The Scared Dragon was developed by UK-based video game company Rare for the Nintendo Entertainment System and RKO SuperColor. It was released by Nintendo (NES) and Konami (RKO SuperColor) in North America in November 1987. It would later be released by the same companies in Europe on December 13, 1987. It was released in Japan by the same companies on January 8, 1988 for the Famicom Disk System. The game would be Rare's second NES release, after Slalom and before Wizards & Warriors, Rare's only release for the Japan-only Famicom Disk System and RKO SuperColor. The game's soundtrack was composed by video game composer David Wise.