Games by Lizardcube
Reviews of Lizardcube Games
Review Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap (Switch eShop)
Return to Monster Land
The Sega Master System may have lost out to the NES in terms of pure commercial success and depth of software, but it nevertheless had its fair share of amazing games - and 1989's Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap must surely rank at the top of the list. A massively influential and innovative title, it combined platform action...
Latest Lizardcube News
Friday17th Oct 2025
News Shinobi: Art Of Vengeance Reveals Final SEGA Villain For Upcoming DLC
Update: It's the 'Mad Dog' from Yakuza and Like A Dragon
In case you missed it, SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance is getting Sega Villains Stage DLC next year, which will see Joe Musashi face off against classic bad guys from past releases. In August, we found out Sonic's Dr. Eggman would be first up, and now Sega and Lizardcube have lifted the lid on the...
Friday26th Sep 2025
News Shinobi: Art Of Vengeance Switch Resolution Update Now Available
Some other bugs have also been addressed
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance made its arrival on the Switch eShop last week, and while we think it's got the potential to be "pure ninja gold", there are aspects of this particular version that could use some work. One issue was tied to the game's resolution not being properly optimised. Fortunately, it looks...
Monday18th Aug 2025
News Shinobi: Art Of Vengeance To Get Classic SEGA Villains Stage DLC Next Year
Dr. Eggman is first up
Joe Musashi has fought countless demons, strange lifeforms, and ninja clans across the Shinobi series' vast history. But in SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance — which launches on Switch at the end of August — his greatest threat awaits in some DLC. Coming in early 2026, Sega has announced the SEGA Villains Stage, and first up for...
Tuesday3rd Jun 2025
News Shinobi: Art Of Vengeance Gets New Trailer Detailing Its Fast-Paced Combat
Master the ninja arts!
Yes, everyone's favourite stabby ninja guy, Joe Musashi, is due to arrive on Nintendo Switch this coming August 25th, and the game is looking pretty incredible from what we've seen thus far. The masters of everything side-scrolling and/or violent over at Lizardcube have dropped a brand new trailer for the upcoming Shinobi:...
Saturday24th May 2025
News Sega & Lizardcube Talk Shinobi: Art Of Vengeance And How To Modernise A Classic
Take this!
With Shinobi: Art of Vengeance's release date now just 97 days away (not that we're counting), both Sega and Lizardcube have been out and about and making sure to satiate our increasing desire for more information on their upcoming side-scrolling adventure. Of course, this isn't just any old adventure and, much like Lizardcube's previous...
Tuesday20th May 2025
News Shinobi: Art Of Vengeance Shows Off Gorgeous Hand-Drawn Action And Environments
Neo City showcased in new trailer
We've got another new trailer from Sega and Lizardcube of Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, the upcoming brand new 2D action platformer in the long-running Shinobi series. Today, we're getting a look at Neo City, a neon-lit industrial city where danger lurks in the shadows; this is the second locale we've seen after Oboro...
Thursday27th Mar 2025
News Shinobi: Art Of Vengeance Is Getting A Limited Run Physical Switch Release
Pre-orders are "coming soon"
Sega surprised fans in February with the official reveal of Shinobi: Art of Vengeance for the Switch and multiple other platforms. It's already locked in a release date of 29th August 2025 and in an update today we've now got news of a physical release. This hard copy version will be distributed by Limited Run Games...
Thursday13th Feb 2025
News Shinobi: Art Of Vengeance Brings 2D Ninja Action To Nintendo Switch This August
"From the creators of Streets of Rage 4"
PlayStation's 'State of Play' broadcast has just wrapped and it was packed with all sorts of exciting announcements including a few Sega ones. Apart from a proper look at Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, we've also got an update on the new Shinobi project. It's now been officially revealed as SHINOBI: Art of...
Wednesday15th Jun 2022
News Streets Of Rage 4 Developer Lizardcube Is Hiring For A New Action Game
#ThirdGame
Lizardcube — one of the developers behind the excellent revival beat 'em up Streets of Rage 4 — has revealed that it's hiring for a brand new project. Sharing the job listing on Twitter, the company is looking for a senior game/level designer to join its little team of seven in Paris to create a "new action game". Exciting!...
Monday2nd Aug 2021
Feature The History Of Streets Of Rage
Mmm... trashcan chicken
This feature originally graced your screens on 25th December 2019, republished today to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Streets of Rage. For a lot of us more ‘seasoned’ gamers, the announcement of Streets of Rage 4 brought a tear to the eye. The original Mega Drive/Genesis Streets of Rage trilogy holds a special place...
Friday23rd Jul 2021
Hands On Streets Of Rage 4's Mr. X Nightmare DLC Is A Dreamy Add-On
Packs a punch
Streets of Rage 4 was a big hit in 2020, tempting in newcomers with its stylish visuals and weighty combat, and delighting series veterans of a certain age that had been waiting many years for an official sequel. It's a game with plenty of replayability, too, with a good number of unlockable characters and a generally moreish campaign...
Wednesday21st Jul 2021
News Lizardcube CEO Gives Intriguing Insight Into Origins Of Streets Of Rage 4
"It was a teenage dream come true"
Streets of Rage 4 was a big eShop release of 2020, winning over fans old and new with its handsome visuals and fun combat. Though its DLC has had a temporary setback on Switch it's undoubtedly been a success story, keeping alive a franchise that had previously only been held up by the most dedicated fans. It was a...
Saturday12th Jun 2021
Video Here's An Extended Look At The Streets Of Rage 4 'Mr. X Nightmare' DLC
Return to the streets
We had an absolute blast when we returned to the streets in Streets of Rage 4 last year - labelling it the perfect modernisation of Sega's beloved side-scrolling beat 'em up series. If you're looking for an excuse to revisit the game, as you might recall, Dotemu has announced the 'Mr. X Nightmare' DLC. It features new playable...
Sunday27th Dec 2020
Feature The Making Of Streets Of Rage 4, By The People Who Made It Happen
"With that reality came pressure, but so much joy and excitement as well"
It took twenty-five years, but Streets of Rage 4 finally delivered a cracking sequel to Sega's beloved pugilism series, no small feat given just how many gamers hold the franchise in enormously high regard. Nintendo Life caught up with the teams at DotEmu, Guard Crush Games...
Monday25th May 2020
News Streets Of Rage 4's Dotemu Is Working On Three Unannounced Projects
"Stay tuned"
The three companies behind beat 'em up revival Streets of Rage 4 held an AMA on reddit last week and revealed some details regarding their plans for the game, as well as hinting about upcoming projects. Dotemu, Lizardcube and Guard Crush Games took part in the thread, and many of the questions focused on DLC plans for the game. It's...
Thursday14th May 2020
News Streets Of Rage 4 Dev Has Some Ideas For DLC, But Nothing Is Officially In The Works
Make it happen
Streets of Rage 4 is easily one of the best beat 'em up games we've played in a long time, but as noted in our review, the campaign is a little on the short side - especially if you're not interested in replays or chasing down perfect ranks. One solution would be DLC. So, what are the chances of it happening? On the same Twitch...
Wednesday13th May 2020
News Streets Of Rage 4 Dev Wanted To Add Shinobi's Joe Musashi, But Got Rejected By Sega
Far from simple
Streets of Rage 4 is already an awesome game, but it could have even better if Sega Japan approved one idea from Guard Crush game designer Jordi Asensio. During a live stream interview on the Twitch channel Gwak, Asensio explained how he wanted Joe Musashi from the Shinobi series and other Sega characters to appear in the fourth...
Friday1st May 2020
Video Digital Foundry Delivers Its Verdict On The Switch Version Of Streets Of Rage 4
As good as the rest
Streets of Rage 4 has been well-received across all platforms, but how does it hold up on the Nintendo Switch in terms of performance? It matches the competition. The expert team over at Digital Foundry had a look and found it delivers the same silky smooth 60 frames per second action that it does on other platforms. In terms of...
Wednesday29th Apr 2020
Gallery Take A Look At The Streets Of Rage 4 Characters That Didn't Make The Cut
Plus alternate designs for some of the main cast
Streets of Rage 4 launches this week, bringing to an end a 26-year wait that has been pretty unbearable for hardcore fans. Created by Lizardcube, Dotemu and Guard Crush Games, this fourth entry in the series brings Alex, Blaze and their friends into the HD era – and we think it's pretty special, as...
News Limited Run Games Reveals Streets Of Rage 4 Collector's Edition
Secure this and cancel your existing order
Limited Run Games has lifted the lid on its limited Streets of Rage 4 Collector's Edition for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4. This product will be available in limited supply (1,500 units for Switch), contains a lot of goodies, and will set you back a whopping $149.99 USD. It'll be made available later...
Thursday23rd Apr 2020
News Streets Of Rage 4 Soundtrack Listing Reveals The Mix Of Old And New Artists
Music to punch people by
Streets of Rage 4 hits the Switch and other systems on April 30th, the same day that the game's official soundtrack album goes live on services like Bandcamp, Spotify, iTunes and Amazon Music. We already know that legendary series composers Yuzo Koshrio and Motohiro Kawashima are involved, but the man guiding the project is...
Sunday19th Apr 2020
News Streets Of Rage 4 Appears To Be Getting A Day-One Update
And you'll need 1 GB of free space
As you might have heard, Dotemu, Lizardcube, and Guard Crush have finally locked in the launch date for Streets of Rage 4. It's arriving on the Switch and multiple other platforms on 30th April and will retail for £22.49 / $24.99. Alongside this announcement was the first look at the game's Battle Mode - which we...
Friday14th Feb 2020
Video Take A Behind-The-Scenes Look At The Gorgeous Art Of Streets Of Rage 4
Blazin'
With Streets of Rage 4 still on course for its vague '2020' release date, developer DotEmu has dropped another in its series of behind-the-scenes videos about the game's development. The latest video (below) is a six-minute look at the game's art from Lizardcube's Ben Fiquet and Julian Hguyen You. Discussing how the pixel art of the
Friday31st Jan 2020
Video Check Out Adam Hunter's Return In This Streets Of Rage 4 Gameplay Footage
Presented by the game's lead programmer
Streets of Rage 4 has been in development for quite a while now, and while we're anxious to get our hands on it, as fans of the series we're happy to wait while joint developers Guard Crush Games, DotEMU and Lizardcube polish it to the Nth degree. The original Mega Drive / Genesis beat 'em ups are a classic...
Tuesday10th Dec 2019
News Streets Of Rage 4 Sees The Return Of The Beloved Character You All Asked For
You asked for it
It has today been confirmed that Adam Hunter will be a playable character in the upcoming Streets of Rage 4. Adam originally starred in the first Streets of Rage but wasn't present in either of its sequels, yet he remains a firm favourite with fans of the franchise. During today's Indie World broadcast,
Thursday12th Sep 2019
Hands On The More We Play Streets Of Rage 4, The More We Like It
Dust off your knuckles
Boy, the streets sure have been quiet the last 25 years. That’s roughly the length of time since Axel Stone, Blaze Fielding, and Big McLargehuge roamed the streets taming, titulary speaking, the “rage”. Streets of Rage 4, similar to retro franchise revivals like Mega Man 9 and Sonic Mania before it,
Monday19th Aug 2019
News New Trailer For Streets Of Rage 4 Teases A Fourth Character
Hiding in plain fight
We're big Streets of Rage fans here at Nintendo Life, so the confirmation today that Streets of Rage 4 is coming to Switch was welcome (if entirely predictable) news. The new trailer (reproduced above for your viewing pleasure) introduces new character Cherry Hunter - daughter of Adam Hunter from the original and niece to...
News Yuzo Koshiro Thinks You're Going To Love Streets Of Rage 4
"It is very close to Streets of Rage 2"
Today, the news we had all hoped and prayed for was confirmed: Streets of Rage 4 is coming to Nintendo Switch, along with a new playable character. A collaboration between Lizardcube, Guard Crush Games, DotEmu and Sega, this side-scrolling brawler aims to resurrect one of the most beloved Mega Drive / Genesis...
Friday16th Aug 2019
News Streets Of Rage 4 Details To Be Revealed Next Week
Switch confirmation coming? Please?
More news on the upcoming Streets of Rage 4 is finally coming next week, and we're desperately hoping for confirmation that the game will be headed to Switch. The revival of Sega's classic side-scrolling fighter series was first revealed back in the summer of 2018, when it was announced that Lizardcube and DotEmu...
Wednesday17th Jul 2019
News Yuzo Koshiro Confirmed For Streets of Rage 4 Soundtrack
Alongside other VGM legends
A new video put out by French developer Dotemu has confirmed that legendary composer Yuzo Koshiro - the man behind the original games' soundtracks as well as a host of other classics from ActRaiser to Ys to The Revenge of Shinobi - is returning to the Streets of Rage series to work on the music for Streets of Rage
Tuesday26th Mar 2019
News Did The Latest Streets Of Rage 4 Trailer Just Reveal Two New Playable Characters?
Bare those knuckles, guys
A new gameplay trailer for Streets of Rage 4 has been released which gives us a better idea of what the final product will look like when it eventually hits the (ahem) streets. Currently in production at Guard Crush Games, this highly-anticipated sequel will feature the artistic talents of Lizardcube, the studio behind the...
Monday11th Mar 2019
News Streets Of Rage 4 Will Be Playable For The First Time At PAX East
Take to the streets
In case you forgot, last August it was revealed Lizardcube and DotEmu - the studios behind the excellent Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap reboot - were reviving the classic side-scrolling Sega beat 'em up Streets of Rage. While we're still waiting for platforms to be announced, Dotemu, Lizardcube and Guard Crush Games have revealed...
Sunday30th Dec 2018
Gallery There’s No Need To Bash These New Streets Of Rage 4 Screenshots
Promising stuff
In case you forgot, Lizardcube and DotEmu - the studios behind the Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap reboot - are reviving Sega’s beat ‘em up series Streets of Rage. Streets of Rage 4 will be developed in conjunction with Guard Crush Games and uses familiar hand-drawn visuals. While we wait for more information about this project,...
Friday28th Dec 2018
Feature Behind The Scenes On Streets Of Rage 4, The Sequel We Thought We'd Never See
"We're constantly comparing our game with the originals"
No, you're not suffering from déjà vu; this article originally appeared on the site in September this year, and we're republishing it as part of our 'Best of 2018' series which celebrates what we feel were our finest features of the past twelve months. Enjoy! Flashback time. My friend had...
Tuesday4th Sep 2018
Hands On Streets Of Rage 4 Is A Grand (Upper) Revival
Nostalgic hearts a-Blaze
It’s been a wild ride for fans of SEGA fans the last few years. Lately, it seems as though the forgotten series of their past are returning in spades, thanks to the efforts of smaller indies the world over: Wonder Boy, Shenmue, Monster Boy, and finally, Streets of Rage. That last one is a big deal for a particularly loyal...
Tuesday28th Aug 2018
News Streets Of Rage Composer Makes Ambiguous Comment About His Involvement With Fourth Game
Will he return?
Reflect on Sega's Streets of Rage series and you'll no doubt remember the radical soundtrack. It was all thanks to the magic of Japanese composer, Yuzo Koshiro. The music for this particular series was considered ahead of its time, experimenting with an array of styles. As unbelievable as the Streets of Rage 4 announ
Monday27th Aug 2018
News Streets Of Rage 4 Is Really Happening, Thanks To The Team Behind The Wonder Boy Reboot
Pinch yourself
Lizardcube and DotEmu - the studios behind the excellent Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap reboot - are reviving Sega's classic side-scrolling fighter Streets of Rage. Developed in conjunction with Guard Crush Games, Streets of Rage 4 boasts a stunning hand-drawn visual style and will build on the gameplay seen in the original trilogy on...
Tuesday8th May 2018
News The Man Behind The Wonder Boy: Dragon's Trap Remake Would Love To Tackle Zelda II
"It's a game that could have been better"
Lizardcube's remake of Sega's sublime Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap was one of the very early eShop highlights on Switch. The work of programmer Omar Cornut and artist Ben Fiquet, this reimagining of an 8-bit classic took the Master System version and gave it gorgeous HD visuals while tinkering behind the...
Wednesday31st Jan 2018
News Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap Gets A Physical Release On 13th February
Just in time for Valentine’s
Still one of the best releases to be found on the Switch eShop is Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap, a modern remaster of a classic game. Though a little on the short side, we were won over by the delightful gameplay and hand drawn artstyle, and the game has since acquired quite a following. A physical version has been...
Friday22nd Dec 2017
News Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap Gets Updated With Video Capture Support
Plus some other fixes, too
The superb Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap has just received an update which enables in-game video capture. A remake of the equally brilliant Sega Master System original, Wonder Boy has also benefited from some other minor fixes as well, which are detailed below. With so many amazing games arriving on Switch this year...
Thursday2nd Nov 2017
News Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap Is Getting A Physical Release On Switch
Thanks to Nicalis
We absolutely adored Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap when it landed on the Switch eShop earlier this year; Lizardcube's retro remake took the Sega Master System classic and improved on it in every way possible. Of course retro gamers love nothing more than collecting boxes and game cards, so having this game as a download only...
Monday11th Sep 2017
News Switch Version Of Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap Sold More Than All The Other Versions Combined
Other indies talk of positive results, too
Nintendo is keener than ever to work with indie developers these days, and it would seem that the feeling is mutual because the Switch is proving to be a real money-spinner when it comes to downloadable delights. In an interview with Gamasutra, Lizardcube's Omar Cornut revealed that the Switch version...
Wednesday12th Jul 2017
News Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap Soundtrack Now Available For Download
89 tracks spanning more than two hours
Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap is one of our favourite Switch eShop titles, and with good reason - it takes the incredible Master System original and gives it a HD lick of paint. Another reason to adore the game is Michael Geyre's amazing arranged soundtrack, which uses Shinichi Sakamoto’s original tunes...
Tuesday9th May 2017
Guide How To Find Every Charm Stone In Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap
A charmed life
If you want to get the best gear possible in Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap, you'll need to collect charm stones. There's a stone for each of Wonder Boy's cursed forms, and when you get them all you'll be able to purchase the best sword in the game. Without further ado, let's get to it. Lizard-Man Lizard-Man is the form...
Wednesday3rd May 2017
News Lizardcube And DotEmu Have Plans For A Physical Release Of Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap
UPDATE: "Switch we still have near-zero progress as of today"
UPDATE: Lizardcube's Omar Cornut has responded to this story: Err... we wrote we are trying to figure it out.. we have no concrete leads yes, hardly a "plan". Would probable take months if it happens. What we meant in that interview was mainly that PS4 is easier to figure out because...
Tuesday18th Apr 2017
News A Decades-Old Cheat Can Be Used To Finish Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap In Minutes
Retro revival
One of the most impressive things about Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap is that it contains the 8-bit original as well as a neatly-remastered update with HD visuals and fantastic audio. In fact, the team at Lizardcube were so committed to achieving an authentic result that they carried over the password system used in the 8-bit original,...
Guide How To Get Rich Quick In Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap
In the money
Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap may have RPG-like features such as pick-ups, shops and gear to collect, but it doesn't allow you to level up like a typical role-playing adventure - instead, the player is expected to use coins to purchase more powerful weapons and stronger armour in order to deal with tougher enemies and boss characters...
Thursday6th Apr 2017
News Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap Has Gone Gold
See you on April 18th!
We've been extensively covering the likes of Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap over the past few weeks, and it won't be long now until the game is live on the eShop. The charming platformer will be a reimagining of the Master System classic, featuring an eye catching new hand-drawn art style, while also paying homage to the origi
Wednesday22nd Mar 2017
News Wonder Girl Is Joining Wonder Boy In The Dragon’s Trap Remake
Gender equality and all that
Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap is out next month and we can't wait to get our hands on it here at Nintendo Life, and the news that our plucky hero is being joined by Wonder Girl makes the wait even harder. Lizardcube art director Ben Fiquet revealed the news regarding this fresh playable character via the PlayStation...
Tuesday14th Mar 2017
Feature Bringing The Sega Classic Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap To A New Legion Of Fans
"The game is full of subtleties and secrets"
For anyone who grew up playing the Sega Master System it is likely that Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap will bring back fond memories. This was a Metroidvania-style title before the term was even coined; its superb combination of action platforming, puzzle-solving and exploration held its own against...






















































