Echoes of the Unread is a new NES title currently in development from Clever Cat Games. The game has just been through a successful Kickstarter campaign and is now on course to get a physical release thanks to publisher Mega Cat Studios. The game was funded in less than 24 hours and looks set to be in the running for one of the retro indie games of the year. Those who missed the Kickstarter can still try out the demo available on Mega Cat Studios‘ website.
We’ve been following the story of Echoes of the Unread right from the start when it was announced in 2024. We then played a short demo to get a feel for what Echoes of the Unread was all about. More recently, we’ve been following the crowdfunding campaign and caught up with its development via some vlogs from Clever Cat Games. Since then, the crowdfunding campaign, which raised over $25,000 to confirm a physical NES release, was concluded.
While the campaign was happening, we were busy sampling a prototype build of the game on an NES cart kindly sent by our friends at Mega Cat Studios. The bottom line is that Echoes of the Unread is a fine game and is going to please a lot of NES adventure game fans. From what we’ve played, there is an underlying quality that gives this the feel of a big game release from back when the NES was current.
And we don’t say that lightly, although we have lots of love for the after-market games for old consoles, occasionally one really stands out as something that doesn’t feel like a homebrew game from a small team or a solo developer. Echoes of the Unread is one of those titles that will live long in the memory and not just be something gamers blitz through and then forget. It has charm, great gameplay ideas, and a presentation that has been well thought out.
When we first tried the game, there was only one world and a few screens of the library to explore. The prototype build we’ve since seen appears to contain almost everything expected in the game, and we were blown away by how large Echoes of the Unread is. Each area has different floors, secrets to uncover, puzzles to solve, and unique enemy types and tile palettes that set it apart from the others.
The way the game slowly unfolds as you gain new songs to sing, which ultimately act as ways to open new places to explore, is impressive. Although you may get lost for a little while, by using the map and trying different ways to interact with the scenery, you’ll get a bit further. This gameplay loop of getting new powers, exploring new areas, and solving puzzles to move on is brilliant and exactly how I’d expect this kind of game to play.
We need to be careful not to over-explain what we experienced in Echoes of the Unread; the game is still some way from being officially released. We can say, however, that it is shaping up to be a great example of a new game for old consoles, and potentially an award-winning title at that. We will, of course, keep you up to date with any important developments, especially when new carts go up for sale on the Mega Cat Studio‘s Website.
