I’ll be honest: back in the 90s, Phantom Gear probably wouldn’t have been my thing. I was distracted by bigger, flashier games — the kind that took over magazine covers. So, Phantom Gear wouldn’t have interested me.
Of course, times change.
Mega Cat Studios’ successful Kickstarter for Phantom Gear may have been largely forgotten about in the increasingly busy retro gaming scene, but a recent mailout from the publisher (whose games often appear on Evercade) has announced that the game has moved to the testing stage.
Phantom Gear is aimed squarely at those of us who grew up with the Mega Drive/Genesis platformers. There’s a hint of Magic Pockets in the art style and movement — that chunky, colourful platforming energy you only really got from that era. Except this time, the developers actually know what we expect from a modern game.
What is Phantom Gear?
Mega Cat describes Phantom Gear as an action platformer where you play Josephine, tasked with dismantling the sinister “Ocular Force” and its Phantom Gear machines. The mechanics—collecting orbs and gears, upgrading your load‑out, and unlocking weapons—are clearly head‑nods to the classics, but with modern polish and exploration built in.
The controls look sharp, bosses demand attention, levels change things up instead of dragging their feet, and visually it’s like everything we thought old games looked like (before we went back and realised how fuzzy CRTs really were.)
And the part that makes me genuinely excited? It’s releasing for actual SEGA hardware, as a physical cartridge.
But… it’s taken a while
It may also come to modern systems, of course — we all appreciate HDMI — but there’s something undeniably cool about getting a new game for a 30-year-old machine. But there is an important element to this. While Mega Cat Studios has a good track record with this stuff too, and generates confidence, the funding for the game goes back years. Various hold-ups have impeded development, which is why it is good to get a positive update.
If you’re into the Mega Drive library — or just want a fresh excuse to power yours back up — Phantom Gear might be worth paying attention to. It’s the sort of game that reminds you why we never really stopped loving this era in the first place.
If everything aligns (controls, level design, boss fights), I will happily jump on this. And I’ll be watching the release details closely. For now, if you like retro platformers and are willing to back something newer, give Phantom Gear a place on your radar.
Learn more, via Phantom Gear on Kickstarter and the official page at Mega Cat Studios
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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.
