There’s something undeniably charming about returning to the colourful, slightly ridiculous world of old-school platformers. Joe & Mac Retro Collection is packed with prehistoric humour, simple controls and a nostalgic sense of adventure. It also reminded me why some games are easier to revisit for a few hours than to keep coming back to indefinitely.
Three classics in one collection
The package brings together Joe & Mac: Caveman Ninja, Congo’s Caper and Joe & Mac: Lost in the Tropics. Each offers its own environments, enemies and bosses, all built around the familiar pleasures of running, jumping and bashing things with whatever prehistoric weapon is available.
The colourful pixel art still has a lot of appeal, and the games have a playful energy. There’s a healthy dose of absurdity in the enemy designs, and the levels offer enough variation to make playing through the collection enjoyable.
Simple controls, straightforward challenges
I had little trouble getting to grips with the controls. The boss fights were usually manageable once I worked out their patterns and timed a few jumps. That’s satisfying at first, although I would have liked more challenging encounters once the basic approach became familiar.
Congo’s Caper proved a little more demanding. Its style reminded me of classic Sonic the Hedgehog and Super Mario platforming, and it provided a welcome shift in pace.
The sounds of the Stone Age
The cheerful soundtrack fits the setting, and the sound effects have their own sense of humour. One wonderfully high-pitched little cry from Joe made me laugh far more than I expected. It’s the kind of tiny, silly moment that stays with you longer than some of the levels.
Final verdict
72/100. Joe & Mac Retro Collection is a colourful and enjoyable trip through classic platforming. The easy-to-learn controls, catchy music and prehistoric charm make it worth a look, but many boss fights are relatively simple and there isn’t much pulling me back after working through the games. Good old-fashioned fun, even if it doesn’t leave a particularly lasting mark.
Review submitted by Vanessa Arnott to Coloured Static Press. Review score: 72/100. The collection launched on 29 October 2026; published by Red Art Games.