Shadow of the Beast Master System box art

Sega Master System · Action

Shadow of the Beast

SystemSega Master System
GenreAction
DeveloperTecmagik
PublisherTecmagik
Players1 player
CommitmentAn evening or two (Roughly 1–6 hours to see it through)
SeriesShadow of the Beast
LegacyDeep cut

Shadow of the Beast is an action game released for the Sega Master System, developed by Tecmagik.

It is part of the Shadow of the Beast series. The series also appears on other systems with Shadow of the Beast (Genesis) and Shadow of the Beast II (Genesis). Tecmagik also made Champions of Europe and Pac-Mania for the Master System.

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

Pick it if…

  • you want to fight, blast and test your reflexes
  • you have time for an evening or two (roughly 1–6 hours to see it through)
  • you've played the Master System hits and want something less obvious

Maybe skip it if…

  • you prefer slow, thoughtful games over reflex tests
  • you are looking for something to play with friends

What playing Shadow of the Beast is like

Action games test reflexes and nerve. Expect fast enemies, tight controls and stages you clear by reacting quickly and learning enemy patterns.

Tip for newcomers: Retro action games are often short but tough. Treat early deaths as practice runs; every attempt teaches you where the next threat comes from.

Shadow of the Beast gameplay screenshot on Master System
In-game screenshot (Master System)

Shadow of the Beast cheats & codes

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

Infinite Health00DA-5109
Infinite Lives00DA-5009
Always Have The Gun00DA-5401
Always Have A Strange Weapon00DA-5201

See all Shadow of the Beast cheats

If you like Shadow of the Beast, 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 of the Beast FAQ

Who made Shadow of the Beast?

It was developed by Tecmagik.

Is Shadow of the Beast multiplayer?

No. Shadow of the Beast is a single-player game.

How long does Shadow of the Beast take to play?

As an action game, Shadow of the Beast 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.

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.

Not sure? Let the Matrix pick for you