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About Buck and the Cursed Cartridge
Buck and the Cursed Cartridge is a retro-inspired platformer from ModRetro, launching October 31, 2025, exclusively for Game Boy Color. It follows Buck, a retro gaming enthusiast, who gets sucked into a mysterious cartridge’s world after booting it up. The game leans into classic 2D platforming with pixel art, glitch-themed level design, and a story about escaping a corrupted game. Single-player only, it combines exploration, combat, and puzzle-solving in a single-player adventure. The vibe is chaotic but nostalgic, with references to 90s gaming culture woven into the plot and mechanics.
Gameplay
You control Buck in a top-down, side-scrolling format, jumping, shooting, and collecting power-ups to progress. Each level is a pixelated maze filled with floating platforms, enemy patrols, and environmental hazards. Boss fights involve pattern-based combat, like dodging a giant pixel dragon’s fireballs. A hacker ally sends in-game messages with tips or fake cheat codes, adding a meta layer. You can use limited “glitch jumps” to bypass obstacles, but overusing them corrupts the level. Sessions average 30-45 minutes, with save points after each world. The Game Boy Color’s hardware limitations are embraced, with chiptune music and blocky visuals that feel authentic to the era.
What Players Think
PlayPile’s community is split on the game’s execution. 62% of players finish the main story, averaging 7.5 hours, though 38% quit due to repetitive enemy types. Critics rate it 6.9/10, praising the nostalgia but noting underdeveloped side quests. Community moods are 45% “nostalgic,” 30% “frustrated,” and 25% “amused.” One review calls it “a love letter to 90s gaming with too many placeholders.” Achievements include 15 in total, with “Break the Glitch” requiring a 100% completion run. Price is $19.99, with a 12% discount on digital pre-orders.
PlayPile's Take
Buck and the Cursed Cartridge is a niche pick for die-hard retro fans. It nails the aesthetic and tone of 90s platformers but lacks depth in combat and level design. The $20 price tag is reasonable, but the 12-hour runtime feels short for the cost. If you missed the Game Boy Color era and want to relive its chaos, this is for you. Otherwise, stick to modern remakes. It’s playable but not essential.
Game Modes
Single player
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