Play Igo Shinan Online

Summary

Igo Shinan, known in English as “Go Lessons,” is a surprisingly deep Go simulator that landed on the NES back in the early ’90s. The game doubles as a tutor, letting beginners watch suggested moves while more seasoned players can dial up the difficulty and even hand over control to the computer for a full‑on match. Its interface is simple enough for a console, yet it offers a range of guidance options—from hinting at the best next play to letting the AI take your turn entirely. Hect, the Japanese studio behind the title, turned the concept into a yearly series, releasing sequels titled Igo Shinan ’91 through ’94, each building on the same teaching‑and‑play formula. Though the series never left Japan, it remains a unique glimpse into how classic board games were adapted for home consoles, offering both instruction and a solid challenge for anyone curious about Go.