Author: Danny Neleman

These are the best Nintendo Switch controllers for retro and arcade gaming Going by the list of games we review on Nintendo Switch and the ever growing list of available games in Nintendo’s own Nintendo Online collections and Hamster’s Arcade Archives, you might, just like us, consider a controller to specifically scratch your arcade playing itch. Considering Nintendo’s hybrid handheld system may not standout as a premiere fighting platform, it does have a huge library of retro fighters, shmups and platformers, that hugely benefit from specific controller gear. In this guide we bundled the best recommendations across third party and…

Indie developer AuroraNest has officially launched Everdeep Aurora on PC and Switch, delivering a lovingly crafted pixel-art exploration game that harkens back to the golden era of 16-bit classics. Players control Shell, a cute little kitten, as she descends into subterranean caverns brimming with puzzles, hidden lore, and dynamic NPCs. The vibrant tilework and smooth animations hint at inspiration taken from early RPGs like Secret of Mana, while modern quality-of-life features, such as quick-save points and adjustable difficulty, ensure that both newcomers and retro veterans can fully enjoy the journey. Early previews highlight distinct biome designs, from bioluminescent fungal forests…

Originally launched in 1990 for the MSX2, Fray, an overhead run-and-gun spin-off of Micro Cabin’s Xak series, became a cult classic for its vibrant pixel-art and tight gameplay. Today (July 3, 2025), D4 Enterprise re-releases Fray on Nintendo Switch eShop worldwide for €/$6,15, complete with restored audio and original manual scans. The release is the latest addition to D4 Enterprise’s EGG Console-line of retro re-releases. EGG Console features dozens of MSX(2), PC-8801 and PC-9801 games and is similar to Hamster Corporation’s Arcade -Archive. It’s a great way to get a taste of these – for western audiences – obscure game…

In our preview of Hyper Sentinel Fusion we already hinted at a July launch for the Kickstarter campaign, and as of today, you can back the project by Huey Games. The campaign still has a way to go, but it has already pulled in more than a hundred backers, with pledges just over 10 percent of its intended goal of around €32,000. We’ve spent quite a bit of time with Hyper Sentinel Fusion and have a good sense of what the final game could deliver. The blend of Hewson Consultants classics Paradroid and Iridium with roguelite elements feels like a…

If you’re in the market for the next old-school Zelda-style action adventure Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo might just be your next obsession. Developed by indie studio Pocket Trap, this fresh take on the classic top‑down adventure genre swaps out the sword-and-shield hero for a boy bat, Pippit. He navigates a vibrant, interconnected world with all the trappings of a Zelda clone. Curiously dubbed a “yoyovania” game by its creators, it blends familiar mechanics, item-powered progression, urban dungeon runs and charming anthropomorphic NPCs with a quirky aesthetic that’s as playful as its name. A bat with a mission, a yoyo…

This summer’s game announcement season seemed to pass over shmup fans — until the Future Games Show: Summer Showcase dropped a surprise update right in the middle of the presentation. Truxton Extreme is alive and well, developed by the core team at Tatsujin, led by none other than Truxton’s original creator and current Tatsujin CEO, Masahiro Yuge. The game was first revealed nearly two years ago, and while that trailer included gameplay, this latest appearance suggests a playable demo is coming during Steam Next Fest. Yuge-san has set clear goals for this revival of the much-loved franchise. Judging by the…

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…

he average gamer who tuned in to Sony’s State of Play presentation on Wednesday, 4 June, might have felt let down by the sheer lack of real heavy hitters. Gamers with a soft spot for retro titles and classic arcade genres, on the other hand, got enough news to bring a real sparkle to their eyes. Lumines Arise First up, Lumines is making another comeback. Tetsuya Mizuguchi’s PSP original launched 21 years ago, spawning one sequel and a variety of ports and spin-offs. It received a remaster in 2018. Now, this fall, Lumines Arise will inject new life into a…

If you were a home computer gamer in the 1980s, especially on the Commodore 64 or ZX Spectrum, chances are you were familiar with Hewson Consultants. Founded by Andrew Hewson in 1982, the company became known for publishing standout titles brought forth by a then new generation of UK bedroom coders and can be considered as one of the standout UK publishers of the 8-bit era. Hewson Consultants was responsible for some of the most acclaimed titles on the C64 and Spectrum. Games like Uridium, Paradroid, Nebulus and Quazatron cemented the label’s place in gaming history. The company eventually evolved…

With the Nintendo Switch 2 on the brink of shipping out to stores and pre-order buyers, the timing of new Nintendo Switch Online additions might seem a little odd. But we’re not complaining. We’re pleasantly surprised by how unpredictable the Nintendo Online release schedule has been since day one. This drop of Game Boy games again leans a bit the obscure side of the immense Game Boy catalog. So let’s take a look at what this update brings. Survival Kids One of the Game Boy’s most original hidden gems, Survival Kids strands you on a deserted island with nothing but…