When you pick up a retro handheld, usually you’re looking to play something oldish. Maybe you’re playing F-Zero on the SNES, or maybe some licensed game that’s actually good. But regardless, something 7 years old, or older. Unless you’re emulating consoles, that are still available for handheld or docked modes.
Recently though, when I’ve been picking up my handhelds, I’ve been going towards Pico-8. A fantasy console with a wide variety of games being made by game devs new and old. Whether it’s Fake-08 or an official copy of Pico-8, I’ve been really enjoying my sessions with it. So pick up your RGB30s or dust off your Miyoo Mini’s because I’m about to share 8 Pico-8 games that are worth a go.
Pico Off-Road
Pico Off Road
The first of these feels a little cheesy, but if you know me, you know I like my curdled confections. Pico Off-Road is a Micro-Machines-esque racing game where you drive a truck through off-road courses in an attempt to be the fastest truck driver.
The game has a couple of modes, both a Tournament and single-race mode, though I prefer the single races for quick bursts. In there you can choose difficulty, the color of your truck, and laps. From there you get pretty loose steering, but a feeling that’s really reminiscent of old 2D racing games. If you’re looking for quick pick-up and play racing, this is one game that I’d recommend giving a shot.
Air Delivery
Air Delivery
Next up on the list is actually a platformer known as Air Delivery. In it, you work as a mail person on a series of sky islands. Happily doing your job until everything goes haywire and suddenly packages and letters are just not being delivered. That means it’s up to you to find and deliver all of these letters to the correct owners and recipients.
First off the sky design in this game really steps things up. It gives everything a gorgeous look that I didn’t originally expect when going into it. The controls work well, I felt finding every letter was a bit of a challenge, and gliding in the game was quite a good experience compared to what I would have expected. This is another game out there that I would recommend giving a shot even if you weren’t planning to play platformers on your pocket Pico-8 pal.
Celeste 2 – Lani’s Trek
Celeste 2 – Lanis Trek
Continuing on the theme of platformers comes the sequel to one of the most popular games on the Pico-8 Platform. Celeste. 2. Lani’s Trek. Following in the footsteps of the original, Lani’s Trek is another “precision” based platformer about climbing a mountain and collecting some strawberries along the way.
If you’re looking for a challenge, I think this one is it. To me, it was harder than the original Celeste. Trading a dash for a grappling hook was something that really threw me off. In turn, it also required a lot more precision as you had to make sure you landed in the spot you intended to, or else you just fell to your death and started over in the level. I’m not proud of the deaths needed to finish this one, but if you are tired of the original Celeste, give this one a go.
Just One Boss
Just One Boss
Trading platforming for fighting, one that I recommend giving a try is Just One Boss a game where. Well, there’s just one boss. Dip, dodge, and dive your way through the game in an attempt to survive.
There’s not a lot to say about this game as it really is just one long boss fight, but if you’re someone with the endurance to get through it in one go, you may just find yourself trying to go for a no-damage run.
Picolumia
Picolumia
Do you like Tetris? Or maybe just falling block games? Might I recommend then, Picolumia? A falling block game where yeah, the blocks fall, but diagonally. A demake of the game Mixolumia by davemakes, rotate your blocks to find matching diamonds, or lines in an attempt to get as high of a score as possible.
I say go for the high score, but really the goal is to pass level 15 by clearing 450 blocks. Sounds easy? If you’re a smart person unlike me. I’ve yet to get through all 15 levels, but just like Tetris, this is an addicting game to me. Not only should you give Picolumia a look, but make sure to give Mixolumia a look too.
Demake Central
PICOHOT
This is going to sound like a little bit of a cheat to include in a Top-8 list. But if you want a game to play, I really recommend checking out some demakes on the platform. Whether you’re looking at the classic Doom remake Poom, or perhaps my favorite Picohot, a demake of Superhot there’s gonna be something for you.
Personal favorites go to those demakes of arcade games. Pico Driller, and Gaplus: Galaga Edition are two great examples of those. But there are also Terraria demakes like Terra, and No Man’s Sky demakes Low Mem Sky. If you haven’t yet, that’s a category of games as a whole to explore.
Cosmic Collapse
Cosmic Collapse
Back to actual single games, the last two on my list are going to be ones that I think are genuinely too addictive for my own good. If the battery on my handhelds didn’t die I’d probably just keep on playing them. First of these is Cosmic Collapse, a Suika game-styled game with a twist.
Combine planets and rocks to get even larger planets and rocks. The more they drop and combine, the higher your score gets. Think you’re about to fill your level and you’re worried about it? Here’s the twist. Blast off a rocket to destroy one of the planets and boom. You’ve got more space to work with! Highly recommended. If you buy this one and give it a try, let me know your high score. It’s likely higher than mine!
Buns: Bunny Survivor
Buns: Bunny Survivor
Last up is a “demake” style game of something that I’ve been putting an unhealthy amount of time into recently. No not Balatro. Vampire Survivor. Buns: Bunny Survivor is a VS-style game in which you run around killing enemies, collecting experience, and leveling yourself up. What you do with that time, how far you get, is all up to your ability to aim your weapons right and fire them in time.
Originally I found this game when testing the RGB30 for the a while back, but it’s stayed in my Pico 8 library as I just keep coming back to it. Maybe it’s my vampire survivor addiction? Maybe it’s my need for the highest scores, but regardless, this is one of my favorite games to play.
Final Words of Wisdom
It doesn’t have to be an RGB30. You could use a Miyoo Mini, and RG35XX+H2024SP or even on your PC. Pico-8 is a platform meant to be on as many things as possible. I’ve listed off just 8 games worth giving a shot (or 7 and a massive category), but if you’re bored you can always come back and try just a few of the things here.
Or you could be like me and use Splore like a TV directory. Keep scrolling until you find something to play… eventually… one day.
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Excellent article! I found a few games I never knew about and also felt that delicious validation that comes with stumbling upon I game I already play and love.