Famicom
Hardware, storefront and ecosystem news for Famicom.
Latest coverage
Fire Emblem’s Remarkable Comeback
The Fire Emblem series, once on the verge of cancellation due to declining sales and franchise fatigue, experienced a remarkable comeback starting with Fire Emblem Awakening. This resurgence was driven by innovative gameplay changes, such as the introduction of Casual mode, and a greater emphasis on character development, ultimately solidifying its place as a flagship Nintendo franchise.
Analogue is reviving its Mega SG and Super Nt consoles, and they'll play all your old Sega and Nintendo cartridges with some modern enhancements
Analogue is reviving its Mega SG and Super Nt retro consoles with updated FPGA technology for enhanced accuracy and zero lag. The revised Mega SG+ and Super Nt+ will play original Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo cartridges, respectively, with support for over 2,000 games each. Pre-orders begin October 19th, with consoles shipping in December.
Final Fantasy 7's beloved soundtrack is mostly "boring" compared to JRPGs like Final Fantasy 6, legendary composer Nobuo Uematsu says, but that was done on purpose
Legendary composer Nobuo Uematsu believes that most of Final Fantasy 7's soundtrack is "boring" compared to earlier entries like Final Fantasy 6. He explains that the music was intentionally designed to be less catchy to avoid distracting from the game's improved visuals and storytelling, a departure from his approach on the Famicom and Super Famicom.
Shoot ’em up Changeable Guardian Estique making its way to Nintendo Switch [update: release date]
Amata Games and Cat Hui Trading announced that Changeable Guardian Estique will be released on the Nintendo Switch on August 6, 2026. This side-scrolling robot shoot 'em up, originally released for NES and Famicom, will include both versions of the game and a new gallery mode.
Rare Nintendo Famicombox units found in perfectly operational state in a Japanese "love hotel"
Rare, operational units of Nintendo's commercial-use Famicombox console, released in 1986, have been discovered in a Japanese "love hotel." The Famicombox featured 16 cartridge slots for NES games and was primarily intended for hotel installations. The discovery also touches upon an old urban legend about Nintendo's involvement in the hotel business.
Super Bomberman Collection update announced, adding Panic Bomber W for free
Konami has announced an upcoming update for Super Bomberman Collection that will add the puzzle game Panic Bomber W for free on August 20, 2026. The collection already includes seven Bomberman titles, and the update will also feature new modes like Boss Rush and support functions such as save/load and rewind.
Summer Games Done Quick 2026: Watch Day 4 here
Summer Games Done Quick 2026 is underway in Minneapolis, Minnesota, raising money for Doctors Without Borders. Day 4 features a diverse schedule of speedruns across various platforms, including PC, Nintendo Switch, and retro consoles. The event has already raised over $485,000.
Nintendo shares a message with its fans
Nintendo shared a message with fans thanking them for being voted the No. 1 "Game Developer I Like" in a Famitsu reader survey celebrating the magazine's 40th anniversary. The company expressed gratitude for the positive reception of Mario and The Legend of Zelda, highlighting its commitment to originality and creating unique entertainment experiences since the Famicom's release.
Overview trailer released for Hashire Hebereke: EX – remake of Super Famicom racer
An overview trailer has been released for Hashire Hebereke: EX, a remake of the 1994 Super Famicom racing game Hashire Hebereke. Developed by CRT Games and published by Gravity Game Arise, the remake will launch on Nintendo Switch on September 3, 2026, featuring new content, multiple game modes including online multiplayer for up to 8 players, and a rhythm game component.
Rainbow Islands Console Selection announced for Nintendo Switch
Taito has announced Rainbow Islands Console Selection for Nintendo Switch, set to release on October 8, 2026. This collection features multiple versions of the arcade classic, including Famicom, NES, SEGA Master System, PC Engine CD-ROM², and both Japanese and Western Mega Drive/Genesis versions of Rainbow Islands Extra. It includes features like quick-save/load slots and a powered-up starting state.
The Equality of Entertainment Born from Soup, a Plate, and Coins - Part 1
This article argues that video games embody a form of democracy, offering equal experiences regardless of player background, symbolized by the insertion of a single coin. It contrasts this ideal with modern trends like subscription models and hardware spec races, emphasizing Nintendo's historical commitment to providing a consistent and fair gameplay experience across its platforms, from the Famicom to the Nintendo Switch.
The 100-Yen Democracy
This article argues that the core value of video games lies in their inherent democracy and equality, symbolized by the '100-yen coin' philosophy. It critiques modern industry trends like free-to-play and subscriptions for potentially undermining this principle, contrasting them with Nintendo's consistent focus on accessible and equitable gaming experiences across platforms like the Famicom and Nintendo Switch 2.
At 40 Years Old, Dragon Quest Is More Than An RPG; It’s A Cultural Juggernaut
Dragon Quest is celebrating its 40th anniversary, marking its significant cultural impact in Japan as more than just an RPG series. Despite being relatively niche globally, it's a cornerstone of Japanese gaming, influenced by talents like Akira Toriyama and Yuji Horii. The series' success, particularly with Dragon Quest III, has cemented its place in mainstream culture, influencing other media and even spawning urban legends about its release impact.
An infamously useless Dragon Quest weapon that's been a series mainstay for 39 years owes its existence to a Famicom limitation, according to the JRPG series' creator
Dragon Quest series creator Yuji Horii explained that the series' iconic, weak "Cypress Sickle" weapon originated from a Famicom hardware limitation. Due to cartridge space constraints, the game could not use kanji and had to use hiragana, leading to a name that sounded like "snack" if translated directly. The name "hinoki" (Japanese cypress) was chosen to avoid confusion, making a simple stick an iconic part of the JRPG series.
Hashire Hebereke: EX delayed to Spring 2026 [update: release date]
Hashire Hebereke: EX, a remake of the 1994 Super Famicom racing game, has been delayed to Spring 2026, with a Japanese eShop listing now pointing to a September 3, 2026 release. Developed by Sunsoft and published by Gravity Games Arise, the remake will feature new characters, stages, online multiplayer, and a time attack mode. Sunsoft will host a livestream showcasing an alpha build and local multiplayer.
Hashire HEBEREKE: EX launches September 3
Hashire Hebereke: EX, a remake of the 1994 Super Famicom racing action game Hashire Hebereke, is set to launch on September 3. The remake will bring the classic title to modern platforms.
10 Best Dragon Quest games of all time, ranked
This article ranks the top 10 Dragon Quest games, focusing primarily on mainline entries with one spin-off included. The ranking considers mechanics, story, visuals, and pacing, offering a guide for JRPG fans to choose their next adventure in the franchise.
Console Archives dev talks release plans and goals, wants to release over 800 games
Satoshi Hamada, CEO of Hamster Corporation, discussed plans for Console Archives, aiming to release over 800 games and prioritizing Famicom and PlayStation titles. The company intends to release games at a pace of roughly one per week, surpassing the 500+ titles already released for Arcade Archives.
Terra Cresta
Terra Cresta, originally released in 1986 in Japan, eventually launched on the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1990, but its dated design and slow pace made it fall short compared to contemporary shooters. While it features a unique combining ship mechanic and power-ups, the game suffers from a lack of variety, a cruel death system, and an unsatisfying infinite loop instead of a proper conclusion.
Dragon Quest And Three Other Titles Inducted Into Video Game Hall Of Fame
The Strong National Museum of Play has inducted four new titles into its World Video Game Hall of Fame for 2026: Angry Birds, FIFA International Soccer, Silent Hill, and Dragon Quest. These games were recognized for their sustained popularity and significant influence on the video game industry and popular culture.
