Summary
Former devs behindElite Beat AgentsandOsu! Tatakae Ouendan!have formed the new Work3 Studio team to create the brand-new game Banana Bash!, and the title is planned to be released on theNintendo Entertainment System. The Nintendo Switch has provided a nostalgic dive into past NES games through the platform’s Nintendo Switch Online subscription, but having a new title exclusively launching on theNESwill be a pastime worth indulging.
The 8-bit console first hit the Japanese market in 1983 as the Family Computer or Famicom, and was later released in the West during the late 80s. There are a host of influential games that left their mark on the gaming community through the NES platform, including theMetroid,Mega Man, andSuper Mario Bros.franchises. NES titles are still so beloved in 2025 and gamers of a vintage persuasion can evenrun NES games on their Steam Deckto keep classic projects alive in the modern age.
Work3 Studio has been busy promoting their new single-screen arcade-style puzzle gameBanana Bash!, which will debut on a 4-megabit cartridge as a first for the system. The game features a primate protagonist tasked with swinging through various stages to dodge enemies and bag some well-earned fruit, and some of the gameplay elements have been compared toPac-Man. The title will be funded through an upcoming Kickstarter campaign, expected to launch in June 2025, similar toThe Sinking City 2’s recent Kickstarterto bring the anticipated Lovecraftian sequel to life.
Banana Bash! Is Coming to the Nintendo Entertainment System
Banana Bash!will be rubbing shoulders with some of thebest NES puzzle gameson the system, includingSolomon’s Key,Adventures Of Lolo, andTetris, and the devs are hoping to raise funds to cover the costs of producing the game on high-quality cartridges, boxes, and manuals, which is every physical collector’s dream. The game has already received a steady following on social media, despite some gamers questioning who still owns an NES.
Nintendo’s first console has no shortage of successful titles, accumulating a long list of thebest-selling games on the NES, includingThe Legend of Zelda,Duck Hunt, andSuper Mario Bros., of course. The latter amassed 40.24 million sales, succeeded by a plethora of other titles such asSuper Mario Bros. 2andDr. Mario.Excitebikecontinues to be a fan-favorite, and even received a themed course inMario Kart 8as an homage, proving these retro classics are timeless.
