Popular Games by HAMSTER
Arcade Archives The Tower of Druaga Switch eShop
- 2nd Jun 2022 (UK/EU)
- 2nd Jun 2022 (NA)
ININ Games / Taito Corporation
- 24th Feb 2022 (JPN)
- 15th Apr 2022 (UK/EU)
- 15th Apr 2022 (NA)
Arcade Archives Growl Switch eShop
- 27th Jul 2023 (UK/EU)
- 27th Jul 2023 (NA)
Reviews of HAMSTER Games
Cleaning up the streets
Back when belt-scrolling brawlers were the arcade genre of choice for millions of players worldwide, Capcom's output was considered by many to be the gold standard. Titles like Final Fight and Alien Vs. Predator pulled in an astonishing amount of revenue during this period, but the company didn't have the genre all to itself;...
Review Arcade Archives Haunted Castle (Switch) - The Worst Castlevania? Quite Possibly
Sucks to be you
Back in the early '90s, Castlevania was mostly known for being a console series, with three entries on the NES, three on the Game Boy, and four total across the 16-bit platforms (assuming, of course, you consider the PC Engine to be a true 16-bit system). But early in the series’ life, Konami released an arcade game, known as...
Mini Review Arcade Archives Zero Team (Switch) - A Long-Lost Coin-Op Relic That's Worth Unearthing
We could be zeroes, just for one day
While the arrival of Streets of Rage 4 and The TakeOver might lead you to assume that the belt-scrolling brawler is back in vogue, it's still a pretty niche genre in 2020 – and, to be brutally honest, that has been the case since the mid-'90s, by which point Street Fighter II had made the one-on-one fighter the...
Return of the Mac
If you ask us, Hamster should be getting more praise for successfully releasing a steady stream of Nintendo games in its Arcade Archives series. No fewer than 18 of Nintendo’s vintage coin-op titles have now been released on the Switch to date, with practically all of them available to buy for the first time in their history...
Yee-haw!
Well, it's about time. Not officially available anywhere since making its arcade bow (outside of the well-intentioned but obviously weaker home ports on the SNES and Mega Drive, at least), Konami's phenomenally good Western-themed run n' gun Sunset Riders has finally been re-released as part of Hamster's superb Arcade Archives line. The...
Mini Review Arcade Archives In The Hunt (Switch) - One Of The Most Unique Shmups You'll Ever Play
Don't call it sub-par
You could almost be forgiven for mistaking almost any given screenshot of In the Hunt for one of the submarine sections in the much more popular Metal Slug series. They're extremely similar visually, for a very good reason – Irem's cult favourite sub-'em-up was developed by the same team who went on to form Nazca and make the...
Latest HAMSTER News
Friday18th Apr 2025
News Nintendo Removes Variable Refresh Rate TV Mention On Switch 2 Websites
Updated descriptions in US, Canada, Japan and Europe
Nintendo Switch 2 is sporting all sorts of modern technology and one other addition is variable refresh rate (VRR) support. This has been highlighted on Nintendo's official website alongside all the other upgrades for this new hardware. Nintendo has been nice enough to provide a description about...
Tuesday4th Mar 2025
News Hamster's Arcade Archives Celebrates Eight Years Of Switch eShop Releases
"Thank you for your unwavering support"
Since the arrival of the Switch in 2017, Hamster Corporation has been releasing all sorts of arcade classics on the eShop. Now, in line with the eighth anniversary of Nintendo's hybrid system, Hamster's president and CEO Satoshi Hamada has taken a moment out of his busy schedule to share some fun facts. If...
Friday3rd Jan 2025
"We will be taking on many new challenges"
It's a new year and Hamster Corporation is already back at it with more weekly 'Arcade Archives' releases on the Switch eShop. To kick things off, it's released Athena's 1989 side-scrolling action title Castle of Dragon. You'll go forth with the "power of love" as two young kings set out on a journey to...
Wednesday27th Nov 2024
News The Original 'Cotton' Shoot 'Em Up Joins Hamster's Arcade Archives Library Today
Almost like a dream
Hamster Corporation has revealed this week's addition to the Arcade Archives, and it's none other than Success' first broom-based shoot 'em up, Cotton: Fantastic Night Dreams. The Switch has seen its fair share of Cotton titles since Reboot! landed on the hybrid back in 2021. In the years since, we have snatched up Cotton 100%,...
Sunday19th May 2024
News Taito Milestones 3 Coming Winter 2024, First Batch Of Games Revealed
"Get hype for over 7 classic TAITO games"
Last year, it was revealed Taito Milestones 3 was on the way to the Switch and it's now been confirmed it will be arriving locally on the eShop in Winter 2024. The third retro collection will feature "over seven classic Taito games" between the late 1980s and early 1990s. Hamster Corporation, known for its...
Tuesday30th Jan 2024
News Hamster Corporation Celebrates 400 Arcade Archives Titles On Switch
Here's to many more!
It seems like yesterday Hamster was only celebrating its 100th 'Arcade Archives' release, but it's now actually 400 titles into its retro revival project. Hamster Corporation shared this milestone in a brief post on social media earlier before, noting how Rainbow Islands was its latest game to arrive on the Nintendo Switch and...
Thursday18th Jan 2024
News Super Contra Joins Hamster's Arcade Archives Library This Week
Run and gun
Hamster Corporation has revealed the next game for its Arcade Archive collection on Switch is Konami's run-and-gun release Super Contra. It's available across all regions on 18th January 2024. Here's a bit more about this version of the game, along with a look (above): "SUPER CONTRA" is an action game released by KONAMI in 1988. The...
Thursday4th Jan 2024
News Hamster Corporation Reveals Its First Arcade Archives Release Of 2024
Stop the supercomputer 'Zelda' in Mighty Guy
To kick off the new year, Hamster Corporation has announced it will be adding Mighty Guy to the Arcade Archives collection this week. The game is out today and should be live on the Switch eShop very soon. This action game made its debut in 1986 and requires players to put a stop to a massive...
Thursday28th Dec 2023
News Hamster Corporation Reveals Its Final Arcade Archives Release Of 2023
It's Taito's 1991 game Solitary Fighter
It's been another action-packed year of Hamster Corporation retro releases and to go out with a bang, the Japanese video game company will be releasing the 1991 Taito fighting game Solitary Fighter on 28th December. This should make it the final Arcade Archives release of 2023! Solitary Fighter follows the...
Monday22nd May 2023
News Tetris The Absolute Grandmaster 2 Plus Slots Into Hamster's Arcade Archives Next Month
Line 'em up
Hamster has today announced that the second game in Arika's tough Tetris series, Tetris The Absolute Grandmaster 2 Plus, will be dropping down onto the Switch via the Arcade Archives collection on 1st June (thanks, Gematsu). The game's predecessor, Tetris The Grand Master, was
Wednesday1st Feb 2023
News Greek Mythology-Inspired Vertical Shooter 'Phelios' Is This Week's Arcade Archives Game
By the beard of Zeus!
Greek mythology might not be the first thing to come to mind when you think of a vertical-scrolling shooter, but that didn't stop Namco from releasing Phelios in 1988, and it hasn't stopped Hamster from adding said title to its arcade collection this week (from 2nd February). There's probably many out there who haven't...
Wednesday25th Jan 2023
News Taito's Action Platformer 'The NewZealand Story' Is This Week's Arcade Archives Game
Seal the deal
Arguably one of the most adorable arcade titles out there, The NewZealand Story is waddling its way onto Hamster's Arcade Archives collection this week (thanks, Nintendo Everything) and will be turning us all against seals once again. Originally released in 1988, this classic platformer sees you play as Tiki, a kiwi who is forced out...
Thursday5th Jan 2023
News Galaga Is Hamster's First Arcade Archives Switch Release Of 2023
Another blast from the past
Following on from the release of Bubble Bobble at the end of December, Hamster has now officially unveiled its first Arcade Archives release of 2023. This time it's Namco's classic arcade space shooter Galaga. This title was first released in 1981 and is a sequel to the 1979 release Galaxian (previously released on the...
Friday25th Nov 2022
News Arcade Archives Nintendo Collection Goes On Sale For The First Time Ever, 30% Off
Grab a bargain
We've extensively covered the Switch's Arcade Archives series over the years, and November 24th marks the 300th week (5 years and 9 months, to be precise) of Hamster Corporation rolling out these updated retro releases. To celebrate this milestone, the Nintendo Switch eShop is hosting a special sale. All 20 Nintendo titles from the...
Wednesday28th Sep 2022
News SNK Celebrates Art Of Fighting 30th Anniversary With A New Illustration
The original game launched in 1992
Last week SNK celebrated Art of Fighting's 30th anniversary. This particular fighter was first released for Neo Geo and arcades in September 1992. It helped pave the way for the genre and eventually got a second game (1994) and third game (1996). SNK shared this special occasion by sharing a new drawing by SNK...
Thursday14th Jul 2022
News Namco Shmup Dragon Saber Is This Week's Arcade Archives Game
Dragon flight
If you love a good vertical shoot 'em up - Hamster's Arcade Archives collection has you got covered this week. The latest release for this library on the Switch is the 1990 Namco title, Dragon Saber. It's a sequel to Dragon Spirit, released in arcades back in 1987. In this game, the Huey and Siria, who have been transformed into...
Wednesday15th Jun 2022
News Taito's 'Space Seeker' Blasts Its Way Into The Arcade Archives Line-Up
Searching and shooting in space
We're moving away from Namco's backlog for a bit this week in the Arcade Archives line-up, as the next game coming to the series is 1981 arcade shooter Space Seeker. the game will be dropping on the eShop tomorrow — 16th June — for the usual price of $7.99 / €6.99 / £6.29. This game is known for having...
Wednesday8th Jun 2022
News Bump Your Enemies Off The Edge In 'Motos', The Next Arcade Archives Game
Give it a push!
We've got our next Arcade Archives title hitting the eShop tomorrow, and it's 1985's bumper car arcade game Motos. This is the last of seven games to run on Namco's Super Pac-Man hardware while sharing a video system used in games like Mappy, Dig Dug II, and — last week's Arcade Archives addition — The Tower of Druaga. It's a...
Wednesday1st Jun 2022
News Classic Maze RPG 'The Tower of Druaga' Is This Week's Arcade Archives Game
No need for a key to play this
Did anyone else play Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean and think to themselves during a particular dungeon, "huh, what is that pixelated maze room full of slimes a reference to?" Well, maybe it was just this writer here, but you can now find out the game that inspired that dungeon! The Tower of Druaga is...
Wednesday11th May 2022
News Pro Tennis: World Court Is The Next Ace In The Arcade Archives Line-Up
A forehand winner for the collection
It's our weekly Wednesday update on the Arcade Archives series. Except for last week, when the magic happened on Thursday. Golden Week, hey? This week, we've got something a bit different for Hamster's series; after weeks of shumps, platformers, racers, and puzzle games, we have a sports game coming to the eShop...
Wednesday27th Apr 2022
News Namco's Yokai Dochuki, Renamed 'Shadowland', Is The Next Arcade Archives Game On Switch
A platformer to close out Namco month
We're getting another Arcade Archives release on Switch tomorrow, as the Japan-only platformer Yokai Dochuki is the next game to launch in the series, but with a slightly different name in the West, however — Shadowland. Originally released in arcades in 1987, the game sees you platforming through jigoku...
Wednesday20th Apr 2022
News Galaga Sequel 'Gaplus' Is The Next Arcade Archives Game On Switch
Namco month continues
It's Wednesday, so we're obviously here to tell you what new arcade game you'll be able to pick up on Switch as part of the Arcade Archives series. Tomorrow, it's the turn of shmup sequel Gaplus, the third entry in the Galaxian series and follow-up to the hugely popular Galaga. Sometimes also known as Galaga 3, it's only one...
Wednesday13th Apr 2022
News Action Adventure RPG 'Valkyrie No Densetsu' Joins Switch Arcade Archives Line-Up
More PC Engine arcade goodness
Valkyrie no Densetsu is the latest game coming to the Switch via Arcade Archives. This cult classic action RPG launched in Japan in 1989 but didn't see a western release until Namco Museum Vol. 5, where it was titled The Legend of Valkyrie. Developed by Namco, Valkyrie no Densetsu was greatly inspired by the Vikings...
Wednesday6th Apr 2022
News Pac-Land Is The Next Arcade Archives Game Coming To Switch
Walk-a-walk-a-walk-a-walk-a-walk
Another week, another Arcade Archives release. This week's game features a name that'll be familiar to many but in an entirely different format. Pac-Land, the 1984 game, is the next title being added to the Arcade Archives line-up. Yes, this is your chance to discover exactly where that Smash Bros. for Wii U stage...
Thursday17th Feb 2022
News Namco's Dragon Spirit Is Coming To Arcade Archives On Switch
Arrives in early March
Namco's 1987 fantasy-themed shmup Dragon Spirit is joining the Arcade Archives series on Nintendo Switch, it has been revealed. Notable for fusing traditional shmup mechanics with dragons and other mythical beasts, the game shares similarities with another Namco classic, Xevious, in that the player has a standard shot for...
Wednesday9th Feb 2022
News Classic Coin-Op Thunder Dragon 2 Blasts Off On Switch This Week
Joins the Arcade Archives range tomorrow
Hamster has announced that NMK's vertical shmup Thunder Dragon 2 is joining the Arcade Archives range this week. A sequel to Thunder Dragon – which is also part of the Arcade Archives series – and hit arcades back in 1993. You'll be able to play it solo or simultane
Wednesday2nd Feb 2022
News Namco's 'New Rally-X' Is Joining Arcade Archives On Switch This Week
What's old is new again (but still old)
Hamster has confirmed that this week's Arcade Archives title is Namco's 1981 racer, New Rally-X. Originally released in 1981, New Rally-X improves on the original Rally-X (which is also part of the Arcade Archives series) by showcasing ever-so-slightly better visuals and a new soundtrack. It also has easier...
Sunday16th Jan 2022
But it needs to know what you think...
Right before the end of 2021, during one of Hamster's Arcade Archives streams, Hori revealed a special "retro game controller" designed for old-school gaming and Arcade Archives titles. So far they've come up with a bunch of concepts - including a modular one, which would allow plays to change the controller...
Thursday30th Dec 2021
News Hamster's Final Arcade Archives Release Of 2021 Is Mutant Night
Out December 30th
Hamster Corporation has once again made it to the end of another year, so how is it ending it? It's final Arcade Archives release of 2021 is UPL's 1987 arcade platform shooter Mutant Night. Here's a bit about it, along with a look: "Players will control a mysterious character named "Mutron-kun" who will power up using various...
Tuesday21st Dec 2021
News Xexex, One Of Konami's Greatest Shmups, Is Coming To Switch This Week
The Arcade Archives range expands again
Hamster has done a fantastic job in bringing a host of cult arcade games to home systems of late, and it's continuing the trend with the cult classic Xexex (pronounced "Zekseks"), which joins the Arcade Archives range next week. Originally released in 1991 and powered by hardware that was far more advanced...
Thursday9th Dec 2021
News 'Lost' Namco Title That Inspired The First Live-Action Video Game Movie Is Coming To Switch
Pre-dating Super Mario, Street Fighter and Double Dragon's movies
Next week's Arcade Archives release is Mirai Ninja, a Japan-only Namco title from 1988 which was never ported to any home system, and holds a special place in video game history. Released in the same year as Keita Amemiya's 1988 movie Mirai Ninja: Keigumo Kinin Gaiden (known as Cyber...
Wednesday8th Dec 2021
News Namco's Groundbreaking Dragon Buster Is Coming To Switch This Week
Joins the Arcade Archives range tomorrow
Hamster has revealed that the next entry in its long-running Arcade Archives series is Namco's 1984 title Dragon Buster. Notable for being one of the first arcade games to fuse RPG elements with the ability to select your level based on a world map, Dragon Buster followed in the footsteps of Namco's...
Friday3rd Dec 2021
"An adventure of danger and excitement"
Hamster's made it to the final month of the year and it's started out with Taito's action-platformer arcade title, Liquid Kids. This game made its debut in the arcades in 1990 and was followed by a number of home console ports. Here's a bit more about it, along with a look - courtesy of Nintendo Life...
Friday26th Nov 2021
News Another Namco Title Has Joined Hamster's Arcade Archives On Switch
Download it from the eShop today
This week's Arcade Archives release on the Switch eShop is the 1983 Namco release, Phozon. It's described as an action game where the player controls a nucleus called 'chemic' and must merge with molecules to complete specified formations. "Control a nucleus called CHEMIC and merge with MOLECULES to complete...
Thursday18th Nov 2021
News Another Taito Game Joins Hamster's Arcade Archives Collection On Switch
A blast from the past
If you're looking for some more retro action on your Switch, then why not check out Raimais when it arrives on the Switch eShop later this week. It's the latest addition to Hamster's Arcade Archives collection and is an action game released by Taito back in 1988. Here's a brief rundown, along with some screenshots:...
Thursday11th Nov 2021
News Hamster Adds Another Namco Title To Arcade Archives On Nintendo Switch
More retro goodness
Hamster has been slowly bolstering the Namco Arcade Archives offerings and the latest game to be added to the collection is the 1983 action-puzzle game, Libble Rabble. Here's a bit about it and some screenshots: “LIBBLE RABBLE” is an action puzzle game released by NAMCO in 1983. Control Libble and Rabble to “bashishi”...
Wednesday27th Oct 2021
News Sky Kid Is The Next HAMSTER Arcade Archives Release, Out This Week
Looping round for another shot
The HAMSTER Arcade Archives series keeps on rolling, delivering a broad range of classics with impressive emulation (and extra goodies) of iconic cabinets. This week's arrival, on 28th October, will be Sky Kid; as usual for this series it'll cost $7.99USD with regional equivalents. The name may be familiar to eager...
Thursday21st Oct 2021
News Hamster Adds Another Namco Classic To Arcade Archives On Nintendo Switch
Mappy is back
In recent times, Hamster has been releasing Bandai Namco games for its Arcade Archives collection on the Nintendo Switch. This week, the trend continues with the release of the 1983 action title, Mappy. "Players control MAPPY, an enthusiastic, committed police officer on a mission to reclaim stolen goods from a mansion. Avoid getting...
Tuesday19th Oct 2021
News Arcade Archives Publisher Hamster Has Filed A Trademark For 'Console Archives'
Is even more retro goodness on the way?
Hamster Corporation has been pumping out enhanced arcade releases since the Nintendo Switch arrived on the scene in 2017, but it might finally be time for it to take the next big step in retro preservation. According to a story over on Gematsu, the Japanese company filed a trademark for "Console Archives" in...
Thursday14th Oct 2021
News Another Classic Namco Title Joins Hamster's Arcade Archives This Week
Rally-X returns
This week's arcade archives release from Hamster Corporation is the 1980 Namco "maze chase" classic, Rally-X. Here's some PR and screens: “RALLY-X” is an action game released by NAMCO in 1980. Players control a car and dodge pursuing red cars while collecting flags. Stall the red cars using a smokescreen when they get too...
Friday8th Oct 2021
News Namco's Hack & Slash 'The Genji And The Heike Clans' Joins The Arcade Archives
Out now!
This week's arcade archives release from Hamster Corporation is the 1986 Namco side-scrolling hack 'n slash game, The Genji and the Heike Clans. Here's some PR and screens: "Players control the hero Taira no Kagekiyo on a mission to the capital city of Kamakura, to defeat the Demon Genji Clan's king Yoritomo. The player will face attacks...
Monday4th Oct 2021
News Four More Classic Shmups Confirmed For Switch, Including Konami's Cult Hit, Xexex
Shooter shower!
Hamster – the Japanese company behind the excellent Arcade Archives series – has announced at the Tokyo Game Show that it is bringing four classic shmups to Switch, including Konami's Xexex. Released in 1991, Xexex is held in very high regard by fans of the genre, and sadly never got a domestic port at the time of release (it...
Thursday30th Sep 2021
News Taito Beat 'Em Up Typhoon Gal Joins Hamster's Arcade Archives On Switch
Available from the eShop
This week's Arcade Archives release from Hamster is Typhoon Gal / Onna Sanshirou. It was originally an action beat 'em up game released by Taito in 1985. Here's some PR and screenshots: "Players control martial-arts challenger Yuki as she faces off with the toughest opponents at rival martial arts schools. Yuki can use...
Sunday26th Sep 2021
News Two Namco Classics Join Hamster's Arcade Archives This Week
A double serve of retro games
Hamster Corporation joined in on the Nintendo Direct celebrations earlier this week, with not one but two Namco game releases on the Switch eShop. First up we've got the original PAC-MAN title, released in arcades in 1980. The same rules apply here - players must clear stages by eating all the dots in each round...
Friday17th Sep 2021
News Jaleco's Original Fairy Puzzle Game Soldam Joins The Arcade Archives
Not to be confused with the updated version
Following on from the release of Pop Flamer last week, Hamster's now made another Jaleco arcade classic available. This one is a puzzle game known as Soldam, which was originally released in 1992. If you feel like you might have already played this on the Nintendo Switch before, then you've likely played
Thursday26th Aug 2021
News Another Taito Game Joins Hamster's Arcade Archives This Week
Be the captain in Space Cruiser
Hamster's Arcade Archives series delivers more retro goodness on the Nintendo Switch eShop this week. The latest release is yet another Taito game. This time it's the 1981 arcade shooter Space Cruiser. As the player, you'll take on the role of a space cruiser captain in 2100 AD - patrolling space to ensure peace on...
Friday13th Aug 2021
News Taito Action Beat 'Em Up Kuri Kinton Joins The Arcade Archives On Switch
Take down some baddies
It's another week, and that means another Arcade Archives game is now available on the Nintendo Switch eShop. This time around it's the 1988 Taito side-scrolling action beat 'em up, KURIKINTON - also known as Kuri Kinton. The game follows the martial artists of Kinton as they engage in "brutal battles" with evil fighters, set...
Thursday5th Aug 2021
News Platinum's Retro Sequel 'Sol Cresta' Gets New Trailer (And Yuzo Koshiro)
Out of this world
We heard about Sol Cresta — a sequel to arcade shoot-'em-ups Moon Cresta and Terra Cresta — around April Fool's Day this year, and, honestly, we weren't sure if Platinum Games was pulling our leg (partly because it was their April Fool's joke for 2020). But now, a few months later, they've released
Friday25th Jun 2021
News Arcade Classic Raiden Is Coming To Nintendo Switch Next Week
As part of HAMSTER's Arcade Archives series
HAMSTER is bringing the classic shmup Raiden to the Nintendo Switch as part of its Arcade Archives range next month, it has been announced. The game arrives on the eShop on July 1st. Originally released by Seibu Kaihatsu to great success in 1990, Raiden spawned a long-running series that continues to this...
Wednesday5th May 2021
News 'The Astyanax' Is Coming To Arcade Archives On Switch Tomorrow
Or 'The Lord of King', if you prefer
Retro fans may be interested to know that HAMSTER is bringing Jaleco's 1989 side-scrolling action game The Astyanax to the Switch eShop tomorrow as part of its Arcade Archives range. Known as The Lord of King in Japan, this game appears to take inspiration from other fantasy brawlers of the time such as Rastan...
