Retro games have had a great 2022 with lots of new and exciting titles to choose from. From new NES titles such as the excellent Blazing Rangers to retro-inspired homages in the shape of Gyro Blade, most tastes have been covered. We have compiled some of our highest scoring retro games released in 2022 for you to try in the new year.
Blazing Rangers
Fight the blazing fires as well as fiery demons in this new NES title that combines arcade action with puzzles. The gameplay is top notch with tight controls and amazing fire physics. The presentation is also exciting with excellent animations and great use of colour. We can’t recommend Blazing Rangers enough, it’s hot and frenzied and deserves your attention. It’s also a real blast in co-op mode and perfect for those game nights with friends. Publisher First Press Games has released the physical carts and the emulator ROM can be purchased on itch.io.
Lucy Dreaming
The classic point-and-click adventure genre has been put squarely in the spotlight with the recent Return to Monkey Island being lauded by players and critics alike. It feels like a great time to introduce another fantastic game in the genre and Lucy Dreaming fits the bill. If you enjoy this genre then you should definitely try Lucy Dreaming or if you have not played this type before this is a great place to start. Lucy Dreaming is not the most difficult game to finish but with a funny story and lovable characters it is a must play. Available on Steam now.
GyroBlade
GyroBlade, the retro inspired shooter from publisher Tendokore, is blasted onto Switch this year. Spread across eight levels, each with its own boss fight, GyroBlade isn’t trying to be anything other than a homage to shmups such as Chopper 1 or 1942. GyroBlade is a short lived experience but at this price point its great value and is lots of fun to blast through. This is the perfect title to pick up if you want a new shooter although veterans may want something with more depth. Its also available on Steam for those without a Switch.
Sonic Triple Trouble 16-Bit
A fantastic new Sonic fan game, titled Triple Trouble 16-bit, has been released by developer NoahNCopeland. It’s currently free on Windows PC although an Android port is in the works. The original Sonic Triple Trouble was released on the Sega Game Gear in November 1994. This re-imagining has been reworked using 16-bit style graphics similar to the Mega Drive games of the 90s. It features new stage layout, 3D Special Stages and the ability to switch between Sonic and Tails on the fly.
Final Vendetta
Featuring six levels of rough and tumble this scrolling pixel art title will have test all your skill. There are no continues, no save points, when your lives are gone its back to the start. You will have to improve to finish it and this is exactly what Bitmap Bureau is aiming for. The team behind the excellent Xeno Crisis, are tugging at that arcade nostalgia again with Final Vendetta. Anyone who enjoys a classic brawler will want to be getting in on the Final Vendetta action and everything about this release oozes class.
Shadow Gangs
Released this year on the Dreamcast, in Shadow Gangs you play as Dan, a skilled ninja, who must rescue his family from the dreaded Shadow Gangs! The story is straight out of an 80s action movie and Shadow Gangs plays like a rock-solid 80s arcade game that will challenge even the best of players. The graphics are superb and the soundtrack is full of cheesy guitar riffs that pull hard on the nostalgia cord. Anyone into side-scrolling action games should be checking this one out and its a must for Dreamcast indie fans. You can buy a copy from publisher Wave Game Studios.
Donut Dodo
Donut Dodo is an arcade-style single-screen platformer in the vein of games like Donkey Kong and Popeye. It looks and plays like it’s fallen to 2022 from the early 1980s in an alternate universe. Donut Dodo is old-school performing perfection, combining old-school graphics and level design (and difficulty) with slick contemporary gameplay, making for a gaming experience that has the unmistakable delicious taste of nostalgia while also feeling as fresh as hot donuts. Out now on Steam and Switch.
Cowabunga Collection
Digital Eclipse have compiled a beautifully presented, impressively comprehensive collection of the Turtles’ 13 finest titles. It’s astounding how many games are included, some bona fide classics. This collection proves that the video game genre that best suits the Turtles is the side-scrolling beat ‘em up. The Cowabunga Collection is a must for “Shell Heads”, and for side-scrolling beat ‘em up fans, as it has some of the best.
