Limited Run Games Pulls 1987 NES Jaws Game Out of the Depths for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC

Limited Run Games is reviving the 1987 NES game Jaws for the PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC. This is a nice coincidence, because Jaws, the Steven Spielberg film, turns 50 in 2025, and the re-release is part of that. Players will be able to download the completely unaltered original as well as a new improved version that divides the game into numerous individual chapters and makes the action much more engaging.

Pre-orders for the re-release will go up on the Limited Run website on December 19 at 10 a.m. ET and will be open until January 18th, 2026. Don’t worry if you want a physical copy; it’s not a lottery, and anyone who orders within that window will receive one. There are two physical editions to choose from: the Retro Edition for $34.99, which includes the game and a sizeable 8-page booklet, and the Bigger Boat Edition for $99.99, which includes the game, a NES-style box, a soundtrack CD (scored by the talented Shinichi Sakamoto), a Beach Closed enamel pin, a buoy keychain, and an illuminated pixel art shark lamp.

Atlus and Westone were the original game developers, and LJN handled the publishing. Back then, they essentially dropped you right into a top-down ocean scene, where you’d navigate a boat between ports while a sonar ping warned you when danger was approaching, and when you started fighting sea creatures, your point of view would switch to 2D and a side-scrolling fight where you’d be firing harpoons at jellyfish and the like. You’d collect shells and crabs to trade for better gear, such as stronger cannons or a submarine with torpedoes, but the true difficulty was Jaws, which would surface and force you to choose between fighting it underwater or ramming it from the surface.


To be honest, the experience was very similar back then: sail, kill random sea creatures, level up, and repeat until you’re powerful enough to defeat that enormous shark. To be fair, the controls were a little slick, and the final ramming mini-game required a high level of precision to do correctly. Some people praised the artwork and animations, and liked how the game used random encounters to keep things interesting, but others thought the game was a little too slow, and the combat a little too repetitive, despite the solid hit detection and catchy chiptune theme.


The box art pays homage to Jaws The Revenge (the fourth Jaws film and the one in which the shark begins to get personal), while the gameplay is more akin to that film’s famed boat-ramming ending than the ocean horror of the first film. It was originally a cartridge game and is therefore highly sought after by collectors, but this port breathes new life into it.


The package is powered by the Carbon Engine, a retro gaming technology developed by Limited Run, the company behind the magic. No matter where you are in the game, you will always have access to saved states. Rewind to prevent making a mistake, collect some well-deserved honors or prizes, listen to the soundtrack, or view some behind-the-scenes artwork. The filters will help clean up any hazy old photos to ensure they look excellent on newer screens. The big boy of the pack, Enhanced mode, will cost you a little more, but trust us, it’s worth it. As an added bonus, the creators have incorporated numerous Jaws references, including new quests, boat and diver improvements, new items to fight with, and, of course, some extremely tough monsters to defeat. Role-playing becomes much deeper, with greater advancement and a new sense of adventure.


Digital versions will be released on the same day as physical copies, allowing more individuals to join in on the quest. The new carts, discs, and software are available for the Switch, PS5, and PC, but no reprint of this one for the NES is planned; who needs it when the game runs flawlessly on brand new hardware? If you’re a collector, you’ll be asking for a Bigger Boat only to get the shark fin light for your collection. New to vintage gaming? Then this is an excellent way to get started. In any case, it’s time to get the sonar ready, the harpoons loaded, and the boat ready to go out to sea because the ocean is crying again! Pre-ordering begins this Friday; will you be able to avoid the jaws this time around?
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