing and an intense pace that flatters the handheld. Originally built on the foundations of another game, it proves surprisingly accomplished and still enjoyable today. For fans of retro 2D action and the Ninja Gaiden series, it is a well-crafted portable entry.
