Play Ganbare! Daiku no Gen-san Online

Irem released Ganbare! Daiku no Gen-san for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1993, a time when side-scrolling action games were common but often predictable. This one stood out with its unusual premise; you play as a carpenter named Gen-san, not a typical warrior or hero, tasked with rescuing a kidnapped princess. It fits right in with the era's focus on colorful, inventive platformers, but it has a quirky identity all its own.

You control Gen-san through multi-screen stages, using his hammer to defeat enemies and occasionally rebuild broken parts of the environment, like bridges or platforms, to progress. The main goal is straightforward: fight through each level, defeat the boss, and move on to the next. Combat is simple but satisfying, with basic jumps and attacks; the real charm comes from using your hammer for both offense and light puzzle-solving. The pacing is brisk, and the difficulty can spike unexpectedly, especially in later stages. It feels rough and silly in a way that makes even the frustrating parts memorable.