Strider

ストライダー飛竜 (Sutoraidā Hiryū)Arcade, Genesis, Switch, Windows +21989

  1. JP1989
  2. NA1990
  3. EU—
  4. RU—

Strider is called ストライダー飛竜 (Strider Hiryu) in Japan, after its hero. Today the easiest legal way to play the arcade original is as an add-on for Capcom Arcade Stadium on Steam, Switch, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

Strider is a 1989 arcade action game by Capcom. In Japan it carries the hero's full name, ストライダー飛竜 (Strider Hiryu). Planner Kouichi Yotsui argued for a ninja hero and built the design around movement: Hiryu runs up slopes, clings to walls and crosses uneven ground using only a joystick and two buttons. The climbing idea came partly from Yotsui climbing down the outside of Capcom's building to reach a fire escape.

The player is sent to assassinate Grandmaster Meio, a dictator who has conquered the world. The arcade game was developed separately from the 1988 manga by Moto Kikaku; a different Capcom team made a Famicom game based on that manga.

The Mega Drive version kept the arcade game's look, but its Western release lost a voice clip and a boss line. The arcade original is part of Capcom Arcade Stadium, released on Switch on 17 February 2021.12

Names and releases

RegionTitle on the boxPlatformDatePublisherSrc
NA StriderTCRF category tags give 1990; exact date not confirmed. Genesis 1990 Sega 3
JP ストライダー飛竜 Arcade 1989 Capcom 1
JP Strider HiryuTCRF category tags give 1990 with conflicting day and month; exact date not confirmed. Genesis 1990 Sega 3
WW Capcom Arcade Stadium: StriderSold as an add-on for Capcom Arcade Stadium. Switch Feb 17, 2021 Capcom 2
WW Capcom Arcade Stadium: STRIDERAlso PS4 and Xbox One the same day. Windows May 25, 2021 Capcom 2

Also known as: ストライダー飛竜 JP1Strider Hiryu JP3

Box art by region

  • ストライダー飛竜 box art, Japan release
    JP ストライダー飛竜

Box art © its publishers, shown to identify each release. Scans: Wikipedia.

Version differences

  • AudioMega Drive (intl.)

    The Western Mega Drive/Genesis release removes Hiryu's voice clip when he swings his sword, as the arcade game's localization had done.3

  • TextMega Drive (intl.)

    The final boss's line 'All sons of old gods, die!', heard in every arcade version, was cut from the Western Mega Drive/Genesis release.3

  • GameplayMega Drive (JP)Mega Drive (intl.)

    The Western Mega Drive/Genesis release gives up to three continues by default; the Japanese one does not unless a button code is entered during the intro.3

All differences (4)

Where to play legally today

Reception

In the Gamest Grand Prix for games of 1989, the hero Hiryu placed third in the best-character category.1

In lists

Sources

  1. 1en.wikipedia.org
  2. 2en.wikipedia.org
  3. 3tcrf.net
  4. 4store.steampowered.com
  5. 5store.steampowered.com
  6. 6store.steampowered.com

Checked: 2026-10-13Text reviewed: 2026-10-13

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