Summary
- Modretro’s Chromatic offers new physical Game Boy titles like Hermano and Chantey at an affordable price of $40.
- Hermano, a Kickstarter-funded platformer, is now accessible through Modretro with a unique glowing cart feature.
- Chantey introduces rare rhythm-based gameplay to Game Boy, filling a genre void on the platform.
Earlier this month we announced the arrival of two new physical Game Boy games, a couple of classic titles that found new life through publisher Modretro. You see, Modretro created a handheld known as the Chromatic, designed to perfect the Game Boy Color, and it delivers. But when you get a new handheld, you tend to want new games, and so Modretro has been busy securing publishing rights for a handful of newfangled indie Game Boy games. Today marks the launch for Hermano and Chantey, with existing pre-orders now shipping out along with new orders.
The Modretro Chromatic has reinvigorated my love for classic handheld gaming
Better than the Analogue Pocket
Two new physical Game Boy titles are now available
Hermano is a delightful platformer originally funded through Kickstarter
In 2023, the Pat Morita Team successfully funded its indie platformer Hermano on Kickstarter. The following year the game shipped, with a few copies of the physical cart sold directly on the Pat Morita Team website (there are still a few of the limited carts left for sale in an assortment of colors, but they do ship from Spain). But these carts were always in limited supply, which is why it was exciting to see Modretro pick up publishing rights for the title in the US. Hermano has been available for pre-order on Modretro’s site since November of 2024, and today the game is officially available, with pre-orders and new orders shipping now.
You can pick up Modretro’s version of Hermano for $40, which is much cheaper than buying a limited cart from the Pat Morita Team website, ensuring this platformer is accessible to all in cart form. Plus, the Modretro cart for Hermano glows in the dark, which you won’t find on Pat Morita Team’s site. This way collectors are guaranteed a unique release when purchasing from Modretro that supports the Chromatic, Game Boy, and Game Boy Color systems.
Reviews for Hermano are positive, and I can concur as an owner of the Kickstarter version as well as Modretro’s new cart. Heck, if you’d like to try the game before you buy, you can snag a demo file of the game to load onto a flash cart or Game Boy Color emulator of your choosing to see precisely how the game plays. I can also save you the trouble, Hermano is easily one of the best indie platformers released on the platform in years, up there with the likes of Kid Dracula.
Chantey brings rare rhythm-based gameplay to the Game Boy
Chantey is an all-new title for Game Boy and Game Boy Color, published and sold by Modretro for $40. It’s been available for pre-order since October 2024, and today is the official release with pre-orders and new orders shipping now. A demo is available on Itch.io, which can be played in the browser or downloaded and played with a flash cart or emulator.
As a new release, Chantey is sharing space with some of the rarest titles on the Game Boy and Game Boy Color platforms, rhythm games. So right off the bat, Chantey is filling a genre void, and if you check out the trailer, you’ll see the graphics certainly look inviting. Plus, who doesn’t want to tap buttons in rhythm to pirate sea chanteys? The game looks like an absolute hoot that mixes heavy metal, sea chanteys, and top-down adventure-based gameplay into a package that’s incredibly unique for the Game Boy platform.
Both titles are available at Modretro and shipping now
Something to keep in mind is that these new Modretro titles are currently only sold through Modretro’s website. Unlike the Chromatic and its launch titles that are being sold through Modretro and Gamestop, it looks like the latest Modretro releases won’t be making their way to Gamestop, or at least there are no plans for this right now for Modretro’s new Game Boy titles. But now that Chantey and Hermano are officially available and shipping from Modretro, you can rest assured if you place an order, your game will arrive in the mail soon.
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Hermano
Hermano started out as a successful Kickstarter title, which included the option to purchase a physical cart. But those Kickstarter copies are long sold, and so Modretro has picked up the slack to bring new carts to the masses, and the cart even glows in the dark.
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Chantey
Chantey is a pirate-themed metal-inspired top-down adventure game, filling a rare space on Game Boy where players will be tasked with reviving their pirate crews’ heavy metal legacy through rhythm-based gameplay.
