Play The Legend of Kage Online

The Legend of Kage came out on the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1986, developed by Taito. It was one of those early action games that felt distinct from the platformers and arcade ports that dominated the NES library at the time, offering a specific kind of ninja fantasy that was both simple and punishing.

You control a young ninja named Kage, leaping between treetops and across castle walls to rescue Princess Kiri. Your main tools are a sword for close combat and shurikens for attacking from a distance. The game progresses screen by screen; you clear an area of enemy ninjas and monks before moving on, often while the seasons change abruptly in the background. The pacing is relentless, and the difficulty is severe, as most enemies can kill you in a single hit. It feels like a desperate, non-stop sprint through a beautiful but hostile world.