Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master review

Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master is the value action pick. A used cartridge lists at $54.99 at DKOldies, tied with Earthworm Jim for the second lowest regular price on this list, and DKOldies notes that its Genesis carts play on any Genesis system. SEGA is the publisher, and the game is part of the Nintendo Switch Online SEGA Genesis library along with its predecessor, The Revenge of Shinobi, so Switch players with the Expansion Pack get two Shinobi games for one membership. Nintendo's rewind and save states take the edge off the harder sections, which matters for a game built around precise jumps and attacks. The catch is availability: DKOldies showed it as out of stock when we checked, so collectors may need to wait for a restock or look at other stores. We found no standalone Steam version, which leaves Switch as the main modern route.

Who it is for

players who want ninja action on a budget

Price

Used Genesis cartridge from $54.99 at DKOldies (regular price, before sales).

Original price: $54.99
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 11, 2026.

Key features

• Third Shinobi game, published by SEGA
• Included in the Nintendo Switch Online SEGA Genesis library
• The Revenge of Shinobi is in the same library
• Rewind and save states through Nintendo Switch Online
• DKOldies lists the cart as playable on any Genesis system

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Ties Earthworm Jim for the second cheapest cart here at $54.99 used
• Strength: Switch members can also play The Revenge of Shinobi
• Strength: Save states help with hard stages
• Weakness: DKOldies listed it as out of stock on the day we checked
• Weakness: No standalone Steam release found
• Weakness: Cartridge only, without box or manual

Key facts

• Publisher: SEGA
• Series: Shinobi
• Genre (DKOldies listing): Action Adventure
• Region (DKOldies): NTSC (US, Canada)

Where it ranks

Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master is No. 5 in our Best Sega Genesis Games verdict.