Game: Joe & Mac Retro Collection
Genre: Action
System: Nintendo Switch (also on Steam (Windows), Xbox and PlayStation)
Developer|Publisher: Data East | Red Art Games
Age Rating: EU 7 | US Teen
Price: US $19.99 | UK £17.99 | EU € 19,99
Release Date: October 29th, 2026
Review code provided with many thanks to Press Engine.
Joe & Mac Retro Collection – A Prehistoric Blast From The Past
You know me: I’m always happy to see another retro collection arrive on modern hardware. There’s something satisfying about being able to revisit old games or discover a little piece of gaming history you might have missed the first time around. Joe & Mac Retro Collection brings together three Super Nintendo adventures from Data East’s prehistoric action series. I don’t have particularly strong nostalgic memories of these games, but I’m always interested in seeing how older titles hold up today. Unfortunately, while there’s fun to be had here, this collection feels a little bare-bones compared with some of the better retro compilations available.
Three Games, Plenty Of Dinosaurs
The collection includes Joe & Mac: Caveman Ninja, Congo’s Caper and Joe & Mac: Lost in the Tropics. All three offer straightforward action-platforming, with colourful prehistoric environments, enemies to bash and bosses to defeat.
The original Joe & Mac is a fairly simple affair. You work your way through a series of levels, collecting different weapons and taking on a boss at the end of each stage. It’s easy to understand and quick to pick up, making it a decent choice for a short burst of retro action.
Congo’s Caper changes things up by putting you in control of a monkey-boy character who can transform back into a monkey when hit. It adds a little twist to the familiar formula, while the ability to choose your next stage after the opening level provides some welcome flexibility.
Finally, Joe & Mac: Lost in the Tropics returns to something closer to the original game, with additional weapons, enemies and a few light adventure elements. You can explore a small town, purchase items and replenish your abilities before heading back into the action.
None of these games is especially complicated, but that’s part of their appeal. They’re straightforward, colourful platformers that are easy to dip into, and all three have their own little differences to explore. I enjoyed my time with them, even if they didn’t quite become new favourites. Local two-player co-op is also available, which should make these prehistoric adventures more entertaining if you have someone to join you. After all, bashing dinosaurs is usually better with a friend.
A Collection That Plays It Safe
The biggest issue is that the Joe & Mac Retro Collection doesn’t feel particularly comprehensive. You’re getting three console games, but no arcade versions or other additions that might make this feel like the definitive collection for the series. That’s a shame, especially when some other retro compilations go further with additional versions, historical material and options to customise the experience.
There are some welcome conveniences here, including save states, rewind functionality (oopsie button), CRT filters and custom display frames. There’s a small art gallery and box art to view. This is a nice touch, particularly because it includes the different Japanese, European and US box-art designs. I always enjoy seeing how games were presented in different regions. There’s also a Boss Rush mode, giving you an additional way to tackle bosses from all three games and compete for the fastest completion time.
However, beyond these additions, there isn’t a huge amount of extra content. I would have liked more historical information or additional options to make the games easier to tailor to modern preferences. The basic rewind and save features are useful, but the overall package feels a little conservative.
It’s also worth noting that Nintendo Switch Online subscribers may already have access to the first two games through the Super Nintendo library. Owning this collection does mean you can keep playing without relying on a subscription, but it makes the limited selection harder to overlook.
Conclusion: Stone Age
Despite its shortcomings, I still had a good time with Joe & Mac Retro Collection. These are perfectly serviceable examples of their era, and there’s something appealing about their simple, pick-up-and-play approach. However, I’d struggle to recommend it to everyone. If you have fond memories of the series or simply enjoy exploring older platformers, there’s enough here to make it worthwhile. Newcomers may find the games interesting as a snapshot of gaming history, but the relatively limited extras don’t give the collection much additional appeal.
Overall, this is a decent but unambitious retro package. I’m glad these games are available on modern systems, and I enjoyed revisiting this little slice of prehistoric gaming. I just wish the collection had dug up a few more fossils along the way.
Final Verdict: I Like It
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