The Little Mermaid NES box art

Nintendo Entertainment System · Action

The Little Mermaid

Certified classic

SystemNintendo Entertainment System
Released1991
GenreAction
DeveloperCapcom
PublisherCapcom
Players1 player
CommitmentAn evening or two (Roughly 1–6 hours to see it through)
SeriesDisney
LegacyCertified classic · legacy score 10

Released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1991, The Little Mermaid is an action game developed by Capcom.

It landed about 6 years into the NES's life. Other notable NES releases from 1991 include Pac-Man, Battletoads and Yoshi. Among the 164 NES action games in our database, it ranks #23 by legacy score.

It is part of the Disney series; on the NES you can also try DuckTales, Adventures in the Magic Kingdom and Talespin. The series also appears on other systems with DuckTales (Game Boy) and Disney's Aladdin (Genesis). Capcom also made Mega Man, Mega Man 2 and Mega Man 3 for the NES.

The Little Mermaid 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 want to experience one of the NES's defining games

Maybe skip it if…

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

What playing The Little Mermaid 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.

The Little Mermaid gameplay screenshot on NES
In-game screenshot (NES)

The Little Mermaid cheats & codes

43 codes on file (Game Genie, Other codes). Here are a few Game Genie codes to start with:

Start With 1 LifeAASGATZA
Start With 6 LivesIASGATZA
Start With 9 LivesAASGATZE
Infinite LivesSZSSPLVG
Keep Red Pearls After DyingGZSILLSA
Keep Green Pearls After DyingGZSIILSA

See all The Little Mermaid cheats

The Little Mermaid walkthroughs & guides

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

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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.

The Little Mermaid FAQ

When did The Little Mermaid come out on the NES?

The Little Mermaid was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1991.

Who made The Little Mermaid?

It was developed by Capcom.

Is The Little Mermaid multiplayer?

No. The Little Mermaid is a single-player game.

How long does The Little Mermaid take to play?

As an action game, The Little Mermaid 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 The Little Mermaid 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.

Not sure? Let the Matrix pick for you