My favourite 10 Evercade post-launch games

Back in the summer of 2020, I put together a list of my 20 favourite Evercade games from the busy launch period. After that breathless rush through the early releases, 2021 was slowed down by COVID and releases are still getting delayed in 2022 thanks to semiconductor shortages. 

Even so, there's been enough of those lovely little carts dropping through my letterbox for another list of my most-loved titles among the post-launch carts. So, as Evercade celebrates its second birthday, here are my favourites from the recent releases. 

Tanglewood (cart 11)

Evercade's first nod to modern games crammed Xeno Crisis and Tanglewood onto one cart, and both are brilliant. But the charm of Tanglewood wins out (and the fact I've played Xeno to death on Vita, PS4 and Switch). A gorgeous solo-dev effort by Matt Philips for the Mega Drive, it is packed with pixel beauty and atmosphere with a twinkle-eyed devious puzzle adventure for the foxy Nymn to explore and overcome as a little creature in a harsh but beautiful world. 

Treasure Island Dizzy (Oliver Brothers Collection 1) 

The 8-bit era was full of charming platformers, with Booty, Jet Set Willy, Kokotoni Wilf and endless others setting out the chaotic rules of jumping death. The Dizzy series helped codify the rules for modern platformers across home computers and consoles, a language that many follow today and Dizzy remains gorgeous, taking charge of the rolling egg and enjoying its bright and cheery adventures, with that pesky limited inventory and cunningly placed secrets. 

Crystal Mines II (Atari Lynx Collection 1) 

The Lynx was packed with great puzzlers, but this one was new to me, therefore it has eaten up a great deal of time with its extensive levels and plenty of ways to die. The extra 125 levels from Songbird are a great bonus with the chunky graphics make it one of the more striking Lynx releases.

California Games (Atari Lynx Collection 2) 

I have no idea how many AA batteries I burned through on the Lynx playing Cali Games, but its a pleasure to be back and loving it again with the cheery sound-track and endless sun-baked surfing, BMX, hackeysack and skating fun. Each mini-game remains fun, but surfing is a timeless gem, trying to eek out an extra few points with the perfect big-wave leap. 

Chip's Challenge (Atari Lynx Collection 2) 

Another Lynx puzzler, Chips made its way onto many other platforms, but the Atari handheld was always Chuck Sommerville's works best home. The keys, the traps, the tricks, Chips packed in so much and still has me scratching my head as I creep through the levels. 

Earth Defense Force (Jaleco Collection 1) 

The best shooter on the Evercade? So far, until R-Type turns up, and so much fun with a great range of weapons to try and take down the fierce enemies of the Azyma Empire. With great pace, so much dazzle and a solid challenge, this looks great from the attract mode in and is essential headphones-on blasting fun. 

Soccer Kid (Piko Collection 2)

Amiga hit Soccer Kid has a look about that no other platformer has matched, or really tried to copy. And the unique link between the kid and his football make it a great challenge, with clever ways to do trick shots, even if they can interrupt the flow of the game. 

Alien Cat 2 (Indie  Heroes Collection 1) 

Played this to completion a couple of times and it still feels great with teleporting felines and matching-step interference from your clone that impedes progress around mine-strewn levels making for a real challenge. Proof that indies can be so much more with a little evil thinking! 

Worms Armageddon (Worms Collection 1) 

Before the Evercade VS, multiplayer was a bit sketchy on the handheld, but Worms brought it alive as the finest version of the series romps into action. There are all the great weapons in Armageddon and the endless gameplay challenge from battling friends and family in the quest to be the last worm wriggling.

Xenon 2 Megablast (Bitmap Bros. Collection 1) 

One of the finest 16-bit shooters, this might not be the definitive edition, but it still feels awesome with Bomb the Bass cranked up through headphones. It felt like the future at the time and still looks remarkably polished today, showing how far the Bitmaps were ahead of the curve. 

I'm a little behind on the very latest releases, but hope by Christmas there's enough for another rundown, and hopefully more quirky titles as in the What-the-Hell Evercade list