Awesome Games

This iOS game asks you to play not one, but four retro 8-bit games simultaneously on screen. There are 30 virtual game cartridges to play (with more to come), and you can earn power-ups to slow down games or earn bonus points. Drops 2/20/20 on the App Store.

Retro gaming fans, 1up your caffeine levels with this fun ceramic mug from Paladone. It features a level from the classic Super Mario Bros., and its handle looks just like the controller from the original Nintendo Entertainment System. Now someone needs to make a playable version.

This quirky platform puzzle game has two interesting constructs: 1) you can only jump twice in each level; and 2) you break one leg each time you jump. Azaan Lambkin’s submission to itch.io’s Finally Finish Something 2020 contest ironically has a bug that keeps some players from seeing the game’s ending.

Writer/Director Zane O’Gwin and Cinematographer Devin Supertramp created a truly impressive fan film from the Zelda universe. As the story unfolds, a battle lures our heroes into a tragic scenario, and Link must carry on into old age alone. Behind the scenes footage here.

This artful Nintendo Switch action game is jam-packed with gameplay and graphics inspired by the 16-bit gaming era, but the games are framed within the coming-of-age story of the kid playing the games at the arcade.

“Some games even require a Pentium microprocessor!” Google’s Stadia streaming game service hasn’t exactly been off to a great start. But that didn’t stop Squirrel Monkey from envisioning how much worse it would have been had it been released sometime around 1995, cranking out 320×240 graphics at 6 fps.

Mashed attempts to do for the gruesomne shooter DOOM what The Mandalorian did for Star Wars, by introducing an adorable baby protagonist for everyone to fawn over. There’s no way the Demons of Hell are gonna eat this little slayer’s soul.

Atari is mounting a comeback, first with a new console, and now with a chain of video game-themed hotels. The hotels will feature retro and modern games, Atari merch, and much more. Phoenix location breaks ground in 2020, and future locations will include as Vegas, Denver, Chicago, Austin, Seattle, San Francisco, and San Jose.

Garrick Campsey’s cyberpunk-inspired 2D platformer Lazr introduces the use of simulated cloth into its environments, adding a unique design and gameplay element. The flexible materials are used to create swinging ladders, ropes, and nets for the game’s protagonist to climb on. Demo available here.

Do you love classic video games? The Video Game Console Collector’s Field Guide is a 320-page compendium that provides a visual guide to more than 900 pieces of gaming hardware, an index of information on systems, and a checklist where you can keep track of your collection. Available in digital or hardcover print versions.

Sonic the Hedgehog is still one of the greatest platformers of all time, with memorable characters, amazing level design, and a fantastic soundtrack. Pianist Lord Vinheteiro didn’t just cover the Green Hill Zone theme song, but performed it in sync with the action on screen, complete with sound effects.

Chicago-based Etsy shop Pixelixir makes these adorable 8-bit pixel art flowering plants, perfect for video gamers who lack green thumbs. They’re made from fused beads and each one includes a planter and rocks so they’re ready to display.

Getting to the end of a video game can be highly satisfying or highly disappointing, depending on the game. But some games are so difficult to beat that few have seen the way they finish. TheGamer compiled 10 of the trickiest ones to get to – including some that have no end at all.

Maker Jairus of All built an impressive replica of the Broadsider, a weapon from Fallout 76 that’s basically naval cannon you can carry around. The PVC weapon can actually fire, which he tested out in this video. If you’ve got the time to spare, check out the build video series here. Also, how many times did he say “stoichiometric?”

It’s been a long time coming, but the sequel to Bethesda’s excellent DOOM reboot finally drops on 3/20/20. DOOM Eternal continues the tradition of gory, edge of your seat first-person shooter thrills, with new creatures, upgraded weapons, and even more visceral action, as Hell’s armies bring their brand of terror to Earth.

Rec Room Masters offers two great ways to build your own full-size arcade system. Their Xtension Gameplay cabinet kits let you BYO Raspberry Pi computer and flat screen TV, giving your system clean, professional looks and real 2-player arcade controls. Available in 24″ and 32″ display sizes.

This unique battery pack lets you play retro style console games while your phone charges. It packs an 8000 mAh battery, a built-in gamepad, and a 2.8″ color screen. It comes loaded with over 400 games from the 8-bit era.

Look Mum No Computer loves to build music making equipment from retro technology. Here he shows off an awesome build – a synthesizer that uses the sound chips inside an old SEGA Genesis (aka Mega Drive) game console to crank out some wild electronic noise.

The Nintendo Switch has been wildly popular thanks to its great combination of games and portability. While the standard Joy-Cons are good, Shank Mods prefers his old GameCube controller for Super Smash Bros., so he went through the daunting task of splitting one in half and converting it to work with Switch.

If you’ve played God of War on the PS4, you’re probably familiar with Mimir, the disembodied head that helps guide Kratos and Atreus on their missions. Bar-El Studio created this animatronic replica of the egotistical character, complete with light-up mechanical eyes, and speech samples from the game.

Retro game system maker Hyperkin took what was once an April Fools Day gag and turned it into an actual product. This little cube can play classic Nintendo Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance cartridges on your television. It has HDMI (720p) and composite video outputs, and comes with an SNES-style controller.

Portal 2 is one of the most entertaining puzzle games of all time. While we can only hope that someday Valve will return to the franchise, gamer Doodle Chaos reminds us just how fun it was with this run through a custom edited level, perfectly timed to match the accompanying music. The bit with the personality cores is so great.

Game fanatic Bluedrake42 takes a look inside of the truly unique visuals of MrGumix’s work-in-progress game ASCIICKER, which features a 3D world made up entirely out of ASCII text characters. What it currently lacks in gameplay, it makes up for in creativity. You can play around with it in your web browser here.