Retro Geemu is that rare thing - a legitimately funny game, and at that, a legitimately funny game made in RPG Maker. Many games often try to scratch humorous. Retro Geemu goes beyond all this, making something truly funny whilst not sacrificing the story structure that makes characters so entertaining. Mirak created this game, but another user Ratty524 has explored similar degrees of hilarity in games like Are Pee Gee Mayker Vee Ex Ayce, a deconstruction of common RPG Maker flaws. But unlike that game,
Retro Geemu also happens to succeed on the simple conveyance of some limited yet sensible game mechanics instead of resorting to trollgame gameplay so difficult you want to throw down the controller and cry. This game is not that game. It is an ocean breeze, less interested in frustrating you and more about trying to let you have good time and leave brighter than you were when you came in. Granted, the game is super short, but it's also the sweet kind.

The game was made in 10 days for the RETROMANIA RMN 10th Birthday celebration jam, an event where all were challenged to make a game in either 10 days or 10 hours with the theme of "retro". And make they did. Yet under the constraints, Retro Geemu seems like one of the more finished products of the collection, proving that developer Mirak (Super Pantito) has a knack for polished games that wasn't a fluke with his debut sidescrolling shoot-em-up Super Pantito, which was about as funny as Retro Geemu, but with less story for the humour to shine through. Retro Geemu gives a greater glimpse into Mirak's mirak-ulous comedic mind, a mind the world would do well to see more comedy games from.


The game begins with 2 characters setting up to play a video game. Unfortunately, since one of them spilled something on the original console, they picked up an older retro console and they're not playing Final Daydream XIV anymore... they're playing Final Fairy Wish instead! To this exclamation, the other dude is silent for a bit, then turns to walk and leave. How it plays out displays a surefire knack for quick and witty comedic timing that is sorely lacking in many games. Double Fine and Tim Schafer should look here when hiring.

The game-within-a-game serves as a potent frame, allowing for commentary to be made about the game-within-a-game, while the two characters are playing the game, within your game. Falus really, really wants to retire, but he's obligated to fulfill a wish to return Timmy's father to him. The story escalates from there as little gags here and there prove increasingly hysterical, providing some original characters that give hints of Earthbound or Undertale. There is an old man blocking the dungeon way with tables and won't let you in until you fight... with a game of rock-paper-scissors. In fact, you need to learn to use this rock-paper-scissors betting game as a form of income to buy lentils... you know what, I'll just let you play and discover what weirdness this game entails.

Perhaps the drawback of all this is that the gameplay is quite simplistic and could be expanded further. It gives a little bit of a sad feeling that we haven't seen what could have truly be done with the game but we know that it is possible for games like this to expand into something greater.

It gives promise for so much more that Mirak could provide given that they spend some time on it. I'm thoroughly looking forward to the types of things that they can create.


The game looks fantastic. From the outset, I saw a title screen that I wasn't even sure how it was evented. There are boxes changing in hue, little things animating here and there. It's the sense that as soon as you enter, you know that there's an able developer at hand. The background music is vibrant synthy chiptunes. The handdrawn figures of the modern day cutscene at the beginning have sketches of different poses for picking up a cartridge, giving it to the other person, standing, sitting, and so on, providing a sense of polish and unique custom stances. This adds to the realism and the idea that a lot of work has been put into the little details of this game. As for the in-game graphics, they look great too, reminiscent of games like Dragon Quest. The custom windowskin fits well with the retro aesthetic and the little touches to the graphics make things rather comical.


Each puzzle is cute and well-implemented, if a little shallow. There's a funny in-game excuse given for the menu appearing only after you press the ESC button a few times, which makes the coding flaw forgivable and even part of the joke. There are some key-chain puzzles where you give items to NPCs that then give you reward items that you must give to other NPCs... but since the conveyance of what you need to do next is implied so well, it never leaves you frustrated and directionless. If you're observant, there's always the knowledge of what to do next.


Retro Geemu is a successful comedy game that works well under its constraints, because of and despite its constraints. I look forward to the next Mirak release, hopefully with more features, a bigger game with more gameplay and more of the great jokes and/or storytelling that Mirak succeeds to implement here. The understanding of story and characters and game conveyance puts this on the upper tier of game jam games made in about a week's duration. Hopefully there is more to come.