Ninja Gaiden and Touhou Collide in This Ambitious Fan Project

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The Touhou community has produced countless fan projects over the years, but Touhou Gaiden is quickly attracting attention for its impressive blend of action, challenging combat, and deep respect for the source material.

Currently being developed by hobbyist creator shar, Touhou Gaiden takes players back to a time before the famous spell card system existed. Instead of organized danmaku duels, conflicts between humans and youkai were far more violent, creating the foundation for a much darker story.

A recently shared gameplay clip offers a good look at what you can expect. The footage shows Youmu Konpaku facing off against Meira in a fast-paced battle filled with sword strikes, ranged attacks, dashes, and screen-filling bullet patterns.

While the game clearly draws inspiration from Touhou’s bullet hell roots, its overall structure feels closer to classic action platformers like Ninja Gaiden and Castlevania. You are encouraged to stay aggressive, dodge incoming attacks, and even graze bullets to build power for stronger abilities.

Several mechanics help deepen the combat. A break meter rewards offensive pressure, bombs recharge over time, and combo systems encourage players to chain attacks together rather than simply survive enemy encounters.

The story follows both Youmu and Reimu as they attempt to prevent a growing conflict within Gensokyo during a period rarely explored in official Touhou lore. For longtime fans, it offers an interesting “what if” scenario that expands upon the series’ history while remaining faithful to its characters and world.

Although there is currently no release date, you can find it on itch.io.