UFO 50 Review: Fifty Games, One Incredible Experience

• Release Date: September 18, 2024 and August 7th, 2025 (Nintendo Switch )
• Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch
• Developer: Mossmouth
• Publisher: Mossmouth

We immersed ourselves in UFO 50 when it first released on PC last year and have since jumped back in Nintendo Switch 2 release. At the time, we didn't have our Reviews branch so we felt it was right to give our thoughts on a title that really deserves more attention.

You know that scene from Pixar's Ratatouille where the food critic antagonist tastes the main character's titular dish and is instantly transported back to fond core memories? That, is UFO 50.

With a truly stacked team assembled by Derek Yu's Mossmouth, UFO 50 is a package of fifty games that bridge the worlds of retro to the indie golden age. Bear in mind that these are not minigames, they are complete experiences that range from arcade style replayability to full on campaigns.

It’s one of the most ambitious projects in recent history, and for the most part, it highly delivers.

Our review for UFO 50 was conducted with the Nintendo Switch version.

A signature component of UFO 50 is its presentation. Essentially, you are discovering a console from an alternate universe timeline, spanning from 1982 to 1989.

The games are ordered by the fictional release dates of the company, "UFOSoft" (originally known as "LX Systems").

If you choose to progress in chronological order, you can see how the technology progressed through the years and even see titles get sequels and spinoffs.

With so many games in the collection, there's naturally a wide range of different genres. Platformers, Metroidvanias, shmups (shoot em' ups), puzzle, and many more are represented.

There are even some anachronistic surprises. When creating UFO 50, Mossmouth stayed loyal to era-appropriate palettes for sound and color, but didn't limit themselves to genres that existed in our timeline.

For example, one is a tower defense game while another is a deck builder — both genres that didn't exist until decades later.

Lastly, outside of genre, about half the games have options for multiplayer (co-op or versus) with the remaining being purely solo.

A Truly Unique Ride

From the moment you "dust off" one of the UFO 50 game cartridges, you're strapping into an experience like no other.

The amount of attention to its worldbuilding is impressive. Characters, iconography, and other aspects from earlier titles will reoccur in later released games, effectively replicating how the likes of Mario and Link evolved alongside companion elements like mushrooms and the Triforce in our universe.

The in-game world is populated by fictional devs with a meta narrative that explains the ups and downs of the company. Each game has notes about their lessons learned, and you can even "feel" some of the mechanics that are applied and iterated upon.

Simply put, there are layers upon layers within UFO 50 to discover the more you play it involves don't forget to explore the Terminal system...

Something For Everyone

Whether you like to flex your mechanical prowess or devise big-brain playlines, UFO 50 has something for your particular tastes.

Besides the default organization of chronological order, the console also includes convenient filters for:

• Reflex Play (lean toward mechanical execution)
• Thinky Play (involves more strategy)
• Quick Play (faster experiences)
• Epic Play (meant for longer sessions)

This makes it easy to really tailor your experience and jump around to the games you're likely to vibe with.

Incredible Value

At just $25, UFO 50's value proposition is tough to beat. We can confidently say that there are games in the collection that are easily worth that price alone. They would've gone toe-to-toe with the classics if they had been released back then.

You can easily be sucked into a single title for hours, it took a long time for us to play through all fifty games.

Essentially, you're getting infinite access to your own arcade with cabinets that you and your friends can jump between.

Nostalgia Is a Factor

Make no mistake — we meant it earlier when we said there's something for everyone in UFO 50. Gamers from every generation should be able to find something they enjoy among its library.

That being said, we must acknowledge that it does hit different if you grew up during the 80s and 90s or are otherwise experienced with the time period's offerings.

We don't mean to gatekeep anyone here, but it's truly a time machine back to a golden era that's otherwise long gone.

Not Every Game Will Hit

If you took a sample of fifty games from any console and played through them all, there would naturally be ups and downs among its offerings.

Similarly, for UFO 50, while each game has its own charms, some are definitely a cut above the rest, while others might have missed the mark in some aspects.

There is a lot of subjectivity, but outside of a few hot takes, several titles are consistently named among the best and worst.

Old School Difficulty

This will be an upside for some players, but UFO 50's challenge level can be brutal and unforgiving.

Many UFO 50 games have a learning curve that feels great once you nail it, but may be discouraging for some players who are looking to relax or weren't familiar with the era's inherent challenge.

That being said, there is a solid amount of casual-friendly games that you can bounce to if you find your current one frustrating.

9/10 (An Absolute Delight for Retro and Indie Gamers)

After seven years of development, UFO 50 has proven what's possible when the right team executes an ambitious project.

So many things could have gone wrong, but Mossmouth has successfully created their own console and left us wanting more.

If you are even slightly interested in what it offers, you won't be disappointed. We're keeping our fingers crossed for a Super UFO 50 sequel!

Additional Reviewers Notes

Agilio (Main Reviewer)

This was my personal Game of the Year for 2024 and a personal 10/10. It's been an absolute joy to share with friends and family alike, often causing us to relive our favorite games from childhood.

My wife and I had a pretty funny start playing it. Rather than starting with Barbuta, we wanted to choose a Multiplayer game, and as cat owners, she naturally picked Mooncat first.

If you haven't tried it yet, Mooncat has an absolutely bonkers controller scheme (a meditation on how controller conventions weren't established yet during gaming's early years). I won't spoil anything, but it made an unforgettable first impression.

My personal favorites in chronological order:

• Magic Garden
• Mortol
• Velgress
• Attactics
• Devilition
• Avianos
• Mooncat
• Bushido Ball
• Camouflage
• Warptank
• Party House
• Rail Heist
• Rock On! Island
• Mortol II
• Fist Hell
• Overbold
• Hyper Contender
• Valbrace
• Rakshasa
• Star Waspir
• Grimstone
• Elfazar's Hat
• Pilot Quest
• Mini & Max
• Campanella 3
• Cyber Owls