Joe & Mac Retro Collection: Data East's cavemen reunited, a sourced analysis
Joe & Mac Retro Collection brings together the three Data East Joe & Mac games released on Super Nintendo between 1991 and 1995. Developed by Red Art Studios and published by Red Art Games, the compilation launched digitally on 29 October 2026 on PC, PS5, Xbox Series, Switch and Switch 2. This analysis gathers two scored reviews of the Switch 2 version and the prices checked on 11 November 2026. TricknFix has not played it.
Game trailer
What's included
The compilation includes Joe & Mac: Caveman Ninja, Congo's Caper and Joe & Mac 2: Lost in the Tropics, in Western and uncensored Japanese versions. It adds rewind, save states, a CRT filter, custom frames, a new Boss Rush mode and local two-player co-op (Red Art Games). You can also virtually unbox the boxes, cartridges and manuals, browse an art gallery and listen to the soundtracks.
What the reviews say
CGMagazine (9/10) calls it an excellent assortment of three prehistoric platformers that are still great fun, with plenty of extras, and feels it is right at home on Switch. gameland.gg (7.5/10) praises solid preservation, reliable emulation, useful modern features and appreciable extras. Games Asylum (7/10) notes a colourful interface, faultless emulation and a Boss Rush mode that extends short games.
The drawbacks
gameland.gg finds the three games straightforward and uneven in quality, with little extra content. Games Asylum sees Congo's Caper as the weak link and the games as surprisingly short. Creative Bloq (3/5, tested on Switch) regrets the lack of developer interviews and histories.
Prices
As of 11 November 2026, the compilation costs €19.99 on Steam, the PlayStation Store (PS5), the Microsoft Store (Xbox Series) and the Nintendo eShop (Switch and Switch 2). Red Art Games announces Standard, Deluxe and Rock physical editions on Switch and PS5 in early 2027, available to pre-order from its shop; their prices were not checked.
Who is it for?
Fans nostalgic for Super Nintendo platformers and parents who want to share retro games in co-op. Those expecting rich historical content will be disappointed.
What to know
Based on two scored reviews of the Switch 2 version, Joe & Mac Retro Collection is a careful, convenient compilation of uneven but still fun retro games.
Strengths
- Three games that are still fun and funny (CGMagazine, Games Asylum)
- Solid emulation and modern features: rewind, save states (gameland.gg)
- Japanese versions, virtual unboxing and jukebox (CGMagazine)
- New Boss Rush mode (Games Asylum)
Things to consider
- Straightforward games of uneven quality (gameland.gg)
- Little extra content (gameland.gg)
- Short games, weaker Congo's Caper (Games Asylum)
- No developer interviews or histories (Creative Bloq)
Sources and credits
- Communiqué de lancement de Red Art Games (Games Press), 29/10/2026 ↗
- Bande-annonce de lancement (chaîne RED ART GAMES) ↗
- Steam FR : 19,99 €, relevé le 11/11/2026 ↗
- PlayStation Store FR : 19,99 €, relevé le 11/11/2026 ↗
- Microsoft Store FR : 19,99 €, relevé le 11/11/2026 ↗
- Nintendo eShop FR (Switch 2) : 19,99 €, relevé le 11/11/2026 ↗
- Nintendo eShop FR (Switch) : 19,99 €, relevé le 11/11/2026 ↗
- Test CGMagazine, Switch 2, 28/10/2026 (9/10) ↗
- Test gameland.gg, Switch 2 (7,5/10) ↗
- Test Games Asylum (7/10, plateforme non précisée, cité mais non compté) ↗
- Test Creative Bloq (3/5, testé sur Switch, cité mais non compté) ↗
- Cover image source ↗
Game gallery
4 images
Game details
- Developer
- Red Art Studios
- Publisher
- Red Art Games
- Release
- Oct 29, 2026
- Genres
- Action · Platformer
- Game website
- Official website ↗
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Player reviews
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