The Revenge of Shinobi
The Revenge of Shinobi — frequently asked questions
- What platforms is The Revenge of Shinobi on?
- The Revenge of Shinobi was released on PlayStation 3, Linux, Wii, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Android, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, Mac, Xbox 360.
- When did The Revenge of Shinobi release?
- The Revenge of Shinobi was first released on December 2, 1989.
About The Revenge of Shinobi
The Revenge of Shinobi, known as The Super Shinobi in Japan, is the continuation of Shadow Dancer - the arcade sequel to Shinobi. The game was the first Shinobi title developed exclusively for home consoles.
Summary via IGDB.
Game details
- Platforms
- PlayStation 3, Linux, Wii, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Android, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, Mac, Xbox 360
- 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 | 1989 | $21 | $53 | $100 | 15 reviews | Low |
Also released on: PlayStation 3 · Linux · Wii · Sega Mega Drive/Genesis · Android · PC (Microsoft Windows) · iOS · Mac · Xbox 360. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sega Classic re-release | $23 | $39 | — |
| European (PAL) release | $17 | $52 | $117 |
| Japanese release (The Super Shinobi) | $27 | $127 | — |
How often it sells
- Loose: about 2 times a week
- Complete: about 2 times a week
- Sealed: about 2 times a year
Sales frequency from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, as of 2026-10-29.
Price over time
- Loose
- Complete
A loose copy sold for about $2.82 in Oct 2007, $23 five years ago, and $21 as of Oct 2026.
Show as table
| Month | Loose | Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2008 | $2.79 | — |
| Jan 2009 | $4.25 | — |
| Jan 2010 | $1.92 | — |
| Jan 2011 | $2.99 | — |
| Jan 2012 | $3.47 | — |
| Jan 2013 | $4.23 | — |
| Jan 2014 | $8.99 | $2.04 |
| Jan 2015 | $10.99 | $20 |
| Jan 2016 | $11.96 | $30 |
| Jan 2017 | $14.99 | $30 |
| Jan 2018 | $19.85 | $39 |
| Jan 2019 | $12.55 | $34 |
| Jan 2020 | $17.23 | $46 |
| Jan 2021 | $23 | $51 |
| Jan 2022 | $19.75 | $54 |
| Jan 2023 | $23 | $56 |
| Jan 2024 | $17.73 | $62 |
| Jan 2025 | $18.35 | $48 |
| Jan 2026 | $19.84 | $60 |
| Oct 2026 | $21 | $53 |
Monthly price estimates from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, sampled quarterly, through Oct 2026.
Release record
| Territory | Date | Product number | Barcode |
|---|---|---|---|
| North America | December 1989 | — | 010086011050 |
| Europe / PAL | October 1990 | — | 4974365611057 |
| Japan | 2 December 1989 | G-4019 | — |
- Region
- NA+EU+JP
- Released
- 1989
- Authenticity
- Low
The Genesis ninja game built to show off the new hardware, and a mid-priced US cart.
The Revenge of Shinobi was developed and published by Sega and released in December 1989 in North America, on 2 December 1989 in Japan as The Super Shinobi, and in October 1990 in Europe. It was the first Shinobi game developed for the Genesis, a sequel to the original arcade game with a score by Yuzo Koshiro, and it later appeared on the Mega-Tech arcade version of the console.
Director Noriyoshi Ohba intended it as a showcase for the new Genesis hardware and as a way to adapt the series to a home console. Mega placed it eighteenth in its list of the top Mega Drive games of all time. It has since appeared in several compilations, and its sequel, Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master, followed in 1993.
What the press said at the time
| Computer + Video Games Issue 99 | February 1990 | 92 |
| Mean Machines Sega Issue 1 | October 1992 | 94% |
| Mean Machines Sega Issue 3 | December 1992 | 94% |
| MegaTech Issue 24 | December 1993 | 93% |
| Computer and Video Games | 93% | |
| Dragon | 5/5 | |
| Electronic Gaming Monthly | 8/10, 8/10, 9/10, 9/10 | |
| Famitsu | 7/10, 6/10, 8/10, 7/10 | |
| Raze | 92% | |
| The Games Machine | 88% | |
| Video Games | 91% | |
| Zero | 97% | |
| Computer Entertainer | 8/8 | |
| Sega Power | 93% | |
| Wizard | C− |
“It is fast moving, looks brilliant even by today’s standards, and even the sequel won’t improve on it much. A top game.”
“Megadrive Ninja magic! Kicks the coconuts off other beat aT |. "em ups!”
“This is just os good now as it wos then. … Combat platform games don't come much better than this.”
“The gameplay is beautifully bal anced so you seem to get just a little bit further with every game. The game itself is huge, spread over 20 different and very long sub-levels, making this chal lenging even to the most skillful of players. If you're a platform game fan, this is an essential purchase.”
Undated scores are from the review table in the game's Wikipedia article, limited to reviews of the Genesis version.
In the sales charts
In one sales chart, July 1993; highest position #8.
Show the placing
- #8 in the HMV Mega Drive chart — Sega Pro, Issue 21, July 1993
Sales charts as printed in the magazines of the time.
Before you buy
Among US carts this is above the middle. There is also a Sega Classic re-release, which PriceCharting prices separately; check which one a listing really is before comparing prices. The European cart usually costs less loose and about the same complete. The Japanese cart, The Super Shinobi, usually costs more, and a complete Japanese copy costs far more. A Japanese cartridge has a different shape and will not fit a Western console without an adapter or removing two plastic tabs in its slot.
The Revenge of Shinobi screenshots
Watch on YouTube
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