Hamster Corporation is arguably the biggest support of the Nintendo Switch (outside of Nintendo), so far releasing hundreds of retro titles with additional modern enhancements on the hybrid system.
There is no sign of it stopping production of these releases, either - with the Japanese publisher announcing another 18 games for its never-ending Arcade Archives line at this year's Tokyo Game Show. Here's what you can look forward to:
- 64th Street: A Detective Story
- Arabian
- Ben Bero Beh
- Cosmo Police Galivan
- The Fairyland Story
- Gradius III
- Green Beret (Rush’n Attack)
- Guzzler
- Kuri Kinton
- Liquid Kids
- Nova 2001
- Pettan Pyuu
- Rabio Lepus
- Rod Land
- Soccer
- Swimmer
- Thunder Dragon
- VS. Tennis
One of the highlights would have to be Gradius III, but there are also some other familiar names on the list - along with games like VS. Tennis, the arcade version of the 1984 NES game.
There's no exact release date for any of these titles just yet, so be sure to keep an eye out for them in the near future. Does anything on this list catch your eye? Tell us down below.
[source nintendoeverything.com]
Comments 71
When will they run out of games?
ROD LAND! Praise the saints! That is a delightful little game... I was starting to doubt if we would ever see it again.
It's nice to see some games that aren't available anywhere else on Switch being released such as the arcade version of Gradius 3 and Liquid Kids.
All I want is Rainbow Islands and Midnight Resistance but they never come!
Oh, Rabio Lepus. I do remember seeing the US version Rabbit Punch once as a kid.
After playing the two versions years ago, I recall the difference was that the Japanese version allowed rapid-fire as well as had some bunny girls that were censored out of the US version.
Guessing by the title this is the Japanese version they'll release.
Also... Gradius III.
Two choices: "Beginner Mode" where the game ends after three levels, or "Normal Mode" where the game wants you dead within about 10 seconds. EVERYTHING shoots at you from the start.
Taito's Cadash would be welcome
64th Street is something I didn't expect to see! I enjoyed it a lot back in the early days of MAME.
@sleepinglion Hell yeah, it would be!
Tiger-Heli or Twin Cobra would be great, too.
Problem is they always seem to take forever to release the best games. A good example of this is how they still haven't released the best games they announced the last time.
The contrast with Sega Ages is striking - releases are plentiful and fairly regular.
I would enjoy physical compilations of some of these Arcade Archives titles, to say nothing of the Ages line.
@HotGoomba When there’s no more arcade games to port. There’s thousands of games potentially available though how many are easy to license is another matter.
@JayJ I wonder if they sometimes jump the gun on announcing some titles before knowing whether or not they can actually port it. I get the impression looking at Wikipedia and the soon to be released section, that some titles that have been announced spent 2 years waiting to get released but never happened. Wonder how many have been announced but never saw light of day.
@HotGoomba There are thousands of arcade games. They have not yet released any one company’s full back catalog of arcade games. It seems they are releasing them to preserve them than to profit of them, as some are really not worth buying. I’m glad they are dedicated to doing so though.
Yes to green beret and gradius 3. Chase hq 1 and 2 on my dream List! X x x
Oh Jaleco beat em ups. 64th Street is as close to a final fight clone as you can get without a lawsuit.
We're slowly getting closer to Gradius 4, at least. Show me that one, and I might finally pick up a non-Nintendo Arcade Archives game.
Arcade archives is continuing to live up to it’s name. Sega Ages...not so much. Konami’s Hudson Soft library, even less so. Capcom CPS 1,2,3 complete collection? Where is it? There’s so much more than the fighters!
After Gradius 3 comes......Salamander 2, baby! (Fingers crossed anyway)
This is excellent news. Hopefully Taito step it up with Bubble Bobble, New Zealand Story, Rainbow Islands, Chase HQ, SCI, Op Wolf / Thunderbolt
@FragRed Yeah that is why I stopped caring about their announcements to be honest. I got tired of waiting for them to release the good games they announce only to continuously get a bunch of old obscure games I never heard of or had any interest in. Plus I got a ton of ACA games by now anyways, I stopped buying them all the time a while ago and now I just check to see if anything interesting came out when I look over the weekly new game releases from time to time. No point in waiting for a game if you have no clue when it is going to come out, most of the time I seem to be disappointed.
I've never seen the arcade version of Liquid Kids. I'm guessing it's pretty close to the PCE version, but I'm definitely interested. Good to see Hamster are still keeping busy.
I’m still waiting on Konami’s Jail Break, which was announced many moons ago but still, no sight!
@Gerald @sleepinglion Taito’s Qix too!
@Magrane I’m guessing that’s not happening. As was saying to @JayJ Hamster have a habit of announcing titles then not releasing them. They really should stop announcing things so far in advance, especially if they aren’t totally guaranteed to ever get released.
It's great to see companies like Hamster and M2 releasing so many arcade games, many of which are genuine classics and most of which honestly probably never would have seen a home release otherwise.
That said, some really big names remain out of reach for Switch owners (and current-gen players in general), games like Ms. Pac-Man and Pole Position by Namco; that compilation they released earlier for Switch was SORELY lacking compared to, say, 50th Anniversary Museum Collection (PS2, XBox, GameCube) or Namco Museum Remixed (XBox 360). And don't even get me started regarding Sega. Even before you begin to list all of the iconic AM2 and later titles (Daytona USA, Daytona USA 2, SCUD Racer, Super Star Wars Arcade, Sega Rally Championship, OutRun 2006, etc.), there's so many great old school arcade classics from them like Zaxxon, Congo Bongo, Star Wars, and yes, Afterburner.
I'm sure that both Hamster and especially M2 would be all over those games (or even compilations) if the parent companies would allow it. Sadly, the very publishers who gave us so many of the greatest arcade memories from back in the day are the same ones keeping us (and a new generation of gamers) from being able to enjoy them again.
Rush’n Attack is a classic.
@Dragonslacker1 Chase HQ never gets any love. If love a updated version and then the various versions all bundled in with it. I’m greedy!
This is great and everything, but why doesn't Konami want to give us Parodius?
Green Beret YAY
Happy to see Arabian. Was hopeful after Kangaroo appeared that this one wouldn't be too far behind.
I wish Hamster would seek out some American licenses. Would love to see them releasing some Exidy, Williams, Midway, Atari Inc, Stern, and Atari Games classics.
@Magrane I was also looking forward to Konami’s Jail Break. On Wikipedia they list the coming soon Arcade Archives that is updated from multiple sources. (I know this is not 100% reliable, but better than nothing)
Jail Break was removed from this list, I guess it is not coming
Most of their games I only recognize by the gameplay and not the titles itself. Rod Land is something I know from Amiga.
Huh, Kuri Kinton, really? I love that game so I'm glad to hear it but that's an unusual choice. Maybe there's hope we can see a release of Growl and Cleopatra's Fortune, then.
Rod Land is a great game! Many an hour wasted on the Amiga playing this!
I love janky Jaleco beat 'em ups and 64th Street looks awesome! Those sound effects, the music!
Kuri Kinton looks good.
I've never heard of some these games either so this is a delight!
That’s great, but I’m still hoping they’ll release games by Williams and Bally Midway.
This really makes me wonder why we don’t have Virtual Console on the Switch. Outside of some notable licensed arcade games these simply don’t interest me. It’s clear the VC service would sell otherwise Hamster wouldn’t continue to release these arcade games piecemeal.
I know, wrong place to say it, but all I want is the arcade version of Konami's SIMPSONS and TURTLES games! Those were the days!!
Also I'd take Mortal Kombat I-3 arcade remasters, like they're rumored for seemingly forever.
@KingMike Judging by previous Arcade Archives releases they'll probably put both Japanese & US versions on.
I wonder how different Gradius 3 is from the SNES version. Never quite looked into it. The SNES cart is a favorite though.
I am always waiting for Cabal, it seems that we'll never get it. And Sega should have released Super Hang On too on Switch, it was even on Wii VC with motion controls!
Gradius III & Green Beret caught my attention first. There are 2 or 3 others that spring a memory in the "Swiss cheese" memory banks.
@JayJ It's starting to feel like they're never going to get around to Raiden.
Always was curious about liquid kids..
Out of that list, Gradius III, Green Beret and Rod Land would be my choices.
I'd like to see in the future, Rainbow Islands, Arkanoid, Chase HQ, Cabal, Operation Wolf and Op Thunderbolt, Powerdrift, Xybots, Toobin', APB and Escape from the Planet of the Robot Monsters!
(I'm essentially remembering all the good arcade games I used to play on my Spectrum that I don't believe have had Switch releases)
@michaelf would love to see Escape From The Planet Of The Robot Monsters - good call
I would like to see samurai showdown 64
But with it been 3d they might not do that one.
Arabian!! Can’t wait to play that again!!
@VR32X A LOT more difficult. I've heard people that finished even the SNES' Arcade difficulty said it still wasn't as difficult as the arcade version. I know the arcade version also had at least one 3D stage, which I can only imagine they really weren't up to the task of porting to the SNES, especially for being the devs' first SNES game.
Vs tennis you say? Not GB tennis but will do.
@GameOtaku but its on every system. I can buy aca titles at least on switch and ps4.
I forgot about VS. Tennis.
I suppose the only particularly notable thing about it, is that, I recall at the flyer said it had four-player compatibility (I assume linking two cabinets).
If that is so, it would have technically been the first 4P NES game, I think.
I think I remember Arabian as well. I had some Famiclone, and one of the few built-in bootleg games was a hack of Super Arabian.
Pretty excited about this line of games coming non-stop. Don't know most of them, which is potentially interesting. 64th Street goes straight to the top of my wishlist, though.
And I still miss Bubble Bobble. It's taking its time.
Green Beret! I played this so much on my ZX Specturm and it’s my go to on the NES Mini as well. Can’t wait!
We need Red Earth.
Another sea of mostly mediocrity.
@Atariboy : Arabian! So hyped for that game as well!
So shmup Thunder Dragon will join Saint Dragon, but where is DRAGON BREED?
rod land, liquid kids and guzzler.... Sounds like my browser history
My wife laughs at how much I've played Tennis on the Nintendo Switch NES.
I love that game!!
Excited to see what differences there are.
The ones that stand out to me are Liquid Kids, 64th Street, Green Beret, Thunder Dragon, Rabio Lepus and of course Gradius III. Thank you Hamster!! Much Love ❤️
I'm looking forward to Fairyland Story, Liquid Kids, Rodland, and Arabian.
@Atariboy I’d love to see the Atari Games and Midway classics but Warner bros is sitting on those games. They need to step forward or sub license them to Hamster if they don’t wanna bother! Robotron 2084 one of my all time faves!
@AllieKitsune good point what happened to Raiden?? Maybe this week or next
@joey302 @AllieKitsune Raiden is still on the list. Since it's a heavy-hitter, they'll probably release it in between the obscure titles as they do. Here's the infographic they posted on their twitter during TGS, Raiden is at the bottom of the left column. Non-Nintendo games that say they're only releasing on the Switch have already been released on PS4.
The translated list of games (copied from my post on the TGS article):
(names in bold are newly announced; apologies if the Japanese names are mangled):
EDIT: Guerrilla War
Thunder Dragon
NOVA 2001
Super Cobra
Gradius II GOFER's Ambition
Gradius III: From Legend to Myth
Green Beret EDIT: A.K.A. Rush N'Attack by Konami
Arabian
Pettan Pyu
64th Avenue
Fairyland Story Rod Land
Zero Team
Raiden
BenBeroBe
Fairyland Story
Kuri Kinton
Liquid Kids
Trio de Punch
Darwin 4078
Ganbare Gin-Kun
Tokidensho Angel Eyes
Swimmer
Guzzler
Cosmo Police Galivan
Soccer
VS. Tennis
Rabio Lepus
I wonder if salamander 2 would be a possibility? Loved the first one on Nes and arcade. Never played the sequel but it looks cool.
@masterLEON thank you for that! Oooh SUPER COBRA!! You know they DO have an American site lol. I’d show you but I’ve no clue how to throw images up. 🤣🤷♂️
Green Beret. Awesome! Also awesome that I’ve never heard of nearly all the rest so look forward to checking them out.
At this rate, Hamster will release a long-forgotten arcade game that I cannot remember for the life of me what it was called. I can barely remember the details either other than it being a single screen game from the early arcade days... If I ever saw it I would know. All I can say is keep releasing it every arcade ROM you possibly can Hamster, please.
why do'nt they release's that game gravitor or is it called gravitar?
@Ninfan Gravitar is an Atari Inc release, which means it's today owned by Atari SA.
Hamster has no licensing deal with the rights holders of Atari's arcade heritage (Pre 1984 is Atari SA owned minus Battlezone which is owned by Rebellion; The Atari Games lineup from 1984 to the end is owned by Warner Brothers).
But the good news is that it's already on the Nintendo Switch in both arcade and Atari 2600 form as part of Atari Flashback Classics along with 31 other Atari Inc/Kee Games arcade classics, 16 Atari 5200 games, and 102 Atari 2600 games.
@YANDMAN I agree. I'm sure these games have a ton of fans, but none of these Konami games are ones I'm really interested in. I'm disappointed that the list doesn't include Mystic Warriors, Metamorphic Force, or Violent Storm. Of course I also want X-Men, The Simpsons, and the TMNT games, but I realize that license issues would make porting these games difficult or at least really expensive, and I doubt Konami wants to shell out the big bucks again only a few years after getting them on PS3 and Xbox 360.
Green Beret is an easy pick for me. Great run & gun action-game that I really enjoyed playing back in the days on on my Commodore64.
I hope that Hamster will later also bring out other great titles like, Kung-Fu Master, Popeye, Ghost N`Goblins (though it`s impossible game to beat) and) Black Tiger too. X)
(Anyway ,so far, Great work by Hamster)
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