Shadow Dancer Master System box art

Sega Master System · Platformer / Action

Shadow Dancer

SystemSega Master System
GenrePlatformer, Action
DeveloperSEGA
PublisherSEGA
Players1 player
CommitmentAn evening or two (Roughly 1–6 hours to see it through)
SeriesShinobi
LegacyWell-known · legacy score 6

Shadow Dancer is a platformer released for the Sega Master System, developed by SEGA. It blends platformer and action elements.

It is part of the Shinobi series; on the Master System you can also try Shinobi, The Cyber Shinobi and Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi. The series also appears on other systems with Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master (Genesis) and The Revenge of Shinobi (Genesis). SEGA also made Alex Kidd in Miracle World, Phantasy Star and Hang-On for the Master System.

Shadow Dancer is a single-player game, so it's one to enjoy at your own pace.

Pick it if…

  • you want to run, jump and explore
  • you have time for an evening or two (roughly 1–6 hours to see it through)

Maybe skip it if…

  • you get frustrated by precise jumps and limited lives
  • you are looking for something to play with friends

What playing Shadow Dancer is like

Platformers are all about movement: running, jumping and timing your way across levels full of gaps, enemies and secrets. The best ones feel great to control within seconds and then slowly teach you to master every leap.

Tip for newcomers: Retro platformers often have limited lives and few checkpoints. Learn one level at a time, look for hidden 1-ups, and don't be shy about using a save feature when it is available.

Shadow Dancer gameplay screenshot on Master System
In-game screenshot (Master System)

Shadow Dancer cheats & codes

2 codes on file (Action Replay). Here are a few Action Replay codes to start with:

Infinite Lives00C0-5909
Unlimited Special Attacks00C0-5A03

See all Shadow Dancer cheats

Shadow Dancer walkthroughs & guides

Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Shadow Dancer.

If you like Shadow Dancer, the Matrix also picks…

Shinobi box art
Shinobi Master System · 1988 · Action Classic

Playing Master System games today

The Master System library is full of colorful arcade-style games that are easy to pick up. Many titles also appear in Sega's official compilations.

Shadow Dancer FAQ

Who made Shadow Dancer?

It was developed by SEGA.

Is Shadow Dancer multiplayer?

No. Shadow Dancer is a single-player game.

How long does Shadow Dancer take to play?

As a platformer, Shadow Dancer typically falls into the "An evening or two" category: roughly 1–6 hours to see it through. Your time will vary with skill and how much you explore.

Read more about Shadow Dancer on Wikipedia. Facts on this page are compiled from the open libretro database and Wikidata; "legacy score" reflects how widely a game is documented across Wikipedia's language editions. Spotted an error? Let us know.

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