Ninja Gaiden Cheats
How to use these cheats
Button names refer to the Xbox controller — A, B, X, Y, the LB/RB bumpers, LT/RT triggers and the D-pad. Unless told otherwise, enter codes from the pause or options menu, or while playing. Some cheats disable achievements for that save — keep a separate save before you start.
- Cheat codes20
- Unlockables & collectibles16
Ninja Gaiden (2004) hides its best rewards behind Golden Scarabs handed to Muramasa and multiple playthroughs, including emulated versions of all three NES Ninja Gaiden games.
Skip cut-scenes: Press Start, A, Start during most cut-scenes to skip them.
Keep the starting costume: At the main menu highlight New Game, then hold L and R together and press A. A scream confirms the code and Ryu keeps his blue costume all game.
| Unlockable | How to unlock |
|---|---|
| Very Hard difficulty | Complete the game on Normal or Hard. |
| Ninja of the Future outfit | Complete the game on Normal or Hard, then hold L while starting a new game. |
| Evil Ryu (Fiend) costume | Complete the game on Very Hard. |
| Movie Gallery | Complete the game on Normal or Hard. |
| Sound Test music | Complete the game on Normal or Hard. |
| Plasma Saber | Complete the game on Normal. |
| Plasma Saber Mk II | Complete the game on Very Hard, or revisit the cemetery in Chapter 13 with the Plasma Saber. |
| Dark Dragon Blade | Start a new game from a completed save and visit Muramasa's shop in Chapter 13. |
| Kitetsu | Defeat Doku at the end of Chapter 11; the sword slowly drains your health. |
| Scarabs Given To Muramasa | Reward |
|---|---|
| 1 | Life of the Gods |
| 10 | Spirit of the Devils |
| 15 | Armlet of Benediction |
| 20 | Dabilahro |
| 30 | Armlet of Fortune |
| 40 | Armlet of Tranquility |
| 50 | Ninja Gaiden (NES) disc |
Classic Ninja Gaiden: Give 50 Golden Scarabs to Muramasa, spread across playthroughs if needed, then play the disc on the arcade machine on the first floor of Han's Bar. Classic Ninja Gaiden 2: After unlocking Ninja Gaiden, go to the Clock Tower Plaza in Tairon, stand on the ledge above the coloured door and shoot the clock face with an arrow. A chest appears on the building opposite; jump down and climb the stairs inside to reach it. You can also earn it with a Master rank in every chapter on Normal. Classic Ninja Gaiden 3: After unlocking Ninja Gaiden 2, go to the Peristyle Passage in the Aquaducts and wall jump on top of the broken column to the left of the entrance to find the disc. You can also earn it with a Master rank in every chapter on Hard or Very Hard.
| Cheat | Code |
|---|---|
| NES Ninja Gaiden Act I password | L, X, A, Y, A, X |
| NES Ninja Gaiden Act II password | A, X, X, R, Y, A |
| NES Ninja Gaiden Act III password | X, Y, B, R, L, X |
| NES Ninja Gaiden Act IV password | B, R, A, B, Y, Y |
| NES Ninja Gaiden Act V password | X, A, Y, X, L, L |
| NES Ninja Gaiden Act VI password | R, Y, R, L, A, X |
| NES Ninja Gaiden 2 Act I password | A, A, B, X, Y, R |
| NES Ninja Gaiden 2 Act II password | X, L, R, B, B, A |
| NES Ninja Gaiden 2 Act III password | L, Y, B, A, R, R |
| NES Ninja Gaiden 2 Act IV password | A, L, X, Y, Y, B |
| NES Ninja Gaiden 2 Act V password | R, A, A, B, X, L |
| NES Ninja Gaiden 2 Act VI password | Y, L, R, A, Y, R |
| NES Ninja Gaiden 2 Act VII password | B, B, X, Y, A, L |
| NES Ninja Gaiden 3 Act I password | B, Y, R, L, X, A |
| NES Ninja Gaiden 3 Act II password | A, R, R, Y, A, L |
| NES Ninja Gaiden 3 Act III password | L, B, R, Y, L, Y |
| NES Ninja Gaiden 3 Act IV password | R, R, B, A, Y, X |
| NES Ninja Gaiden 3 Act V password | Y, A, B, X, R, X |
| NES Ninja Gaiden 3 Act VI password | B, X, X, A, X, Y |
| NES Ninja Gaiden 3 Act VII password | X, R, X, Y, Y, L Counter the Kitetsu drain: While using the Kitetsu sword, equip the Armlet of Tranquility, earned for 40 Scarabs, to cancel out its health drain. Run on water: Walk Ryu onto any water surface, then tap A repeatedly to run across it. |