The Evercade platform continues to build its distinctive library with the release of Mega Cat Studios Collection 3, a new cartridge that underscores the system’s commitment to indie and retro gaming. This collection bundles ten diverse games from the indie developer Mega Cat Studios, spanning classic platforms like the NES, Genesis, Game Boy, and SNES. It exemplifies Evercade’s appeal: offering a curated, physical format for games that often exist only digitally, providing collectors and enthusiasts a tangible piece of gaming history that is both accessible and affordable.
The standout title in the collection is Plyuk, a clever puzzle game inspired by mechanics similar to BoxBoy!. Its core concept is elegantly simple: the player can only spawn clones below themselves to navigate environments, as jumping or other direct actions are not possible. This limitation creates a compelling challenge, requiring players to think strategically about clone placement, sequence, and management to avoid trapping themselves. Rocket Panda offers a different flavor, serving as a colorful, accessible mascot platformer with a distinctive Genesis-style soundtrack and straightforward one-button controls. Another notable puzzle-platformer, Flap Happy, adopts a ‘black box’ NES design with Joust-inspired flapping mechanics, presenting a deceptively difficult series of single-screen challenges that test precision and timing.
The collection’s variety ensures there is something for multiple tastes. Machine Cave provides an interconnected world with unique flight physics, while Gravibots blends gravity-swapping puzzle elements reminiscent of Lemmings and Mario vs. Donkey Kong. For action-oriented players, GunTneR delivers a classic 8-bit scrolling shooter experience, and the cartridge also includes titles like the Link’s Awakening-inspired Kudzu, the ghostly platformer The Meating, the Game Boy Color RPG Gumball in Trick-or-Treat Land, and the SNES tag game Super Fanger. This breadth showcases Mega Cat Studios’ range across genres and hardware eras, making the cartridge a comprehensive sampler of indie retro development.
Alongside this indie collection, Evercade simultaneously expanded its library with three other significant cartridge releases. Taito Arcade 3 adds another batch of classic arcade titles, including the unique maze game Cameltry and the eternally popular Puzzle Bobble, alongside earlier releases like Qix and Lunar Rescue. The Turrican Collection brings the acclaimed, technically demanding action series to the platform, complete with enhanced “Director’s Cut” and score attack versions for dedicated fans. Activision Collection 2 rounds out the offerings with a selection of 15 Atari 2600 games, featuring notable titles like Pitfall II: Lost Caverns and the oddball Plaque Attack, though some inclusions may feel less essential to modern players. Together, these releases reinforce Evercade’s role as a dedicated physical media platform for preserving and celebrating gaming’s diverse history, from mainstream classics to niche indie creations.
