The game was released to the Japanese 3DS Virtual Console in January 2012 and later in North America in February.

It is the first game from the Jajamaru series, aside from the loosely related Ninja Taro, to be released in North America, until the release of Ninja JaJaMaru-kun through the Virtual Console.

[1] The soundtrack, as well as many sprites and some cut-scenes of the North American version are different from the original Japanese.

Maru's girlfriend Cori is kidnapped and hidden in a secret location.

The player is Maru, and moves through six levels based on various folklore monsters.