Play Iga Ninjyutsuden Online

Iga Ninjyutsuden came out in 1987 as an arcade game from Jaleco, a company that put out a lot of solid, if sometimes overlooked, titles during that era. It's a side-scrolling action game that fits right in with the kind of challenging, straightforward experiences you'd find in arcades at the time, where quick reflexes and pattern memorization were the keys to getting your money's worth.

You control a ninja tasked with infiltrating a castle, moving screen by screen through outdoor areas, interiors, and dungeons. Your main goal is to rescue a kidnapped princess, which means fighting through waves of enemy soldiers, archers, and other guards. You have a sword for close combat and a limited supply of shurikens for ranged attacks, but the standout mechanics are your ability to temporarily turn invisible to avoid damage and a screen-clearing special attack that costs health. The pacing is relentless, and the difficulty is unforgiving, with instant death traps and enemies that respawn quickly. It feels tense and deliberate, where every jump and attack has to be measured against the immediate threat on screen.