We first reported on Judy’s Adventure DX, a new GBC platformer from developer Phoenix Adverdale and publisher Rawrlab Games, in March this year. We’ve since had a go at the current build ahead of its April 23rd, 2026, release on Steam. The game ROM, to be used with a GBC emulator or SD card cart, is also available directly from the developer on their itch.io page. This is also where the original GB release, simply titled Judy’s Adventure, can be found.
Being developed for the GBC, the graphics, sound, and overall gameplay in Judy’s Adventure DX have been scaled back to accommodate the hardware limitations. This doesn’t hold Judy’s Adventure DX back from being a great precision platformer. In fact, we enjoyed the time we spent on the game and kept getting the classic ‘one more go’ feel each time we died. This was mainly down to the great structure of the game that puts you back to the start of the last room if you miss a jump and plummet to your doom.
Although Judy’s Adventure DX runs and plays like an old GB title, regular save points and the modern structure really help it feel fresh and almost modern. The only time you’ll need to replay a section is when you’re going for one of the trophies, which are used as harder, more advanced platforming gameplay. A death in any part of a trophy run results in going back to the start of that group of rooms.
Judy’s Adventure DX has some tight controls, and the time when we did fall off and die, it felt as though we just needed to improve or learn the exact jump needed to move forward. In fact, many of the mini levels are fun to play, and it didn’t feel like a chore to have to start again. A light Metroidvania aspect of the game is also well implemented, and the tracking back is never that far. Most of the time, you’re only ever tracking back to get back to the main path following a secret area.
The graphics in Judy’s Adventure DX are bright, bold in places, and clear. After all, this is a GBC title, so we don’t expect the detail possible with modern pixel art. The same can be said for the soundtrack, which beeps and chirps along perfectly like any other GB chiptune soundtrack. Some of the levels do lack a little detail, but overall, the presentation is great, and the use of color is excellent throughout.
Overall, Judy’s Adventure DX is a fine modern GBC platformer. It has challenging areas, and although it’s not a particularly long game, it’s fun to replay and hunt down all the extra secrets. We played this on Steam, but the game would be much more suited to the actual handheld hardware and playing in short bursts if you can play it that way. Fans of retro platformers, especially of the scaled-down handheld variety, will enjoy Judy’s Adventure DX.
