The Ninja JaJaMaru/Ninja-Kid series
I never heard of this series before Ninja JaJaMaru-kun for the Famicom was release on Nintendo Switch Online, and I eventually found out that this is a surprisingly extensive series with quite a few games. It can be hard to track them, so this list is intended to help anyone who might be interested in this series. Please let me know if I missed anything.
Missing pages:
JaJaMaru: Ninpō Chō, or Ninja JaJaMaru: Ninja Spell Book
Ninja JaJaMaru-kun Ranbu
Ninja JaJaMaru: The Great World Adventure DX
Missing pages:
JaJaMaru: Ninpō Chō, or Ninja JaJaMaru: Ninja Spell Book
Ninja JaJaMaru-kun Ranbu
Ninja JaJaMaru: The Great World Adventure DX
19 Games
The first game in the series, originally released in arcades. It later got a Famicom port, which is largely the same game, and many years later was released on Wii Virtual Console and later still, Arcade Archives.
A spin-off of the original game released for the Famicom, and later ported to the MSX.
A port of Ninja JaJaMaru-kun. I normally don't include ports in this kind of list, but the Vs. series did sometimes have changes and some new content; unsure if this version does or not.
Originally exclusive to the Famicom, this game was localized in English in 2023 where it was renamed Ninja JaJaMaru's Big Adventure.
This game is known as Ninja-kun Ashura no Shō in Japan, Rad Action in North America (yes, seriously), and Ninja-Kid II elsewhere is the follow-up to the original Ninja-Kid. Later got an Arcade Archives port under the Ninja-Kid II name.
JaJaMaru: Ninpō Chō - which doesn't have a Backloggd page - was released for Famicom, and was originally meant to be released in the west under the name "Taro's Quest". That version wasn't released, and instead the game didn't come out in the west until 2023 with The Lost RPGs collection where it was officially retitled Ninja JaJaMaru: Ninja Skill Book.
Strange how the sequel to the first RPG has a page but not the first RPG... anyway, unsurprisingly, this game was released only on the Famicom. In 2023, it was renamed Ninja JaJaMaru: The Legend of the Golden Castle for the Lost RPGs collection.
Known as Oira Jajamaru! Sekai Daibōken in Japan. When added to the JajaMaru Retro Collection in 2023, it was renamed Ninja JaJaMaru: The Great World Adventure.
When the Retro Collection was released, The Great World Adventure was given a Game Boy Color remake specifically for the collection, The Great World Adventure DX. This remake doesn't have its own page, and I don't see it significant enough to make a different entry.
When the Retro Collection was released, The Great World Adventure was given a Game Boy Color remake specifically for the collection, The Great World Adventure DX. This remake doesn't have its own page, and I don't see it significant enough to make a different entry.
Despite not looking or sounding anything like a Ninja JajaMaru game, this is considered to be in the series. It has never been rereleased.
Never left the Famicom until 2023 where it was retitled Ninja JaJaMaru: Operation Milky Way.
Only on Super Famicom until 2023 where it was localized as Super Ninja Kid. Also had a run on Satellaview.
Japan-only on the PlayStation and hasn't been rereleased.
Japan-only on the Sega Saturn and hasn't been rereleased. Not sure what the differences are, but I imagine it has notable ones with the slightly different name and separate Backloggd page.
A remake of Ninja JaJaMaru-kun only for the original WonderSwan. It has cutscenes, better controls, and improved sprites, though, given it's the original WonderSwan, no color. Unfortunately never rereleased but it looks much better than the original.
Ninja Jajamaru-kun Ranbu does not have its own page. It appears to be a 2D platformer released in 2003 for Japanese mobile devices. Never rereleased or localized.
A Japan-only GBA game from 2004. I can find very little information on this one.
Japan-only 3DS game
A new game released as part of a collection in 2019.
An updated version of The Great Yokai Battle