What would you do if you found a forgotten video game system, the losers of past console wars, and 50 of its greatest titles? It would be an incredible journey through lost history. UFO 50 ($24.99) may be a modern creation, but this incredible indie anthology tries to convince you that the game is a genuine retro relic. Individual entries range from the mediocre to the brilliant blends of past and present game design. But overall, UFO 50 is an inspirational piece of alternate gaming history and so much fun to play that it wins our Editors’ Choice Award for PC Games.
Favorite Forgotten Consoles
UFO 50 is an indie game anthology packaged with 50 original games. That’s exciting enough. I’ve been calling for more video game anthologies for years. What’s even more interesting is who will be making the games. The team is led by Derek Yu, creator of the hit indie roguelike Spelunky, and his developer Mossmouth. Yu is joined by other acclaimed creators, including Jiro Fumoto (Downwell), Tyriq Plummer (Catacomb Kids), and Eirik Suhrke (Ridiculous Fishing).
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(Credit: Mossmouth/PCMag)
When you launch UFO 50, you will see another explanation for its existence. It claims to be a collection of games for the fictional LX console, an 8-bit NES competitor that came and went in the 1980s. The console’s manufacturer, UFO Soft, also developed these games. It feels like I stumbled upon something I shouldn’t have seen. This is almost a peek into an abandoned project, similar to a Beginner’s Guide.
The meta premise adds an artistic layer that ties the different games together. You can browse titles based on genre or fictitious year of release and watch games grow in complexity over time. Mortol and several other works also have sequels. It’s a joy to see games improve over time, and that’s what I try to capture in my book Video Game of the Year. UFO 50 provides some of that real fun with fake games that will keep you entertained even before you press start.
(Credit: Mossmouth/PCMag)
UFO 50 game library
There are so many fun, diverse, and intricately designed games in UFO 50 that there isn’t enough space in this review to highlight each one. These are full games, not WarioWare microgames. Sure, a “perfect” game in the 8-bit era could be a multi-hour RPG, or a short arcade-style high-score chase. Still, it would take hours just to sample everything, not to mention the badges each game awards upon completion.
Some experiences feel like they were plucked straight out of the 1980s. Fist Hell is a stylish fighting game. Ninpek is an auto-scrolling platformer. Star Waspir is a fast-paced shooting game. These games recreate the excitement and addictive difficulty of those days.
(Credit: Mossmouth/PCMag)
Even more interesting are the numerous games that use an 8-bit facade to offer modern, almost experimental gameplay ideas. Party House uses deck-building mechanics to simulate hosting a raucous gathering. Pilot Quest turns an idle game into a progressive adventure. Quibble Race is not a racing title, but a game where you bet on a race of cars that can secretly sabotage their rivals.
Some games strike a great balance by adding cool twists to established genres. Find multiplayer sports titles that will transform your golf and soccer gameplay. Multiple platformers have gravity warp gimmicks. Camouflage is a puzzle game about blending into your environment. Mini & Max allows you to switch between multiple sizes and perspectives. Paint Chase is almost a remake of Splatoon. And that’s just the beginning of the buffet.
(Credit: Mossmouth/PCMag)
Is there a wrong choice?
It’s incredibly impressive that UFO 50 has maintained such a high level of overall quality across 50 games. That being said, it’s inevitable that collections can sometimes feel like quantity over quality. This is mostly a matter of preference. Variety is its greatest feature, and it would be strange if all players enjoyed all experiences equally. Discussing the UFO 50 tier list with your friends can be fun.
However, if you try to play them all, expect some inconsistency. Few games are outright bad (looking at you, Onion Delivery), but some are clearly more appealing than others. And aside from the best of the best, very few games seem to hold up as standalone releases. This collection is an incredible bargain considering the amount of content you get, but you’ll need to play a fair amount of the games to feel like you’re getting your money’s worth.
(Credit: Mossmouth/PCMag)
I like that UFO 50 includes a variety of genres. However, with too many choices, some won’t shine as brightly as others. It’s like browsing through a subscription service. I started getting more and more impatient with adventure games and RPGs, and it took me a while to figure out when it was okay to stop and try dozens of other titles. I was drawn to Attactics (arcade style strategy) and Seaside Drive (arcade style shooter). These games are games where the concept becomes clear within seconds.
It doesn’t help that some titles are intentionally opaque, like retro games, with very little gameplay explained beyond the basic controls. That mystery is what appeals to some people, and it’s a fix for modern games that over-explain. Still, it reminded me why some design elements are better left in the past.
(Credit: Mossmouth/PCMag)
Can your PC run UFO 50?
UFO 50 faithfully reproduces the pseudo-8-bit look. Games like Campanella 3 and Cyber Owls use clever sprite art and bright colors to make the most of their self-imposed graphical limitations. It’s especially cool to see so many different old-school art styles compared to standalone retro releases like Shovel Knight.
This aesthetic not only maintains the illusion of unearthing a time capsule, but also means the UFO 50 won’t stress your rig. UFO 50 requires an Intel Core i3-3220 CPU, Intel HD graphics, 8 GB of RAM, and 500 MB of storage space.
I played UFO 50 on a Steam deck, as many games work well in short portable play sessions. Controls were fine, as all the game requires is a d-pad and two action buttons. I hope that publisher Mosmus goes all out and makes a true mini-LX console like the NES Classic Edition someday.
Why you should play games on your PC
Verdict: A blast from the fictional past
I initially thought that UFO 50 was simply an intriguing academic exercise, an opportunity for a curious critic to see and evaluate how closely Mosmus replicated the historical style he was trying to emulate. I was worried that it might happen. Indeed, the UFO 50 satisfies that intellectual level to a great extent. But beyond that, this is simply a great collection of new and imaginative indie games that anyone can enjoy, as long as they don’t mind a deliberate old school flavor. UFO 50 is a unique anthology that easily wins the Editor’s Choice award.
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conclusion
UFO 50 is a wonderfully engaging collection of 50 genre-spanning games from acclaimed indie creators, a project as generous as it is ambitious.
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About Jordan Miner
Senior Analyst, Software
In 2013, I began my career at Ziff Davis as an intern on PCMag’s software team. Currently, I’m an analyst on the Apps and Games team, and I’m hoping to use my impressive journalism degree from Northwestern University to write about video games. I’m the host of PCMag’s video game show, The Pop-Off. I previously served as a senior editor at Geek.com. He has also written for The AV Club, Kotaku, and Paste Magazine. I’m the author of the video game history book Video Game of the Year, which explains why everything you know about Street Sharks is a lie.
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