Kubo 3 is a homebrew NES adventure game with a rather unusual backstory. The game was originally published as a NES homebrew title, including as a physical cartridge from Limited Run Games, back in 2020, but what makes the game unusual is that its developer, SJ Games, was only seven years old when he began development on Kubo 3, finishing the game at the grand old age of nine! Admittedly, he had a little help from his father, who just happens to be the NES homebrew developer Dale Coop (on whose NES game Chibi Monster Brawl we have reported previously, and who also complied the New 8-Bit All-Stars bundle, on which we also reported), but it’s still quite an achievement, we’re sure you’ll agree.
Kubo 3’s Steam page describes the game as follows: “oin Kubo, a turtle hero, on a quest across four very different worlds to recover the sacred crystals and free the villagers kidnapped by the infamous Moglar. Battle your way through monsters and bosses, explore a top-down overworld map, and drop into side-scrolling platforming stages before facing Moglar himself in his castle.”
Adding that: “Kubo 3 blends two perspectives in one adventure, in the spirit of classic NES-era action-adventure games: a top-down overworld map for exploring and choosing your path, and side-scrolling platforming levels where the real action happens. Fight through monsters, navigate environmental hazards like the underwater world’s currents, and collect crystals as you push toward each world’s boss.” The features promised in Kubo 3 include: four distinct worlds, each with its own enemies, hazards, and visual style ; a mix of top-down overworld exploration and side-scrolling platforming action; a crystal-collecting quest that drives you from world to world; monster encounters and boss battles building up to a final confrontation with Moglar in his castle; authentic retro NES-style 8-bit visuals and presentation; and a tight, focused adventure that can be completed in a single sitting.”
So if you haven’t yet picked up Kubo 3 on NES, you can now enjoy the game on Nintendo Switch or Steam as well, thanks to the indie publisher Nami Tentou, who also recently published the Game Boy homebrew title Gelatinous: Humanity Lost on Nintendo Switch, as we reported previously.
