If your Commodore 64 memories include a spinning tower and green creature trying to reach the top, you’ll know exactly what Nebulus is. Incredibly, the game is getting a brand-new physical release on Game Boy Advance, courtesy of RetroRoomGames!
Originally released in 1987 for the Commodore 64 and a host of other systems, Nebulus — also known in some regions as Castelian or Tower Toppler — was built around a deceptively simple idea: you control a little green creature called Pogo, and you must climb a series of rotating cylindrical towers to their peaks, avoiding enemies and traps along the way. That rotation effect, generating the illusion of depth on 8-bit hardware, was genuinely striking at the time and earned the C64 version a Gold Medal from Zzap!64.
The new release brings that same core design to the Game Boy Advance for the first time in physical form. You can expect the same rotating tower environments, spatial platforming challenges and timing puzzles that made the original so memorable — just now packaged for a system with portable convenience.
And for GBA collectors or fans of distinct old-school platformers, it’s a must-see.
Nebulus has survived
I played Nebulus obsessively as a kid, and it’s one of those rare games that never quite left me — not because it was easy, but because it was so punchy and distinct. Between the rotating levels, clever enemy placement, and the satisfaction of finally cresting a tower, the game had a rhythm that made you want to come back again and again. Even decades later, the C64 version’s mixture of bold graphics and smart design still makes it worth a revisit.
Part of what made Nebulus feel special back then was simply how different it looked. Most platformers of the era just scrolled sideways; Nebulus was one of the few that genuinely felt three-dimensional in its own quirky way. That sense of innovation is exactly what makes seeing it reappear today — on a new cartridge for a classic handheld — so satisfying.
A version for a new audience
The original Nebulus was ported all over the place: DOS, ZX Spectrum, Atari ST, Amiga, NES and even a NES/Game Boy hybrid under different names over the years. But this GBA release is fully licensed, bringing the design back to life for players who never got a chance to try it, and for collectors who still appreciate physical carts and manuals.
Nebulus for GBA is available boxed, as a loose cart, and as a digital only ROM. You can find out more at theretroroomgames.com.
Whether you’re revisiting it for nostalgia or discovering this clever little platformer for the first time, seeing Nebulus on a fresh piece of hardware opens the door to enjoying a true classic once again. Hewson’s game still stands out more than three decades after it first towered onto the scene.
Got plans to pick up Nebulus or finally crack your old C64 disks open while you’re at it? Let me know what memories it unearths!
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Christian Cawley is the founder and editor of GamingRetro.co.uk, a website dedicated to classic and retro gaming. With over 20 years of experience writing for technology and gaming publications, he brings considerable expertise and a lifelong passion for interactive entertainment, particularly games from the 8-bit and 16-bit eras.
Christian has written for leading outlets including TechRadar, Computer Weekly, Linux Format, and MakeUseOf, where he also served as Deputy Editor.
When he’s not exploring vintage consoles or retro PCs, Christian enjoys building with LEGO, playing cigar box guitar, and experimenting in the kitchen.
