Play Mashou (Japan) Online

Mashou was a Japan only release for the Nintendo Entertainment System, developed by TOSE and published by Irem in 1988. It arrived during a period when many developers were experimenting with the action and adventure genres, creating games that often prioritized unique mechanics over straightforward action.

You control a knight navigating a seemingly endless, maze like tower. Your primary objective is to ascend floor by floor, defeating enemies and avoiding traps. The core mechanics involve screen by screen exploration, where each new screen loads as you move, and combat using a sword with a limited, forward only attack. A defining feature is the enemy respawn system; defeated foes reappear almost instantly if you leave and return to a screen, making backtracking a constant hazard. The pacing is deliberate and often frustrating, with a high difficulty stemming from the repetitive environments and relentless enemies. Playing it feels like being trapped in a looping, hostile dream where progress is measured in stubborn persistence.