Play Ganbare Goemon - Kurofunetou no Nazo (Japan) Online

Game Overview

Ganbare Goemon: Kurofunetou no Nazo is one of those Game Boy games that feels like it shouldn’t work as well as it does—but somehow, it nails the weird, wonderful energy of the Goemon series in handheld form. You’re immediately thrown into this little pirate adventure where Goemon, our spiky-haired hero, swings his pipe at everything from ninja cats to floating skulls while hopping between ships and islands. The controls are simple (jump, attack, repeat), but the levels throw in just enough curveballs—like hidden switches or sudden cannon fire—to keep you on your toes.

It’s got that classic Goemon humor, too. One minute you’re fighting a sumo wrestler on a raft, the next you’re dodging rolling sushi as an obstacle. The graphics are chunky but charming, and the music’s got that bouncy, unmistakably Japanese flair. It’s short, sure, but that almost works in its favor—perfect for a quick playthrough when you want something lighthearted and nostalgic. If you’ve ever wondered what a Saturday morning cartoon would look like as a Game Boy platformer, this is pretty much it.