This Sega Master System title is a refreshing blend of puzzle and RPG elements, crafted by Ichigo Bankai. It takes the addictive tile-matching gameplay familiar to fans of Candy Crush and Bejeweled and layers it with strategic depth. Players choose from three heroes, each with unique abilities, to battle demons by matching symbols for attacks, defenses, and special powers. Upgrades and health recovery between stages add a tactical layer, encouraging thoughtful planning and strategy.

Despite its engaging gameplay and vibrant graphics, the game’s lack of a multiplayer option is a missed opportunity, particularly given the high barrier to entry for the Game Gear version’s multiplayer feature.
Nevertheless, Heroes Against Demons stands out for its clever integration of genres, providing a satisfying and strategically rich experience that both puzzle enthusiasts and retro gamers will appreciate.

This is a Commodore 64 game where players navigate through levels to buy game tapes from a newsstand, engaging in platforming and puzzle-solving. Gameplay involves finding money hidden in levels, avoiding enemies like competitive kids and environmental obstacles, and using items such as an umbrella for both defense and solving puzzles. Levels become increasingly complex, introducing moving platforms, traps, and strategic item use to access new areas or complete tasks.

The game challenges players with a variety of puzzles and requires careful item management, strategic planning to navigate through the city, and interaction with objects to progress. With a finite number of lives, success hinges on adeptly managing hazards and solving puzzles. Newsstand combines action and exploration, demanding both quick reflexes and thoughtful strategy to recreate the experience of chasing video games in the ’80s and ’90s.

An incredible experience awaits on the Commodore 64 with a game that pushes the boundaries of the platform. Released in 2020, this side-scrolling platformer seamlessly blends adventure and tactical elements. You play as Ian, a guitarist entangled in a complex narrative after the death of his friend Lucas. The game begins with a dream sequence of escaping a prison, setting the tone for a story rich with flashbacks and dialogue options that affect the outcome.

Navigating a vast city filled with thugs and policemen, you’ll need to traverse dangerous streets to reach your objectives. Combat is challenging initially, especially when limited to hand-to-hand fighting. As you progress, you acquire a diverse arsenal of weapons, each with limited ammo, adding a strategic layer to encounters. Enemies can be knocked out or killed, indicated by different symbols, and interactions with policemen vary based on your actions. A cover system provides tactical advantages during fights.

Shops offer opportunities to purchase items and weapons. The game features an experience system where you earn points to enhance attributes like athletics, hand-to-hand combat, marksmanship, capacity, and endurance. Health management involves a life bar divided into three sections, with partial regeneration that adds to the strategy.

With numerous environments—from discos to forests—and comprehensive mechanics like a save feature and dialogue choices, this title offers an immersive and rewarding experience. Despite some initial difficulty and graphics that may not rival the very best, its depth and ambition make it a standout recommendation for any Commodore 64 enthusiast.

This SNES game, reminiscent of Bubble Bobble and Snow Brothers, combines simple mechanics with addictive gameplay. You play as a little woman who must collect fish from cats in each level to fuel her spaceship and proceed to the next stage. Levels are slightly larger than a single screen, offering a bit of exploration as you navigate through increasingly challenging obstacles like spikes and moving platforms.

Bumping into cats causes them to drop fish, but beware—they become enraged and chase you to reclaim their catch. The protagonist can jump and even double-jump, adding a strategic layer to avoid obstacles and enemies. Collecting all the fish grants bonus coins and boosts your score. The game features a progression map divided into five areas, each culminating in entertaining boss battles, such as facing cats piloting a giant flying saucer.

Visually, the game boasts beautiful, cartoonish graphics with a vibrant color palette of bright and pastel hues. The animations are polished, and the initial cutscenes are particularly impressive. Additional gameplay elements include a shop where you can purchase items like catnip to distract cats, stopwatches to freeze time, teleportation devices, and magnets to retrieve dropped fish. This well-crafted game is highly recommended for fans seeking a charming and enjoyable experience reminiscent of classic arcade titles.