Retro gaming is starting 2026 with a very modern surprise: brand-new NES and SNES cartridge releases. Mega Cat Studios has announced a “triple launch” that brings three fresh homebrew titles to classic Nintendo hardware—Super Fanger for the SNES, plus Plyuk and Old Towers on the NES—with physical cartridge releases scheduled for January 29 through the company’s online store.
It’s another sign that the homebrew scene isn’t just preserving old consoles—it’s actively expanding what they can do. Mega Cat Studios has become one of the most recognizable names in publishing new releases for vintage platforms, and this lineup highlights how creative developers are still finding new ideas within 8-bit and 16-bit limits.
All three games are also planned to be available digitally, giving players multiple ways to jump in—whether that means firing up original hardware with a new cartridge, or playing through modern setups that support classic-style releases.
Super Fanger (SNES) puts a spooky, pixel-art spin on a timeless playground concept: tag. Built around two-player competitive play, it has players chasing or escaping “whoever’s it” across four different maps, each with secrets and unlockables to find. For those who want to play alone, Super Fanger includes a solo Arcade Mode, while Versus mode is geared toward couch competition—ideal for anyone who misses the simple thrill of local multiplayer.
On the NES side, Plyuk shifts the mood into brainy puzzle-platforming. You play as Plyuk, trapped in an underground laboratory packed with hazards and tricky layouts. The twist is cloning: you’ll create duplicates that can be stacked or positioned strategically, turning your copies into tools for reaching higher platforms and solving increasingly complex challenges. The game previously appeared in a digital release last year, but this edition is tuned specifically for the NES experience, bringing its cloning-based puzzle design to Nintendo’s iconic 8-bit console.
Rounding out the trio is Old Towers, an action-puzzle game for the NES that’s all about momentum, quick thinking, and precision. Players sprint through a cursed tower filled with 40 levels of puzzle-focused challenges, switching between characters to overcome obstacles, collect coins, and push upward through tightly designed stages that demand both speed and planning. Old Towers originally debuted on the ZX Spectrum in 2018 from developer Retrosouls, later earning multiple ports and a digital version for NES/Famicom. Now it’s being prepared for a full NES cartridge release in 2026.
With Super Fanger, Plyuk, and Old Towers arriving together, Mega Cat Studios is making a strong case that retro gaming isn’t only about replaying classics—it’s also about discovering new ones, built for the same hardware many of us grew up with. For collectors, cartridge fans, and anyone hungry for new NES and SNES games in 2026, this triple launch is one to watch.
