The name combines Famicom and Xanadu, and Hudson Soft made it as a side story to Falcom's computer RPG Xanadu. Released in Japan in 1987 and published by Nintendo in North America two years later, it sends a wanderer returning to the elf town of Eolis, where the springs have dried up and monsters have taken over the giant World Tree.
The game plays as a side-scrolling action RPG. Killing enemies earns gold and experience, and gurus in each town give a new title as the player's rank rises, along with a mantra used as a password. Shops sell swords, armor, magic and keys named after playing cards that open specific doors. The atmosphere is unusual for the NES, with muted colors, a gloomy tone and a soundtrack that relies on long, melancholy themes. Navigation is slow but rewarding.
Tips for Faxanadu
Visit the guru in each town to raise your title; it increases the gold you keep when you continue.
Buy keys from shops before setting out, since many doors require a particular one.
Wingboots and other items have limited use, so save them for climbs you cannot do otherwise.
How to Play Faxanadu
Click Play Now to launch Faxanadu directly in your browser — no downloads or plugins needed. Z jumps, X attacks, Up enters doors and talks, and Enter opens the inventory. You can also connect a USB or Bluetooth gamepad for a more authentic feel.
Save states let you save your progress at any point. Create a free account to sync saves across devices. Press F11 for fullscreen mode.
To play Faxanadu, simply hit the "Play Now" button on this page. The game loads instantly in your browser using an embedded emulator — no plugins, downloads, or setup required.
Is Faxanadu free to play?
Faxanadu is free to play here on RetroVault.GG. We believe classic games should be accessible to everyone, so there's no cost to jump in.
What console is Faxanadu for?
Faxanadu is a NES title. Our browser-based emulator lets you experience it exactly as it was on the original hardware — no console required.
What genre is Faxanadu?
Faxanadu is a action, adventure, rpg game. It was made for the NES.
Can I play Faxanadu on my phone?
Yes, RetroVault.GG works on mobile browsers. Visit the game page on your phone or tablet and tap Play Now to start playing Faxanadu.