Unfinished Retro Gaming Business from 2025 will be Completed in 2026
In the retro scene there has been quite a lot of activity by developers of software and hardware in 2025. In many cases a lot promises have been made but not all of them have come to pass yet and so many projects from last year will be starting to bear fruit this year. The hardware and software that I will be talking about are all projects that have been started and had seen significant progress but had just fallen short of getting released last year. While this has been disappointing when you are expecting an exciting game or piece of hardware that ultimately ended up getting delayed, the silver lining is that we are yet to experience the excitement when the product actually get’s released and you receive it, unbox it and get to play it for the first time. Nothing beats the excitement of receiving a new, novel gaming product and getting to experience it for the first time. So that is a bonus that in 2026 there are lots of projects that were started last year and will get finished and sent out at some point this year. In most cases we don’t know when so there is that extra element of surprise that one day you will learn that the game or hardware you have been looking forward to is finally ready and has been sent out.
Five Highly Anticipated Retro Gaming Hardware Projects
So without further ado we will now have a good look at five products, both hardware and software, that the retro gaming community is really excited about which should be finished and shipped out to customers this year. Some of these products are kickstarter campaign’s that have been run in 2025, fully funded and products promised to backers. Others are pre-orders from websites that customers have paid for but had to wait for development and production. The last category is products have not had kickstarter campaigns or pre-order sales but have been in development and are going to either be available for immediate purchase or available for pre-order soon. All these categories of products will be mixed together and ordered by the most anticipated by the retro gaming community, according to my perception. So grab yourself a hot drink and get ready to have a detailed look at the best retro gaming products about expected to hit the market in 2026.
#1. Vectrex Mini
Release Date: September 2026. Purchase Price: €150 ($260 AUD). Availability: Kickstarter campaign first (now ended), later sold online.
Let’s start with the most unique project of the list, which has received lots of hype and has a horde of expecting retro gaming fans that can’t wait to get their hands on it. This project came completely out of left field, the brain-child of David-Flynn Oghia which he funded by a Kickstarter campaign that had raised over €1.175 million Euro. This is a modern remake of the legendary Vectrex console released in 1982 and is famous for being the only gaming console that comes with and uses a vector based display instead of raster. The original came with a vector CRT monitor but these are obviously impossible to find brand new in our modern era as the infrastructure needed to produce CRT displays is nearly non-existent. So the Vectrex Mini instead comes with a modern AMOLED display and uses emulation to drive the Vectrex hardware. It’s half the size of an original Vectrex (hence the “Mini”), loads games via SD card and uses modern blue-tooth compatible controllers.
Product Features
- 5 inch AMOLED vertical display with original Vectrex aspect ratio
- Custom 3D printed case that stays true to the form of the original Vectrex at half the size
- ESP32 CPU drives the emulation of the Vectrex games
- SD Card slot used to load ROM’s from, original Vectrex cartridges are not compatible
- Comes with a mini bluetooth, wireless controller that can be used on the original Vectrex
- Comes with video game overlays for the 12 games that are included with the system
Why It's Highly Anticipated
- The first brand new, Vectrex branded console since the early 1980’s
- Fills a hole in the modern market which neglects serving vector based gaming
- Replacement for the original Vectrex which is bulky, fragile, rare, expensive and hard to maintain
- A Vectrex emulation solution that preserves the authenticity of the vector graphics
- Lowers the barrier of entry for people to experience Vectrex gaming
#2. ZX Spectrum Next (3rd Edition)
Release Date: February 2026. Purchase Price: £300 ($600 AUD). Availability: Kickstarter campaign only (now ended).
The ZX Spectrum Next was originally released in 2017 so it has been around for a little while now. This is the brain-child of Henrique Olifiers who has put a lot of thought, research, love and work into this system. Designed to be a continuation of the ZX Spectrum series of computers, it has even received the approval and blessings from Clive Sinclair himself. The case had been designed the original designer of the ZX Spectrum case, who sadly has since passed on, so it has very authentic and official feeling identity. It is a significant improvement over the last ZX Spectrum computer, while still 8-bit it has vastly improved graphical and audio abilities. The motivation behind the creation of this system was to create a new platform that enthusiasts could develop for and create a self-sustaining small commercially viable modern ZX Spectrum community with. It has been extremely successful with over a dozen developers having produced hundreds of games since it’s original release. The first two Kickstarter campaigns have seen extremely long delays and the third campaign promised to break that habit but had missed it’s original deadline of December 2025. We hope that past performance isn’t an indicator of future performance or it may not be released in 2026.
Product Features
- Modern FPGA technology drives the system, accurately reproducing the original ZX Spectrum 48K and 128K hardware
- Keyboard and computer design by Rick Dickinson, keeping the aesthetic true to the ZX Spectrum spirit
- HDMI video output for modern TVs and monitors, with additional RGB and VGA capability
- Loads software from SD card, including Spectrum Next, Spectrum 48/128, and other compatible systems
- Significantly improved specifications, including a 28 MHz CPU, 4 MB RAM, 9 audio channels, and Wi-Fi connectivity
- Supports additional FPGA cores that allow replication of other classic systems such as the Commodore 64, BBC Micro, Amstrad CPC, Sinclair QL, Sam Coupé, and original ZX80/ZX81 machines
Why It's Highly Anticipated
- A completely new gaming system that stands on its own merits, with exclusive games and software not available anywhere else
- Targeted specifically towards game developers, with a wide range of development tools and an active homebrew community
- An authentic way to enjoy original ZX Spectrum games on brand new hardware, enhanced by modern storage and display conveniences
- Built-in internet connectivity that allows users to access online features and play supported multiplayer games
- Lowers the barrier of entry for new players to experience Spectrum gaming without dealing with ageing or fragile hardware
- Revitalizes the Spectrum ecosystem for collectors, developers, and players through new technology, games, and experience
#3. GF1 Neptune
Release Date: Unknown 2026. Purchase Price: Unknown (estimate: $200-$300 USD). Availability: Unknown (to be announced).
The GF1 Neptune is one of the most exciting upcoming retro hardware projects because it aims to finally bring a cancelled Sega console to life. The original Sega Neptune was planned as an all-in-one system combining the Mega Drive and 32X into a single unit, but it was quietly abandoned before release, leaving behind only a few prototypes and decades of “what could have been” speculation. This project is a modern FPGA-based recreation of that lost console, designed to accurately reproduce the original Mega Drive and 32X hardware rather than relying on software emulation. The motivation behind the GF1 Neptune is to deliver the Sega console that should have existed in the mid-1990s, while avoiding the reliability issues, cable mess, and awkward hardware stacking that plagued the original 32X setup. By integrating everything into one clean, modern system with contemporary video outputs, the Neptune offers an authentic Sega experience on brand new hardware. For many retro gaming enthusiasts, this project represents unfinished business in Sega’s hardware history, finally addressed in a way that feels both faithful and practical.
Product Features
- FPGA-based console that accurately replicates the original Sega Mega Drive and 32X “Tower of Power” at the hardware level
- Functions as a single console by integrating both the Sega Mega Drive and 32X into one unified unit
- Eliminates the need for separate Mega Drive and 32X units, removing the cable clutter and multiple power supplies of the original setup
- Fully compatible with original Sega Mega Drive and 32X cartridges, offering a more authentic experience than SD card–based solutions
- Modern video output options make it compatible with contemporary TVs and monitors while staying true to the original graphical presentation
- Built using brand new hardware, removing the reliability issues commonly associated with ageing original Sega systems
Why It's Highly Anticipated
- Revives a legendary cancelled Sega console that was announced for release in the 1990s but ultimately never made it to market
- Answers the long-standing “what could have been” questions that Sega fans have pondered about the Neptune for decades
- Offers a brand new yet authentic way to experience the Sega Mega Drive and 32X library as a single, unified platform
- Removes the technical and practical frustrations that plagued the original Sega 32X setup for decades in one neatly combined package
- Strongly appeals to Sega collectors and hardware purists who seek accurate hardware replication over “good enough” emulation
- Lowers the barrier of entry to play games exclusive to the rarely experienced Sega 32X system, which has traditionally been costly to access
#4. Cronela's Mansion (NES, SNES, GBA, GBC, PC)
Release Date: Unknown 2026. Purchase Price: GBC: €50, GBA: €60, NES: €75, SNES: €76, PC: €115. Availability: Kickstarter only (still active)
Cronela’s Mansion made significant waves when it was announced in February 2025 alongside the launch of its Kickstarter campaign. Since then, the project has generated substantial hype — and for good reason. Often described as a “love letter” to Maniac Mansion on the NES, the game clearly draws inspiration from the classic while standing firmly as its own original experience. Rather than a simple homage, Cronela’s Mansion is an ambitious and creatively bold project.
What truly sets it apart is its scope. The game is being developed for five platforms (six if Nintendo Switch is included), and these are not straightforward ports. Each version is being programmed from scratch specifically for its target hardware, effectively making Cronela’s Mansion a collection of distinct games rather than a single multi-platform release. While the core storyline and characters remain consistent, the puzzles, screen layouts, and progression systems are uniquely tailored to each platform. Completing the Super Nintendo version, for example, offers a genuinely different experience when revisiting the game on NES, GBA, or PC.
Demo versions for each platform have already been released, giving backers a clear sense of how every version plays and feels — a rare and welcome level of transparency that helps players decide which edition best suits them. Visually and musically, the project is equally impressive, with strong pixel art, atmospheric music, and striking cartoon-style anime sequences that help bring this new franchise to life. Taken together, Cronela’s Mansion stands as one of the most ambitious and highly anticipated homebrew releases currently in development, with expectations firmly set for a 2026 launch.
Product Features
- A modern retro adventure game inspired by the cult classic Maniac Mansion on the NES, while remaining a fully original experience
- Developed for many systems: Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, NES, Famicom, Super NES, Super Famicom, PC, and Nintendo Switch
- Each platform version is a distinctly designed game, featuring unique puzzles, screen layouts, graphics, music, and sprites rather than simple port conversions
- Platform-specific enhancements that take advantage of each system’s strengths, such as voice acting on PC and enhanced audio and music on Super NES
- High-quality physical presentation, including custom box art, cartridge labels, instruction manuals, posters, and additional extras tailored to each version
Physical copy-protection wheel inspired by classic adventure games from the golden age of the genre, reinforcing the authentic retro experience
Why It's Highly Anticipated
- Effectively five distinct adventure games inspired by Maniac Mansion, developed across four classic retro platforms plus PC, rather than simple ports
- Exceptionally high-quality visuals, with hand-drawn anime-style cutscenes that give the game a level of polish and immersion rarely seen in homebrew projects
- Widely regarded as one of the most professionally produced point-and-click adventure games ever created by a homebrew retro developer
- Publicly released demo versions have been consistently impressive, building strong confidence and anticipation among players for their platform of choice
- A genuine spiritual successor to Maniac Mansion, offering fresh puzzles, mechanics, and progression systems tailored uniquely to each system
#5. Doom with Rumble Controller Compatibility (Super NES)
Release Date: February 24-28 2026. Purchase Price: Doom: $99.99, Controller $34.99. Availability: Pre-Order (ended) Limited Run Games.
DOOM is a landmark title that reshaped the landscape of computer and video gaming when it was originally released in the early 1990s, and its influence is still felt today. While the game became famous for its technical prowess and fast-paced gameplay on PC, its original Super Nintendo Entertainment System release gained notoriety for very different reasons. The SNES port was widely regarded as a severely compromised version of the game, sharing the same basic levels, enemies, and music but running at a painfully low frame rate with reduced resolution and missing content. Several levels were cut entirely, and even one of the difficulty settings was removed in order to make the game function at all on the hardware.
More than thirty years later, original SNES Doom programmer Randal Linden set out to address what many fans have long considered one of the most infamous ports in gaming history. His goal was not only to dramatically improve performance and visual fidelity, but also to bring new features to the experience — including full rumble support via a newly designed controller built specifically for the system.
The result is a heavily enhanced and effectively remastered version of Doom that uses an FX3 co-processor housed within the cartridge itself, providing the additional processing power required to deliver a far more faithful interpretation of the original game on SNES hardware. Development was led by Randal Linden in collaboration with Bitmap Bureau, with publishing handled by Limited Run Games. The game was made available for a limited pre-order window in August 2025.
Product Features
- Cartridge-based co-processor (FX3) used to significantly expand Super NES capabilities, enabling a remastered version of Doom to run at a dramatically improved and playable frame rate
- Built-in rumble support integrated into the game, introducing force-feedback functionality to the Super NES and adding a new level of immersion
- Two distinct physical editions released, each with unique packaging: Standard Edition and Collector’s Edition
- Specially designed Super NES controller featuring Doom-themed styling, released alongside the game to support the new rumble functionality
Restored content not present in the original SNES release, including Nightmare difficulty, all four original episodes, and original textures
Why It's Highly Anticipated
- The first rumble-enabled controller ever released for the Super Nintendo, paired with the system’s first game designed specifically to support force feedback
- A version of Doom on Super Nintendo that finally does the original game justice, transforming it from a compromised curiosity into a genuinely enjoyable experience
- A complete and uncompromised Doom experience on SNES, restoring missing episodes, difficulty modes, and visual assets absent from the original release
- A new level of immersion achieved through rumble feedback, offering sensations that were not even part of the original PC experience
- Professionally manufactured Super Nintendo–style controllers that integrate modern rumble technology, introducing a genuinely new way to experience games on the aging retro platform
Final Thoughts
Many retro gaming products were announced and promised last year, with some experiencing delays and others simply following long development cycles. Whatever the reason, retro gamers have spent months — and in some cases years — patiently waiting for their most anticipated projects to finally materialise. Patience, however, is never easy when you’re genuinely excited about something, especially in a scene where delays are not the exception but the norm. More often than not, a single delay turns into several, particularly with Kickstarter-backed projects.
When you’ve already handed over your hard-earned money, that waiting period can feel especially uncomfortable, sometimes even raising doubts about whether a project will ever reach completion at all. Thankfully, the products featured in this list all appear to be progressing steadily, with a high likelihood of release this year. A couple are expected to arrive as early as next month, while the rest are shaping up for release in the second half of the year.
Personally, I’ve pledged for the Super NES PAL version of Cronela’s Mansion, the Vectrex Mini, and the Spectrum Next — so there’s certainly plenty for me to look forward to in 2026. That said, it looks like I’ll still need to keep working on my patience skills… or virtues. As the saying goes, good things come to those who wait.
Relevant Links
- Vectrex Mini Kickstarter Campaign Webpage [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1852390947/] Campaign is over and pledges have finished.
- Vectrex.com Webpage on the Vectrex Mini Kickstarter [https://vectrex.com/vectrex-mini-kickstarter/] Some basic information about the Vectrex Mini Kickstarter campaign
- ZX Spectrum Next Kickstarter Campaign Webpage [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/spectrumnext/zx-spectrum-next-issue-3-0] Campaign is over and pledges have finished.
- ZX Spectrum Next Official Website [https://www.specnext.com/] Embarrassingly out of date, the latest post is “Spectrum Next Issue 3 Campaign Begins Next Week”.
- GF1 Neptune Official Website [https://www.gf1neptune.com] Barely anything here but you can join the GF1 Neptune mailing list.
- Cronela’s Mansion Kickstarter Campaign Webpage [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cronelasmansion/straynus] The Kickstarter campaign has finished but late pledges are still active. The only product in this article you can buy right now.
- Straynus’s Itch.io Webpage for Cronela’s Mansion [https://straynus.itch.io/cronelasmansion] Download the demo versions of the game here.
- Limited Run Games’ Doom 2026 Collector’s Edition Webpage [https://limitedrungames.com/collections/all/products/doom-collectors-edition-snes] Product pre-order page (pre-orders finished August 2025).
- Limited Run Games’ SNES Rumble Controller Pre-Order Webpage [https://limitedrungames.com/collections/all-in-production/products/snes-rumble-controller] Pre-orders are no longer available.
