R-Type DX is coming to modern platforms later this month. If you know what that means, you’re already interested. If you don’t — here’s why it matters.
R-Type DX was a Game Boy Color release from 1999. It combined the GBC ports of both R-Type and R-Type II into a single package, with a colour mode for the GBC and a greyscale mode for original Game Boy compatibility. It was, for its time, a remarkable achievement — two complete horizontal shooters on a handheld, playing better than most people expected given the hardware.
R-Type as a series is one of the foundational horizontal shooters. The original arcade game, released by Irem in 1987, is a masterclass in memorisation-based design — the stages are essentially puzzles, requiring precise knowledge of enemy patterns and placement to navigate. The Force pod, which attaches to your ship and can be detached as a weapon or shield, remains one of the most inventive mechanics in the shoot ’em up genre. It’s been copied many times and matched rarely.
The Game Boy Color versions were handled respectfully. Loading times were minimal, the gameplay translated cleanly, and the two-game package gave handheld players more R-Type than they had any reasonable right to expect in 1999.
The modern release platform hasn’t been confirmed at the time of writing, but GBC titles of this era typically appear on Nintendo Switch Online’s Game Boy library or as standalone digital releases. Given the timing and the current appetite for retro releases, Switch seems the most likely home.
At whatever price point it arrives, it’s worth picking up. R-Type DX on a modern handheld — Switch, Steam Deck, or otherwise — is exactly the kind of game that fits a five-minute session and somehow absorbs an entire evening.
For more on the best retro games available to play today, see our Best Retro Console Games 2026 guide.
Prices were accurate at time of writing — always check before you buy.