UFO 50 Review: Indie Nostalgia Arrives on the Switch 2

CNET

a day ago

As an older gamer, you'd think I have a fondness for retro games. But I don't. I grew up when simply playing any video game was exciting, even if the game itself was bad. UFO 50 changes that. First released last year on PC and recently ported to the Switch and Switch 2 on Aug. 7, the unique indie title flips the script with a collection of 50 "retro" games that actually never existed.
UFO 50 is a collection of fictional retro games designed to look like they came out in the Apple II, Amiga and NES era, but built with modern gameplay ideas. Unlike pixel-art indies like Stardew Valley or Dave the Diver, these games stick to just two buttons and a d-pad, making the old-school design feel more authentic.
And precisely because of that, UFO 50 isn't for everyone. To enjoy this game, you really have to dig, for lack of a better term, gaming. That may sound pretentious coming from a reviewer, but the collection is both an homage to an important era of video games and a reimagining that weaves in modern concepts and ideas.
Even though UFO 50 debuted on PC last year, it feels right at home on the Switch and Switch 2. The Switch has long been a haven for indie games, and developer Mossmouth's collection fits perfectly into that tradition. Its 50-odd titles are great pick-up-and-play experiences -- you can knock out a race or level in just a few minutes, making it an ideal "toilet time" game. More importantly, though, these games shine on a smaller screen, giving you that cozy, retro feel of curling up on the couch with the kind of handheld magic older games used to deliver.
There are how many games?
As the name suggests, UFO 50 packs 50 games (plus one secret extra). Each title is unique, though some share mechanics, and a few are directly connected. The collection is framed as a catalog of games for a fictional system, the LX console, created by the equally fictional UFO Soft. In reality, developer Mossmouth -- the studio led by Spelunky creator Derek Yu -- "found" this catalog in an abandoned warehouse and released it for modern consoles, weaving dozens of mismatched games into a cohesive, chronological web of lore.
On the game select screen, you can dive deeper into each of the 50 titles. All are said to have been developed in the mid-1980s, representing different points in the studio's timeline, with inspirations ranging from movies and newspaper articles to even a worker's pet.
Yes, this is a tower defense game that looks like it could have been on the NES.
Mossmouth
The 50 games span the genres popular at the time -- platformers, racing and various puzzle games -- but each comes with a bit of a twist.
There are games like Bushido Ball that resemble classic retro titles. This one, for example, plays much like the Neo-Geo game Windjammers -- only with samurai. Fist Hell is a Final Fight-style beat 'em up with zombies, where enemies are programmed to exploit certain angles, making it a particularly tough challenge.
Then there are titles that take modern genres and give them a full retro makeover. Rock On Island is a tower defense game with cavemen and dinosaurs, so faithful to the old-school feel that it could pass as an obscure overseas release that never hit the US. Night Manor is a point-and-click adventure in the vein of Shadowgate or Uninvited, but with added chase sequences and hiding mechanics.
While plenty of UFO 50's games are solid, a few didn't sit well with me, and some fall into genres I just don't enjoy even with modern graphics. Camouflage is a stealth-style game that feels more like a giant puzzle, while Mooncat tweaks the usual platforming controls in a way that's just plain confusing.
Watch out for the killer in Night Manor.
Mossmouth
UFO = Unique, fascinating and original
It's hard to put into words how exceptional UFO 50 is. Is it going to be my favorite game of all time or even game of the year? Probably not. But I love how the games tickled my brain by blending the aesthetics of games from my childhood with clever modern twists.
It hit the nostalgia my brain craves while also feeding the part of me that wants something new -- and the deep 50-game catalog delivered. Some sessions lasted just 10-15 minutes, while others stretched for hours. It's the kind of collection I can pick up a year from now and dive right back in, yet it also has that pull that makes me want to play whenever I have free time.
Some people won't get the appeal, and that's fine. It's easy to be turned off by the retro graphics, simple controls or rudimentary narratives. Still, if you've ever wondered what draws you to video games -- from the hook that keeps you playing to the very idea of play itself -- UFO 50 is the kind of game that lets you explore that. For Switch 2 owners looking for something to fill the gap during a lull, UFO 50 is tough to beat at just $25.