May2023
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
February2023
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...
January2023
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...
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...
November2022
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...
September2022
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...
July2022
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...
June2022
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...
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...
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...
May2022
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...
April2022
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...
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...
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...
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...
February2022
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...
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
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...
January2022
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...
December2021
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...
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...
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...
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...
"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...
November2021
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...
