SHADOW GANGS ZERO - Shinobi-style ninja action game coming to Neo Geo, Sega Genesis / Mega Drive, and Dreamcast !

Marcio_D · Aug 18, 2024

If you adore ninja platforming action games such as Shinobi (1987) and Shadow Dancer (1989), check this out. Shadow Gangs Zero is being developed for three retro consoles - Neo Geo, Sega Genesis / Mega Drive, and Dreamcast. Shadow Gangs Zero is a prequel to 2020's Shadow Gangs, so you can already play that 2020 game to get an idea of what to expect. For all three of these retro platforms, the upcoming prequel will be available in digital and physical formats.

The Kickstarter campaign is fully funded, so now it's a matter of seeing if the series of stretch goals will be reached, the first of which is:

Second Playable Character

Introducing Hikaru, the ninja girl! Play as this new character and experience the game from a fresh perspective.

More info can be found here if you'd like to contribute:

.

Marcio_D · Sep 11, 2024

Only a couple of days left in the campaign, so please help out if you can:

Thanks!

Marcio_D · Sep 18, 2024

The core campaign ended on September 14, 2024 and was a smashing success. Not only was the project fully funded, but it also surpassed the stretch goal for having the female ninja included as a playable character!

Due to extremely strong demand, the developer has decided to accept Late Pledges for those who missed out during the core campaign. Here's the exciting part... The project is only £6,000 away from reaching the next stretch goal: 2-player co-operative gameplay. This will be a revolutionary feature, as none of the arcade and console Shinobi games had this 2-player simultaneous gameplay.

Join the revolution here:

Marcio_D · Oct 20, 2024

UPDATE:

Less than £1,000 away from unlocking: 2-player co-operative gameplay.

Join the party:

Marcio_D · Nov 12, 2024

2-player co-op gameplay has been unlocked. Thanks to all backers for making this happen!

Late Pledges are being accepted for a bit longer, so make sure you join the club while you still can.

The next stretch goal is £120K, which unlocks six mini-bosses: ED Walker, Military Tank, Dragon, Military Helicopter, CannonWall, and Heavily Armed Van.

Marcio_D · Feb 14, 2025

ShadowTeam has posted an update for the upcoming Shinobi-inspired game Shadow Gangs Zero. The first bit of news is that the graphics development is coming along very nicely. The second major takeaway is that porting from the lead system Neo Geo to the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive has now begun!

Catch up on the exciting details here:

February 9, 2025 Update

If you haven't made a pledge to the campaign yet, what are you waiting for?

P.S. Enjoy the latest music tracks from the game:

Marcio_D · May 15, 2025

Last month (April 2025), the developer posted exciting news about the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive version of this highly anticipated Shinobi-style ninja game:

Development of the game engine has been completed, including support for music and sound effects.
Game is now running at a full 60 frames per second.
Bankswitching is implemented, allowing the use of 16 MB (128 megabits) of cartridge space. So all the high-quality art and animation frames will be fully supported.
The Genesis / Mega Drive version is being built using SGDK.

The latest news for this month (May 2025) is that the game's core artwork is now almost fully complete, with just special effects and background animations left to add - these will bring extra life and energy to the levels.

For the few of you who haven't yet pledged, you're invited to join the ninja revolution at this page:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jkmcorp/shadow-gangs-zero

When you make a pledge to the campaign, here are some cool personalized rewards available:

Custom Backer Image - Later levels:
Add a small image (up to 64 x 64 pixels) of your choice - whether it’s your portrait or any design - within a game level.

Graffiti Text / Image - Level 1:
Be the sole backer to have your custom text or graffiti design featured in the very first level of the game - up to 80 x 64 pixels in size.

Graffiti Text / Image - Later levels:
Add your custom text or graffiti design within a game level - up to 80 x 64 pixels in size.

Name the Ninja Girl:
Name the fierce, playable ninja girl - choose her name!

Marcio_D · Jul 28, 2025

The pixel art for all 18 levels was completed last month (June), as was the majority of the music tracks. Now in July, level design is well underway and things are progressing very nicely. The Neo Geo version is on schedule to be completed by December 2025 as planned, with the Genesis / Mega Drive version hot on its heels for March 2026.

The campaign is currently at £109K in pledges. It needs to reach £120K to unlock the six mini bosses. Please make a pledge so that you can join in the fun. In addition to the Neo Geo and Genesis / MD, you can also back the versions for these other platforms: Dreamcast, PC (Steam), PS5, Xbox, and Switch.

It was confirmed a couple of months ago that the Neo Geo digital version is compatible with NeoSD PRO, as the developer is personally testing the game with it throughout development.

Visit the campaign page:

Reminder: All backers will have their names displayed on the credits screen accessible from the main menu, as well as on the end-game screens.

Also: Backers of the physical versions for Neo Geo, Genesis / MD, and Dreamcast will receive the corresponding digital versions for free!

Marcio_D · Sep 23, 2025

Level Design:
Last month (August 2025), the developer reported that level design was in high gear. Now in September 2025, the developer tells us that he's finished the first pass in creating these game levels: City, Bridge, Airport, Bunker, Forest, Beach, Cyber Punk, Castle. The current level being designed is: China. He estimates that he'll have finished the first pass of designing all levels by mid-to-late October 2025. Designing levels for Shadow Gangs Zero is a multi-pass process involving three primary passes plus a polishing phase. Lots of work, but the developer is making great progress.

Mini Bosses:
The final campaign stretch goal is the inclusion of six mini bosses: Fire-breathing dragon, Military helicopter, Cannon wall with heavy firepower, Van with armed fighters, etc. To achieve that stretch goal, the pledge total needs to reach £120K. We are so very close to reaching this goal, as the pledge total is currently at £113K.

Neo Geo Flash Carts:
A couple of months ago, I reported that the Neo Geo digital version is compatible with NeoSD PRO, as the developer is personally testing the game with it throughout development. Since then, a new backer has come aboard who will help with testing for BackBit compatibility and DarkSoft Multi MVS compatibility. Why all the fuss about Neo Geo flash carts? Because Neo Geo is the lead development system and flagship version, so the developer wants to make sure that all Neo Geo fans can play the game!

Beta Testing:
Speaking of testing, you already know that backers will have access to the Neo Geo beta digital release. I've received confirmation from the developer that ALL backers will have access to this Neo Geo beta release. In other words, even backers of the Genesis / Mega Drive, Dreamcast, PS5, Xbox, Switch, and Steam versions will be granted access to the Neo Geo beta. Granting broad beta access will help the developer iron out all bugs, while giving backers early access as a loyalty perk. A win-win for everyone!

Ongoing Pledges:
So far, the campaign has attracted over 760 backers to its cause. That's awesome! We're striving to reach 800 backers by year's end - Could you help make that happen? If you haven't yet pledged, please take another look at the campaign page to see if you'd like to add Shadow Gangs Zero to your collection. If you've already pledged, please tell your circle of friends about the game and invite them to join the SGZ community.

Did you know that all backers of the physical media versions will also receive the corresponding digital versions for free? For example, Genesis / MD physical cartridge backers will receive the Genesis / MD digital ROM file at no extra cost. Perfect for playing SGZ on your portable devices when you're away from home!

New Music Track for Genesis / Mega Drive:
From the developer:

We also have a great new Mega Drive track to enjoy. Listen closely at 0:30 seconds — those toms are actually FM drums, not samples, showcasing the MD’s unique sound!

Shadow Gangs Zero - Campaign Page:

Marcio_D · Oct 14, 2025

Level design update:

In his latest post on the campaign page, the developer informs us that the first pass of level design has been finished. The second pass is now underway, which focuses on refining each level’s layout, enemy placement, and gameplay flow to near-final quality. At the current pace, this second pass should be finished around mid-December 2025.

After the second pass, the third pass work will begin, which involves integrating all final graphics for levels, characters, menus, and other visual elements. And then the final pass is the optimization and polish phase, to ensure the game runs smoothly and meets the high standards being aimed for. The developer promises to keep backers fully informed of all progress as it happens.

The game has 42 levels, comprised of:

- 35 regular levels

- 5 boss levels

- 2 bonus levels

Graphics update:

The artists have begun working on background animations to liven up the levels. They're also remastering the special effects such as blood, explosions, and impact visuals to ensure they look their best - i.e. smoother motion and more animation frames. The developer is sparing no expense in giving these elements the attention they deserve.

Spread the word!

Tell your friends about Shadow Gangs Zero. The more support the campaign receives, the better the final product:

Marcio_D · Nov 14, 2025

Phase 2 of level design is going extremely well, with 31 of the 42 total levels having been finished. The developer now estimates this level-polishing phase will be completed by the end of November 2025.

Phase 3: December 2025 to January 2026 - Integration of final graphics into the game.

Optimization Phase: February 2026 to March 2026 - Special effects, sound, and music will be implemented in the game.

Beta Test: April 2026 to June 2026 - All campaign backers will receive a digital copy of the Neo Geo beta version, no matter which platform you backed - i.e. Neo Geo, Genesis / Mega Drive, Dreamcast, Switch, PS5, Xbox, PC (Steam). So be prepared to experience the beta using the flash cart, FPGA, or emulation device of your choice. The developer is counting on you to help iron out all bugs and give useful feedback, as Shadow Gangs Zero is very much a community-driven effort.

Gold: The developer is aiming for the final Neo Geo version to be released by July / August 2026. Once that's done, the versions for the remaining platforms will be developed and released in fairly rapid succession.

Don't miss out on the fun. The campaign is accepting new pledges:

So far, £115K has been raised. We're just £5K away from reaching the final stretch goal of £120K, which will enable the inclusion of six unique mini-bosses - e.g. Ferocious fire-breathing dragon, Military helicopter dropping high-caliber rounds from above, Cannon wall with an arsenal of heavy fire, etc.

Thanks for your help.

P.S. Did you know that Shadow Gangs Zero has a 2-player cooperative gameplay mode? That means you can play solo, or with a friend!

Marcio_D · Dec 14, 2025

Development is now in Phase 3, which involves the integration of final graphics into the game levels. As of December 10th, Phase 3 is 28% complete, with 12 of the 42 levels all done. Check out the screenshots below.

The developer writes:

The final graphics go through a special division and processing pipeline to maximize the colour usage on the Neo Geo, allowing us to take full advantage of its 256 palettes. The results are excellent, and the game is really coming alive visually.

All the music for the game has been finished. The audio driver reproduces the songs with perfect clarity and accuracy, enabling the Neo Geo to play the music faithfully to the original tracker files.

After Phase 3 has concluded, the extra polish phase will begin. This will involve the artists taking detailed instructions from the developer and refining the level graphics to the highest quality possible. While the artists do their thing, the developer will work on Neo Geo code optimization to ensure everything runs smoothly and efficiently on the actual hardware.

The campaign has reached £116,499 and is only £3.5K away from the final stretch goal that gives us the six mini-bosses. If you haven't yet pledged, please do so and join the nearly 800 enthusiastic fans who've already contributed to the campaign:

P.S. Happy holiday season to you all. May you find a new game or two under the tree this year!

Marcio_D · Jan 12, 2026

Happy new year (2026)! This is the year that we'll see Shadow Gangs Zero (SGZ) starting to be released for the platforms being supported - i.e. Neo Geo, Sega Genesis / Mega Drive, Dreamcast, Switch, PS5, Xbox One, and Steam (PC).

Progress:

Phase 3 of development has been finished, which was the integration of final graphics. Now the developer has moved on to Phase 4, which involves working on: special effects, impacts & hit flashes, blood & debris, explosions, background animations, HUD, and menus & loading screens. The alpha version of the game is projected to be ready by mid to late February 2026.

Upcoming:

After alpha, the developer plans to work on these tasks: final optimization, difficulty tuning, sound effects integration, and hardware performance checks. Once those tasks have been done, we enter the phase that you've all been waiting for - Beta testing. During the beta phase, all backers will be given a digital copy of the Neo Geo beta version to playtest. By all backers, I mean EVERYONE, not just Neo Geo backers. So for example, if you've backed the Genesis / Mega Drive version, you'll be playtesting the Neo Geo beta. Ditto for backers of Dreamcast, Switch, PS5, Xbox One, and Steam (PC).

Tribute:

In his January 10, 2026 progress update, the developer pays tribute to Arjie Cosca, the original main level artist who sadly passed away three months ago. As you view the screenshots attached to this post, please know that SGZ’s levels carry his vision, style, and inspiration. The developer notes Arjie's contribution:

- He shaped the visual identity of the game.
- He brought atmosphere and world-building to every stage.
- His sense of detail, mood, and composition is everywhere.
- The art pipeline, tone, and richness all began with his work.

Campaign:

Over 800 backers are now on board with their game controllers on hand, ready to experience the SGZ revolution. We're only £1.5K away from reaching the final stretch goal that gives us the six mini-bosses. Don't let the term "mini-bosses" fool you, as these aren't tiny adversaries. One of them is a large ferocious dragon that fills more than half the screen!

Please help make the inclusion of the mini-bosses a reality. The campaign is still open, but not for much longer:

Thanks!

Marcio_D · Feb 13, 2026

The developer has dropped a major bombshell in his latest update report. Despite Neo Geo having been the lead development system since the very beginning, the Steam (PC) version will actually be released a few months earlier than the Neo Geo version! To learn more about the reasons why, click the link below to read that surprising report.

That report also talks about content completion, and gives fantastic news about the development of the Mega Drive / Genesis version.

Please back the campaign if you're interested in the game. 820 backers are on board, and there's less than £700 left to go to meet the final stretch goal that gives us the six mini-bosses. The developer has publicly signaled the upcoming closure of the campaign, so don't be left out in the cold!

Read the February 2026 update report:

www.kickstarter.com/projects/jkmcorp/shadow-gangs-zero/posts/4606888

Marcio_D · May 3, 2026

The developer announced on March 10, 2026 that the third and final campaign stretch goal was met. To recap, the stretch goals were:

Second playable character - Ninja girl. UNLOCKED.
Two-player co-operative gameplay mode. UNLOCKED.
Inclusion of six mini-bosses. UNLOCKED.

Just a few days ago on April 29, 2026, the developer released the Neo Geo beta demo (v1.0) for backers to playtest. This digital download is available to all backers, not just backers of the Neo Geo version. So those of you who've backed a version for another platform (Genesis / Mega Drive, Dreamcast, PS5, Xbox One, Switch, PC) should download and give it a try. As a backer, you would've received an email providing you with the download link. Down below, I've included a gameplay video of the Neo Geo beta demo.

If you're interested in backing the campaign and playing the aforementioned demo, please check if the "Back this project" button is still available on the following page:

If it is, you're in luck!

If that button is no longer available, you'll have to wait for your chance to get the game later this year (most likely from the PixelHeart website).

SHADOW GANGS ZERO - Shinobi-style ninja action game coming to Neo Geo, Sega Genesis / Mega Drive, and Dreamcast !

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