Steel Empire Chronicles (Nintendo Switch)

Four classic shooters, one cartridge, and a number that's yours alone. Steel Empire Chronicles Limited Edition for Nintendo Switch from Strictly Limited Games brings together the original Genesis Steel Empire, its GBA reimagining, the HD remake, and the mythically rare Over Horizon, all capped at 3,000 individually numbered copies worldwide. A colorful game guide rounds out the package.

There's a particular thrill to holding a Switch cartridge that contains an entire franchise's history. Steel Empire defined steampunk shmups back in 1992, and tracking its evolution from 16-bit origins through the GBA era to a full HD overhaul is like watching a genre grow up. The bonus inclusion of Over Horizon, a NES shoot 'em up so scarce it barely existed outside Japan and Germany, pushes this compilation into must-own territory for anyone serious about the genre.

Modern features like rewind, quicksave, and shader options make these retro titles feel right at home on Switch without sacrificing authenticity. You can choose between the lumbering ZEP-01 or the nimble Striker, grind your way to level 20 through the power-up system, and then switch over to Over Horizon to customize your weapon loadout in its test mode. The Switch's portability means you're carrying decades of shmup heritage in your pocket. At 3,000 copies, this is the most accessible entry point in the Steel Empire Chronicles lineup, but it won't stay on shelves forever.