Play 4 Nin Shougi Online

I first came across 4 Nin Shougi on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System back in 1995. It was published by I'Max Corp, a name you'd see on a number of interesting, sometimes quirky titles for the system. This was late in the SNES lifecycle, a time when developers were still finding new ways to use the hardware, often for more niche genres. This game squarely fits into that category, focusing entirely on the traditional Japanese board game of shogi.

You control one of four distinct ninja characters, each sitting at a shogi board. Your main objective is to defeat your opponents in matches of shogi, which is similar to chess but with unique rules for piece promotion and dropping captured pieces back onto the board. The signature mechanics involve choosing your ninja, who each seem to have their own slight strategic leaning, and then engaging in the turn based battles on the grid. The pacing is deliberate, as each match requires careful thought about your next move and how to use your captured pieces offensively. It feels like a quiet, cerebral duel where a single misplaced piece can turn the entire game against you.