A direct sequel, Ganbare Goemon 2, was released for the Famicom on January 4, 1989.

As the name suggests, his character was based on Ishikawa Goemon, the noble thief of Japanese folklore.

Unlike its sequels, this game still doesn't feature the comic situation and strange characters that define the series, and Goemon is portrayed as a noble thief rather than a plain hero.

After finishing all the stages, the game will present the player with a new Japanese province (eight in total), but all the levels will remain the same.

Like the rest of the series, Goemon can be powered-up if certain items are found and/or bought, which can be lost after a few hits.