The gameplay of Shadow of the Ninja is a classic action game with a scrolling screen. Because there are two heroes in the game, you can play as any character, and there is also a two-player regimen. Characters differ only in appearance, all their combat skills and weapons are the same. The player can run, jump, hang on platforms and climb ladders. The weapon of choice is the katana, a long ninja sword that can be swapped for a short sword at any time. The player has a special attack, the lightning strike, which is triggered by holding down the button and can only be used if the character has more than half health.
There are five levels in Shadow of the Ninja, divided into sixteen stages. Each level contains bosses and their sidekicks, the minibosses that are slightly weaker than the main bosses. Playing in a two-player game, the passing of the game for each player is individual, i.e. if one of the heroes dies, the game does not end, and the second player continues the path.
You can also play in a two-player game.