Author: Danny Neleman

Out of seemingly nowhere, Antstream and Xbox launched a limited and reskinned version of Antstream Arcade in Game Pass yesterday (20 May 2025). The reworked frontend for Antstream’s retro game streaming service is officially called Game Pass Retro Classics and is designed primarily to showcase the often overlooked retro libraries of Xbox Studios’ many subsidiaries. The first drop includes 60 games, most of which come from Activision’s foundational Atari 2600 lineup along with a solid batch of Imagic Atari 2600 titles. Surprisingly, the collection also features a number of Sierra Online point-and-click adventures and older PC games like the strategy…

We’ve been waiting almost two years for the first free DLC expansion to the wonderful pixel RPG Sea of Stars. But to jump into the Sea of Stars Throes of the Watchmaker DLC, you’ll need to follow a few steps. It’s not a simple in-game download, it’s a bit more involved than that.

Are you up for some pixel-heavy, side-scrolling anime shooter action? Nitro Express certainly ticks a lot of those boxes. Developer Grayfax Software — known for their RPG Orangeblood — has teamed up once again with longtime publishing partner PLAYISM to bring their second commercially published Pixel Game Maker MV title. According to Grayfax, Nitro Express draws inspiration from a wide range of sources, including the somewhat obscure Xbox Live Arcade title Shoot Many Robots, Elevator Action Returns, and Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors. One look at the trailer and you can clearly see those influences at work. So what…

We’ve been raving about the Toaplan collections here on the site, and now, two years after their PC release, the Toaplan Arcade Collection Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 are heading to consoles. The digital releases are coming to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, with a physical edition also landing on PS5. The bundles will launch on 14 August 2025. As noted in our reviews of Toaplan Arcade Shoot ’em Up Collection Vol. 2 and Vol. 3, Toaplan played a foundational role in shaping the shoot ’em up genre’s resurgence in the late ’90s by bringing…

Rain Or Shine, It’s Parasol Time! Get ready for a double dose of platforming nostalgia and charm as two beloved titles come together in one vibrant package. Parasol Superstars unites the classic bubble-blasting adventure Parasol Stars with the retro-cosmic platformer Spica Adventure, a first for Western audiences. Parasol Superstars launches digitally on 16 September 2025 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox. A physical edition will be available exclusively for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5. Spica Adventure will also receive a standalone digital release on 30 September 2025. Bundle features The PS5 and Switch Special Edition physical releases…

With no set release date yet within its 2025 window, the new trailer for Earthion has injected some renewed hype into the project. The biggest takeaway is that the game — led by legendary video game music producer Yuzo Koshiro — is definitely shaping up well. Its pixel art and animation set a high bar for production values. While the trailer doesn’t reveal much about gameplay, the horizontal shmup is already turning heads among pixel-art enthusiasts. Developed by Ancient, Earthion has a distinct look that strongly evokes Hideo Kojima’s classic Policenauts. Alongside the trailer, the newly launched Earthion website also…

Even if you were an avid gamer back in the ’90s, chances are you’ve never even heard of Rendering Ranger R2. The game was released exclusively by the Japanese branch of Virgin, with only a few thousand units distributed. It was developed by German game designer Manfred Trenz, best known for his magnum opus, Turrican. PAL and US versions were ready for release under the title Targa, but they never saw the light of day. So yeah, it’s safe to say Rendering Ranger was obscure. That obscurity helped Rendering Ranger R2 earn a reputation as a highly desirable import. More…

It feels like ages (well, five months to be exact) since we last had a Nintendo Online Mega Drive, or Genesis, update on Nintendo’s emulation service. After last year’s solid batch with ToeJam & Earl, Altered Beast and Ghouls ‘n Ghosts, this new update feels all over the place in terms of quality. Let’s take a look, shall we? Streets of Rage (1991) While its sequel, Streets of Rage 2, is often considered the best beat ’em up of the 16-bit generation, the gaming press of the time was pretty unanimous that the original already wiped the floor with its…

We have played Shadow of the Orient for this review on Xbox Series X. The game is also available for PC, Playstation 5 and Nintendo Switch. The price all platforms is €/$ 9,99. After some time as a mobile exclusive, Shadow of the Orient has made its way to consoles. It’s the debut title from SpaceLab Games, led by Leo Nanfara, and promises a Ninja Gaiden-style 2D platformer with 15 levels spread across three acts. It blends melee and ranged combat with challenging platforming, all set in the mystical Far East. Lone Warrior You play as Xiaolang, a mystical warrior…

Somewhat indiscriminately tucked into Nintendo’s recent Partner Direct, we caught the first ever announcement of Hamster Corporation’s Arcade Archives 2 release. The game in question? None other than the original arcade version of Ridge Racer. 1990s racing fans, rejoice! The announcement is interesting for more than one reason. First, this marks the first time the original Ridge Racer has been revisited since its 1994 PlayStation port, now 31 years ago. Second, it signals Hamster Corporation’s entry into 3D emulation through the Arcade Archives series and more specifically its first step into emulating Namco’s System 22 arcade hardware. Ridge Racer made…