Play Devil World Online

Devil World came out for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1984, developed and published by Nintendo. It was part of that early wave of NES games, arriving before many of the console's most famous titles had even been conceived. It always felt like a curious, almost experimental release, something distinctly different from the straightforward platformers and action games that would later define the system.

You control a small green dragon named Tamagon, navigating a series of single-screen labyrinths. Your goal is to collect all the dots, called "Bibles," scattered around the maze while avoiding a host of pursuing demons. The core mechanics are what make it memorable: the maze itself constantly scrolls in one of four directions, pushing you toward the edges, and you collect crosses to temporarily spit fire and vanquish your enemies. The pacing is relentless; you're always reacting to the screen's movement and the encroaching monsters. It feels like a tense, claustrophobic race against a closing trap.