Historians Unearth Lost NES Shooter Source Code, Complete Game, and Launch Charity Sale

New games for retro systems have become so prevalent that the excitement is starting to wane – and I say this as someone who still enjoys firing up the NES for a nostalgic gaming session. However, the story behind Xcavator 2025, set to launch on a fresh NES cartridge next year, is too intriguing to overlook, especially since the game itself looks quite impressive.

Revealed during a recent showcase, Xcavator 2025 is a shooter that is described as “a never-before-seen, long-lost prototype game from legendary programmer Chris Oberth.” While much of Oberth’s work has faded from the spotlight, his arcade games for Stern were pivotal in shaping the early ’80s gaming landscape.

Originally intended for release on the NES in 1991 by Incredible Technologies, known for popular arcade cabinets like Golden Tee Golf and Big Buck Hunter, the game was “shopped around to multiple publishers across the country,” but ultimately “never found a home, and was quietly archived and never looked at again.”

We are THRILLED to finally unveil Xcavator 2025! This unreleased (and unannounced!) NES game from 1991 was recovered from its source code. The rights were fully donated to us, and it will be published as a fundraiser cartridge to support our ongoing efforts!

The game was never officially announced and would have likely been lost to time if the prototype hadn’t been discovered among the materials by the Video Game History Foundation, which received them from Oberth’s family after his passing.

“The Video Game History Foundation then collaborated with Mega Cat Studios to complete the game,” continuing to honor Oberth’s original vision and utilizing the tools and environments he would have used to bring the game to life.

You can now pre-order Xcavator 2025 ahead of its Q2 2026 launch for $100. While that’s a hefty price for a modern reproduction cartridge, 100% of the proceeds will support the Video Game History Foundation in their mission to preserve the forgotten gems of the gaming industry.

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