The game was originally developed to be a re-imagining of the classic Amiga title, Zool. Data Design Interactive had gained the rights to create the title using the Zool license, but after Zool's rights holders were left unimpressed with the work that had been made on the game, the licensing rights were revoked.

Ninjabread Man, as well as the games Myth Makers: Trixie in Toyland, Anubis II and Rock 'n' Roll Adventures, (all of which were developed by Data Design Interactive) all reuse the same assets and models, but reskinned to fit with their respective themes. Though the levels in each game are arranged differently, the layouts of each of the game's tutorial levels are all identical.