Karakuri Ninpo

Released by Enix in 1984, Karakuri Ninpo is an action-puzzle game for the PC-8801 developed by Takeshi Nakazawa, who was a high school student at the time. Players take on the role of a kunoichi named Shinobu who must infiltrate a complex, shifting mansion of sliding doors to rescue her kidnapped comrades. By utilizing a variety of ninja tools like shuriken, caltrops, and smoke bombs to evade persistent enemies, players must make quick, decisive choices under strict time pressure. As an ambitious title from a young talent during the dawn of the PC gaming scene, its ingenious design remains impressive to this day.

One day, after her companions are kidnapped, a kunoichi named Shinobu ventures alone into a sprawling "Karakuri Mansion" ruled by the enemy ninja leader, Gamanbe. The mansion is a labyrinthine maze interconnected by complex sliding lattice doors that Shinobu must navigate to reach her captured friends. Using her ninja skills and tools to fend off pursuers, Shinobu's ultimate goal is to find the hidden exits tucked away deep within the mansion's depths.