Ninja Gaiden Classic
Nintendo Entertainment System · Platformer
Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom
Certified classic
| System | Nintendo Entertainment System |
|---|---|
| Released | 1991 |
| Genre | Platformer |
| Developer | Tecmo |
| Publisher | Tecmo |
| Players | 1 player |
| Commitment | An evening or two (Roughly 1–6 hours to see it through) |
| Series | Ninja Gaiden |
| ESRB | E |
| Legacy | Certified classic · legacy score 15 |
Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom is a platformer released in 1991 for the Nintendo Entertainment System, developed by Tecmo.
It landed about 6 years into the NES's life. Other notable NES releases from 1991 include Pac-Man, Battletoads and Yoshi. Among the 191 NES platformers in our database, it ranks #19 by legacy score.
It is part of the Ninja Gaiden series; on the NES you can also try Ninja Gaiden, Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos and Shadow Warriors: Ninja Gaiden. The series also appears on other systems with Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword (DS) and Ninja Gaiden Shadow (Game Boy). Tecmo also made Rygar, Mighty Bomb Jack and Tecmo Cup Soccer Game for the NES.
This is a solo experience: one player, no waiting on anyone else.
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)
- you want to experience one of the NES's defining games
Maybe skip it if…
- you get frustrated by precise jumps and limited lives
- you are looking for something to play with friends
What playing Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom 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.
Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom cheats & codes
84 codes on file (Game Genie, Other codes). Here are a few Game Genie codes to start with:
| Infinite Lives | SXEKVLVG |
|---|---|
| Infinite Energy | SZEXILSA |
| Infinite Time | SZVZIIVG |
| Less Time | VPKGXKXY |
| Can't Get Items | EPPOZZ |
| Enemies Take 1 Hit To Defeat | AEKXTEYA |
Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom walkthroughs & guides
Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom.
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Playing NES games today
NES games are short on paper but often famously tough, so expect to replay levels and learn patterns. Many first-party titles are available through Nintendo Switch Online, original cartridges remain easy to find, and you can play backups of games you own in an emulator such as Rec0m88.
Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom FAQ
When did Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom come out on the NES?
Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1991.
Who made Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom?
It was developed by Tecmo.
Is Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom multiplayer?
No. Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom is a single-player game.
How long does Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom take to play?
As a platformer, Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom 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 Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom 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.