The Joe & Mac series, known in Japan as Tatakae Genshijin, was never a chart-topping franchise, but it holds a special place in the memories of many gamers who grew up in the 1990s. While the original arcade game and its sequels on the Amiga, SNES and Mega Drive/Genesis found success, Data East never carried the series into the next millennium. The franchise blends a slapstick prehistoric setting with side-scrolling platforming and light run-and-gun mechanics. With over-the-top action, vibrant visuals and local co-op play, the games appealed to a wide audience during the 16-bit era. Though often overshadowed by more iconic mascots, the caveman duo built a cult status that , France-based Red Art Games and license holder Data East’s license holder, G-Mode, to release a Collection both digitally and physically.
Physical Kickstarter
That legacy is about to get a modern refresh. Red Art Games has announced the Joe & Mac Retro Collection, which will launch its Kickstarter campaign on June 10th. Developed by Red Art Studios, the publisher’s internal team, this collection will bundle all three Joe & Mac SNES-era titles — along with their Japanese versions — and offer both digital and physical editions. Backers will have access to exclusive rewards, including boxed copies and collector’s items. The final release is set to hit Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC later this year.
New features
The collection includes Joe & Mac: Caveman Ninja, Congo’s Caper and Joe & Mac 2: Lost in the Tropics, with each game available in both its Western release and original uncensored Japanese version. A range of quality of life features have been added, including save states, a rewind function and customizable aspect ratios. An optional CRT filter enhances the retro feel, while local two-player co-op is supported in Joe & Mac 1 and 2. This is shaping up to be a loving and well-considered revisit to a series that deserves more recognition than it usually gets.
