Mystery Dungeon- Shiren the Wanderer takes place in a fantasy version of feudal Japan. The main character is a warrior called Shiren and his sidekick is a talking weasel called Koppa. The game follows their quest to the Land of the Golden Condor, the location of the legendary city of gold.

The journey to the El Dorado, City of Gold has been undertaken by many, although few have succeeded. This journey requires puzzle solving and tactical decision-making through expansive territories, deep mountain caves, vast forests and mountain passes. Many mysterious items can be collected by Shiren, and many adversaries will be encountered, including monsters, hidden traps, thieves and mysterious items.

Gameplay takes the form of a turn-based role playing game, meaning that attacks can be carefully planned in advance. The dungeons through which the player has to navigate generate randomly, meaning items and enemies are unpredictably located. This leads to a gaming experience with endless possibilities. Also included is Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection compatibility, which is utilized if Shiren falls during game play. He may then send a rescue request through to another player of this game. If someone agrees to rescue him or her then the fallen player is revived and the rescuer given an item.

With a large number of gameplay opportunities and randomly generating dungeons, Shiren the Wanderer is a role playing game, which provides longevity and a unique experience with every play.