Since the Kanye West album named after the console was scrapped, 2020 will serve as the grand return of the TurboGrafx-16. Hudson Soft’s technically impressive home console will return to storefronts in March 2020 thanks to a miniature edition that will be made by Konami. The console will feature nearly 50 games, although more than half of them won’t be in English. While it sucks that Hideo Kojima’s Snatcher won’t be playable if you don’t know Japanese, there are still plenty of fantastic TurboGrafx-16 Mini games that will be available. Here are 10 best TurboGrafx-16 Mini games (out of the total 24) to play when it comes out in 2020.
ALSO: TurboGrafx-16 Mini release date and games list revealed
10 Best TurboGrafx-16 Mini Games | Bomberman ’93
While there are three separate Bomberman titles on the system, this is the real gem of the bunch. It’s also the only one of the three that is in English as ’94 and Panic Bomber are in Japanese. While the series is rightfully known for its frantic multiplayer mayhem, this also packs in a solid single-player offering as well. It’s the standard fare of having to use bombs to defeat enemies, but the stages are much more interactive than previous titles. Players can use teleporters to set up some tricky bombs and each of the seven worlds has an interesting boss battle to take on. No matter if you’re playing solo or with friends, you’ll have a good time with Bomberman ’93.
10 Best TurboGrafx-16 Mini Games | Bonk’s Revenge
Despite being one of the series most associated with the TurboGrafx, there is only one of Hudson’s Bonk games included with the Mini. Thankfully, it’s a good one as Bonk’s Revenge will remind everyone why the prehistoric platforming icon was so beloved at the time. Bonk has to use his giant head to defeat the evil King Drool III and reclaim half of the moon. It’s not the most difficult title, but the gameplay is charming enough and the game never overstays its welcome as you can finish it in a few sittings.
10 Best TurboGrafx-16 Mini Games | Military Madness
While Nintendo beat them to the punch with 1988’s Famicom Wars, Hudson Soft released an excellent turn-basted strategy game of their own the year later. Called Military Madness, it has a more sci-fi edge to it as the game takes place on the moon. The series continued in Japan as Nectaris and it’s still enjoyable today despite being 30 years old at this point. Anyone that is a fan of Advance Wars will find a lot to enjoy here.
10 Best TurboGrafx-16 Mini Games | Ginga Fukei Densetsu Sapphire
Not only is Ginga Fukei Densetsu Sapphire a fantastic shoot ’em up, it’s also one of the rarest TurboGrafx-16 titles that is in circulation. So, this is a great addition to the Mini’s game library. While the story will be a bit hard to parse if you don’t know Japanese, just know that you’ll want to shoot everything that moves. The game only has five stages, but each of them takes place in a different time period and location ranging from ancient Egypt to a futuristic cityscape. The real challenge comes not from the stages themselves but the great boss fights that bookend each level.
10 Best TurboGrafx-16 Mini Games | Lords of Thunder
Despite having a mixed reputation thanks to its inferior Sega CD port, the TurboDuo version of it is still a solid shoot ’em up. It has a fast-paced metal soundtrack by Satoshi Miyashita that aids the action in making it more intense. It’s highly challenging, and will require players to come up with some solid strategies if they wish to survive the tough levels.
10 Best TurboGrafx-16 Mini Games | Cadash
One of the first platform-RPG games, Cadash found success in Japanese arcades and eventually landed on the TurboGrafx-16. While the console version only goes up to two players rather than four like in the original, it’s still a lot of fun as players choose from four different playable characters that range from ninjas to a magic-wielding mage. It’s definitely a time capsule of the late ’80s in game development but it has aged well thanks to its blend of genres being ahead of the curve.
10 Best TurboGrafx-16 Mini Games | Ys Book 1 and 2
If you’re looking for an action RPG then look no further as Ys Book 1 and 2 features enhanced remakes of the first two titles in the series. It was a technical marvel at the time as it was one of the earliest titles on CD-ROM and has animated cutscenes, voice acting and a varied soundtrack consisting of 43 different tracks. The games are held in high regard for good reason and this is the best way to experience them. This was the reason to own a TurboGrafx-CD back in the day.
10 Best TurboGrafx-16 Mini Games | Akumajo Dracula X Chi No Rondo
Everyone loves Castlevania: Rondo of Blood (well, maybe not everyone) and it’s not like you need to know Japanese to play through the platform-action title. The precursor to Symphony of the Night, Richter Belmont’s adventure is still a delight to play through. It’s easily one of the best games in Konami’s iconic series.
10 Best TurboGrafx-16 Mini Games | Daimakaimura
Better known as Ghouls ‘n Ghosts, this is one of Capcom’s finest action games. Much like Ghosts ‘n Goblins, this is notoriously difficult and will test all of your skills as a gamer. It also has a fake-out ending where the player has to play through the first five levels again in order to face off against Lucifer himself. Getting through all six levels and making Arthur a true hero is a true gaming accomplishment.
10 Best TurboGrafx-16 Mini Games | Ninja Spirit
Developed by Irem, Ninja Spirit is a true classic for the TurboGrafx. Featuring a slightly easier difficult than the original (although players can select the arcade mode if they wish), it’s a great journey through feudal Japan. Players are armed with a katana that they’ll use to slash through enemies but they’ll also gain shurikens, bombs and kusarigama throughout the game. It’s one of the best action games of the era.
