An incredibly small Indie studio created by Derek Yu in 2009, Mossmouth is best known for its two Spelunky titles, with the 2008 original being a groundbreaking title for the entire Indie sphere. Spelunky‘s 2020 follow-up fared almost as well as its predecessor, earning high review scores and somehow living up to fans’ lofty expectations. And it seems like Mossmouth’s pattern of success is far from over, with UFO 50 being the studio’s latest critical hit.
First announced in 2017, UFO 50 is a game that’s been seven years in the making, and it seems as though all that development time has been worth it. UFO 50 hit Steam a few weeks ago and the praise following its release has been unanimous. Put simply, anyone who’s a fan of Mossmouth’s previous work, or anyone who has nostalgia for the NES era of gaming needs to check out UFO 50 for themselves.
Fans of The NES Can’t Miss UFO 50
UFO 50 Is Home to 50 Unique Experiences
As alluded to by its name, UFO 50 is home to 50 individual video games. Though the cover’s art style and the game’s premise might remind fans of Nintendo’s WarioWare series, UFO 50‘s games aren’t just fleeting, simple microgames that are finished in a second or two, or even minigames that last a few minutes, they’re fully-fledged video games.
Granted, the complexity and length of these 50 video games vary a bit, but it’s no less true that UFO 50 is home to 50 standalone games, encompassing a vast array of different genres and gameplay styles. Inside UFO 50, players will find classic 8-bit platformers, rudimentary racing games, simplistic shooters, puzzle games, and even an entire open-world JRPG. Half of UFO 50‘s library also has multiplayer functionality, including both co-op and versus modes.
UFO 50 Is a Love Letter to NES Era Gaming
Aside from its ambition, UFO 50 also sets itself apart from the crowd by fully embracing nostalgia, choosing to model all of its games after the NES era of gaming. This means that all of UFO 50‘s games use authentic 8-bit graphics, a 32-color palette, and try to imitate the limited sound design of the era. This embracing of nostalgia also extends to UFO 50‘s overarching premise, with the game’s library being described as the back catalog of a fictional gaming company.
As players work their way through UFO 50‘s library, they ascend through this fictional version of the 1980s. Eventually, players will be able to spot sequels to previous games and notice cameos from the fictional company’s past projects in future titles. This structure and the games’ authenticity really make UFO 50 feel like a passion-filled love letter to the NES era of gaming.
UFO 50 Is One of the Best-Reviewed Games of 2024
UFO 50 is currently sitting at a 91 on Metacritic, officially qualifying for the platform’s “Universal Acclaim” status. UFO 50‘s Steam reviews paint a similar picture, with the game receiving an “Overwhelmingly Positive” reception from over 1,200 user reviews. By all accounts, UFO 50 is something truly special, and for any fans of retro gaming, it really is a must-play title this year. This probably won’t be the last time people will hear of UFO 50, however. With the game’s stellar reception, it’s practically guaranteed a spot at this year’s Game Awards.
