Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi
Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi — frequently asked questions
- What platforms is Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi on?
- Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi was released on Linux, Wii, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac.
- When did Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi release?
- Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi was first released on December 1, 1990.
About Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi
Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi, also known as just Shadow Dancer, is a side-scrolling action game produced by SEGA that was originally released for the SEGA Genesis in 1990. It has been re-released via downloading services such as the Wii's Virtual Console and Steam in 2010. It was also included in the Sega Genesis Collection for the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable but it was omitted in PAL version (Sega Mega Drive Collection). It is the second game in the Shinobi series released for the Mega Drive, following The Revenge of Shinobi. However, it is not a continuation of the previous game, but rather a loose adaptation to the 1989 arcade game Shadow Dancer. Like in the original arcade game, the player controls a ninja followed by a canine companion. The Secret of Shinobi was well received by critics.
Summary via IGDB.
Game details
- Platforms
- Linux, Wii, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac
- Developer
- Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
- Publisher
- Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
- Game modes
- Single player
- Themes
- Action
- Series
- Shinobi
Details via IGDB.
Reception
Every version compared
Prices, contemporary reception and the studio credited for each release
| Platform | Year | Loose | Complete | Sealed | Period reviews | Fake risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sega Genesis | 1990 | $20 | $53 | $284 | 10 reviews | Low |
Also released on: Linux · Wii · Sega Mega Drive/Genesis · PC (Microsoft Windows) · Mac. We haven’t priced or authenticated those versions yet.
Collector value & authenticity
Sega Genesis · PriceCharting sold data · Verified 2026-10-29
Other releases and variants
| Release | Loose | Complete | Sealed |
|---|---|---|---|
| European (PAL) release | $27 | $60 | $172 |
| Japanese release (Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi) | $29 | $90 | — |
How often it sells
- Loose: about once a week
- Complete: about 2 times a week
- Sealed: about once a year
Prices marked “few sales” rest on about one recorded sale a year, so treat them as a rough guide: the next copy could sell well above or below. Expect to wait for one to come up.
Sales frequency from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, as of 2026-10-29.
Price over time
- Loose
- Complete
A loose copy sold for about $2.65 in Oct 2007, $25 five years ago, and $19.87 as of Oct 2026.
Show as table
| Month | Loose | Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2008 | $2.05 | — |
| Jan 2009 | $6.44 | — |
| Jan 2010 | $4.82 | — |
| Jan 2011 | $3.87 | — |
| Jan 2012 | $1.89 | — |
| Jan 2013 | $3.48 | — |
| Jan 2014 | $7.99 | $19.49 |
| Jan 2015 | $10.50 | $24 |
| Jan 2016 | $9.99 | $25 |
| Jan 2017 | $12.82 | $30 |
| Jan 2018 | $12.02 | $28 |
| Jan 2019 | $17.53 | $33 |
| Jan 2020 | $17.79 | $47 |
| Jan 2021 | $17.88 | $59 |
| Jan 2022 | $28 | $50 |
| Jan 2023 | $26 | $56 |
| Jan 2024 | $20 | $56 |
| Jan 2025 | $20 | $61 |
| Jan 2026 | $19.00 | $55 |
| Oct 2026 | $19.87 | $53 |
Monthly price estimates from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, sampled quarterly, through Oct 2026.
Release record
| Territory | Date | Barcode |
|---|---|---|
| North America | 1990 | 010086011142 |
| Europe / PAL | 1991 | 4974365611149 |
| Japan | 1 December 1990 | 4974365540432 |
- Region
- NA+EU+JP
- Released
- 1990
- Authenticity
- Low
A competent ninja action game with a dog, below The Revenge of Shinobi in quality but priced above the middle.
Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi is a side-scrolling action game developed and published by Sega. It came out in Japan on 1 December 1990, in North America in 1990 and in Europe in 1991. It is the second Shinobi game on the Mega Drive after The Revenge of Shinobi, but it is not a continuation of that game. It is a loose adaptation of the 1989 arcade game Shadow Dancer, and like the arcade game it gives the ninja a canine companion.
Mean Machines called it a fairly good ninja game, but said the graphics, sound and gameplay were nowhere near as good as The Revenge of Shinobi. It judged that beat-em-up fans would still enjoy it. Mega ranked it 33rd among Mega Drive games in 1992.
What the press said at the time
| MegaTech Issue 1 | December 1991 | MEGATECH RATING 59% |
| Computer and Video Games | 63% | |
| Electronic Gaming Monthly | 32 / 40 | |
| GamePro | 4 / 5 | |
| ACE | 778 / 1000 | |
| Hobby Consolas | 90% | |
| Joystick | 90% | |
| Player One | 90% | |
| Sega Power | 90% | |
| Video Games & Computer Entertainment | 33 / 40 |
“Happily, Shadow Dancer is as rich and elaborate as the Original. The graphics are just as spectacular, and the game play is as tough and addictive.”
“Graphics, sound and playability are all inferior to Revenge, so smart cookies should check that one out for the ultimate ninja game.”
“stages of enemies while rescuing kidnapped children. An excellent continuation of the Shinobi series.”
“Graphics, sound and playability are all inferior to Revenge, so smart cookies should check that one out for the ultimate ninja game.”
Undated scores are from the review table in the game's Wikipedia article, limited to reviews of the Genesis version.
Before you buy
Among US carts it sits above the middle, and the risk of a fake is low. The European and Japanese carts both usually cost somewhat more than the US one, both loose and complete. A complete US copy means the case, cartridge and manual. Japanese cartridges are a different shape from Western ones.
Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi screenshots
Watch on YouTube
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