Play Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master Online

Game Overview

Shinobi III is one of those Genesis games that just feels right—tight controls, smooth animations, and that perfect mix of challenge and style. You're back as Joe Musashi, slicing through Neo Zeed goons with your sword, hurling kunai, and pulling off ridiculous wall jumps like a ninja acrobat. The levels throw everything at you: horseback chases, surfing sections (yes, really), and even a maze where wrong doors send you backtracking.

What I love is how much freedom you have in combat. You can spam kunai, go full sword-dash mode, or chain drop-kicks off enemies like some kind of murderous trampoline. The ninjitsu spells are fun too—setting the whole screen on fire never gets old, though the suicide bomb one is... a last resort. And if you're feeling cocky, try clearing levels without using any special moves for bonus points.

It's tough but fair, with just enough hidden paths and power-ups to keep replays interesting. Still holds up as one of the best action-platformers on the Genesis.