Annalog Is A Metroidvania That Combines Exploration With…BASIC?

4 Comments | crowdfunding, homebrew, Homebrew Games, Kickstarter, NES, video games | By Peter Paltridge | April 23, 2026 | 2 minutes of reading

If you haven’t noticed, there are a lot of NES homebrews launching their campaigns this month. We’re just now getting to Annalog, from programmer John Roo, and it has less than a day remaining on its clock. Don’t count it out though. This is a very innovative game with a mechanic we’ve never seen before.

In Annalog you are exploring a post-apocalyptic world full of rusty mechanical machines that have laid dormant for who knows how long. Near each one, you’ll find an active computer terminal that still works. Here’s the twist: using those terminals, you can reprogram the machines to do what you want, using rudimentary BASIC commands. The fact that Roo pulled this off on the NES is nuts.

Since the machines are malleable, they can serve more than one purpose, making Annalog an open-ended puzzler with multiple solutions for every problem. That’s the kind of thing you typically only see in modern games for today’s consoles. Annalog is an NES first!

The pledge tiers for this game are equally surprising. The biggest shock is that Roo is selling the plain physical cart for just $25. Take it from someone who just ran a campaign himself, I have no idea how he’s managing that in this economy. The full-featured physical edition with box and manual is $55. There are two Limited Editions, one with the soundtrack on CD and one with a black cartridge and your name in the manual. And there are even two digital editions, one with a digital soundtrack and one without.

At $25,000 at the time of this writing, Annalog has busted through five of its stretch goals, and there’s still time to hit the sixth. Get your copy while you still can — you’ve got until tomorrow at 7:45 AM Pacific.

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San Goku

Member

776 messages 3 likes

#1 Apr 24, 2026

Annalog sounds super intriguing, especially combining classic Metroidvania elements with BASIC programming. I love when developers play with nostalgia like this, and it’s fascinating to see how they can incorporate coding into the gameplay. It reminds me of how games like Axiom Verge have tackled similar themes.

I'm really curious about how the BASIC mechanics will work in practice, like, will you have to solve coding puzzles to unlock certain areas or abilities? I think that could add a unique layer to exploration. Are you planning to back the campaign?

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InkedSkull77

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599 messages 32 likes

#2 Apr 25, 2026

I like this idea more than I expected. I grew up seeing BASIC as something slow and boring, but putting it inside a game like this makes it feel fresh. I enjoy puzzle games where there are many ways to solve a problem, so the machine programming part sounds like something I would spend a lot of time experimenting with. The NES limit makes it even more interesting to me, because it shows real effort. I also think the price is surprisingly low for a physical cartridge. That makes me think the developer really wants people to try it, not just collect it. I am a bit worried about how hard the programming might be for new players, but if it is explained well, I can see it working. Overall, I feel like this is one of those projects that could stand out if it delivers on what it promises.

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Vaccine Vaccine Vaccine

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67 messages 1 like

#3 Apr 25, 2026

I am not fully convinced yet. The idea is interesting, but using BASIC commands sounds like it could slow down the gameplay a lot. I usually play Metroidvania games for movement and action, not typing or thinking about code. Maybe it works better than I imagine, but I would need to see how fast and smooth it feels in practice. The setting sounds good though, I like post-apocalyptic worlds with old machines. The price is also very attractive, which makes it easier to take a chance on it. I just hope the programming part is optional or simple enough, because if it becomes too technical, I might lose interest quickly.

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Brad Jones

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565 messages 20 likes

#4 Apr 25, 2026

I am honestly excited about this. I enjoy games where I can solve problems in my own way, and this sounds like it gives that freedom. Using BASIC commands might sound old, but I think it fits the theme of old machines and terminals. It adds to the atmosphere instead of feeling out of place. I also like that it is not just about action but also thinking. Many modern games forget that part. The NES limitation makes it even more impressive to me. I would probably go for the version with the manual because I like having something physical to read.

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