Who remembers the Last Ninja series? Not just me? Great! Because the whole collection is officially coming to modern consoles thanks to an absolute banger of a Kickstarter.

The Last Ninja is a series of action-adventure games straight out of the 80’s and 90’s, published by System 3. The first game came out in 1987 for the Commodore 64, and was undoubtedly one of the most successful games for the console. You play as Armakuni, the sole survivor of a ninja clan that were wiped out by the evil shogun, Kunitoki. This story of vengeance through the series takes you from Lin Fen, to New York City, to a mystical Buddhist temple in Tibet.

The sequels came out in 1988 and 1991, while Bangkok Knights in 1987. Bangkok Knights ostensibly happens in the same universe. However, you’re an amateur muay thai fighter taking a shot at the title. International Karate (1985) and IK+ (1987) follow the same format, but with Kumite tournaments. In the US, International Karate was known as World Karate Championship, and was the first European-developed game to top the Billboard software charts.

An Original in Every Aspect

The Last Ninja Collection is a tribute to a golden era of fighter gaming, celebrating and preserving this beloved franchise. In its time, the Last Ninja games were known for their innovative gameplay, memorable graphics, and  atmospheric music. They captivated gamers all over the world, setting a new standard for action-adventure games. This collection offers young gamers a chance to experience these classics, and older gamers a chance to relive the adventure.

All seven games, including Last Ninja Remix, which changed up some of the graphics and soundtracks, have been compiled into one disk. Some physical copies are limited editions to the Kickstarter backers. Gold, Platinum, and Diamond Ultimate Collection tiers include a physical Nintendo Switch cartridge or PS4 or PS5 disk. The Diamond tier also gets access to exclusive, never before seen content. They will receive two work-in-progress versions of the originally abandoned games Last Ninja 4 and IK++. They feature playable demos, complete temptation for true fans.

As this Kickstarter was run by System 3, the very same original publishers of the Last Ninja series, you know they won’t skimp on the quality of the collection. While a final timeline hasn’t been established for the full release, we will keep you up to date with the latest news.