TODAY'S REVIEW Konami · 1989
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,
four players and a Saturday cartoon
Every kid in America already knew these characters from television. Konami built a cabinet where four of those kids could stand shoulder to shoulder and be them, and the line behind it stretched across the arcade.
Made by one person, reviewed one at a time
Some games are designed, drawn and coded by a single person. We pick the ones worth playing if you grew up in front of an arcade cabinet, and review them one at a time.
Shotgun Cop Man review: there is no jump button, so you shoot the floor
No jump button. You fire downward to launch yourself through more than 150 short levels. Made by one developer.
Project Tachyon review: a one-person run and gun that cuts through bullets
Block bullets with a blade, finish with a gun. A roguelite run and gun made by a one-person studio in Korea.
Ninja Issen review: a one-person love letter to arcade ninjas
Throw the katana, teleport to where it lands. A retro ninja action game made by a one-person studio in Korea.
Shotgun Cop Man video: Devolver Digital (DevolverDigital) · YouTube · Project Tachyon video: STUDIO N9 · YouTube · Ninja Issen video: ASTEROID-J · YouTube
Today's indie chart
Updated daily from public Steam data.
Most played indies
- 1no changeWARDOGS342,220 peak players
- 2no changeValheim225,321 peak players
- 3no changeSlay the Spire 299,030 peak players
- 4no changeGeometry Dash52,833 peak players
- 5no changeTerraria54,884 peak players
Best-selling indies this week
- 1no changeWARDOGS
- 2no changeBodycam
- 3no changeHow to Fish
- 4no changeValheim
- 5no changeWanderburg
Latest reviews
Arkanoid review: the paddle game that learned new tricks
An old idea, a control knob and capsules that changed the rules mid game.
Out Run review: the racing game that was really about the drive
A convertible, a radio dial and a fork in the road, and no reason to ever hit the brakes.
Bubble Bobble review: the game that told you to bring a friend
Two dragons, a hundred single screens, and an ending that told solo players to come back with a friend.
Contra review: two commandos and a joystick that aimed everywhere
Run, jump, aim in eight directions, and never let your partner hog the good gun.
Metal Slug review: the war game drawn like a cartoon
A hard shooter with the timing of a cartoon, and a little tank everyone wanted to climb into.
Golden Tee Golf review: the trackball that lived in the bar
One trackball for power, direction and curve, and a cabinet that belonged next to the dartboard.
The verdicts
proof that you do not need a new idea to make a great game, only a better understanding of the old one.Arkanoid
less a race than a daydream with a timer, and still the best advertisement for driving ever put in an arcade.Out Run
a cute game with a ruthless clock and a warm heart, and still the best case for sharing one cabinet with someone you like.Bubble Bobble
By genre
Shooters
- ContraKonami · 1987
- Metal SlugSNK · 1996
- CommandoCapcom · 1985
- Ikari WarriorsSNK · 1986
- DefenderWilliams · 1981
Fighters & brawlers
- Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesKonami · 1989
- Samurai ShodownSNK · 1993
- Altered BeastSega · 1988
- Bad Dudes Vs. DragonNinjaData East · 1988
Action & platform
- Bubble BobbleTaito · 1986
- ShinobiSega · 1987
- RastanTaito · 1987
- Donkey KongNintendo · 1981
Other classics
- ArkanoidTaito · 1986
- Out RunSega · 1986
- Golden Tee GolfIncredible Technologies · 1989
- Pac-ManNamco · 1980
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles video: Konami · YouTube · Samurai Shodown video: SNK OFFICIAL · YouTube · Shinobi video: SEGA · YouTube · Rastan video: HAMSTER Corporation · YouTube · Arkanoid video: HAMSTER Corporation · YouTube · Out Run video: SEGA · YouTube · Bubble Bobble video: HAMSTER Corporation · YouTube · Contra video: HAMSTER Corporation · YouTube · Metal Slug video: HAMSTER Corporation · YouTube · Golden Tee Golf video: Atari · YouTube
For developers
Made a game on your own?
We introduce solo-made games to readers who grew up in front of arcade cabinets. We never take money for a review, and we check the facts in every piece. Please read how we choose and write first.
Review policy and how to reach usOne review at a time,
not a list of thousands
Search for the games you played and you get tens of thousands of entries, most of them a screenshot and a download link. We take one machine at a time: what the design actually did, and what it meant to stand in front of it.
All reviews