Fit check
Is HAUNTED: Halloween '85 (Original NES Game) worth it for you?
We tell you who should skip it, too.
Play it if you…
Good fit- Players who enjoy 8-bit platformers with beat ’em up combat
- Retro game fans seeking a level-based Halloween adventure
- NES enthusiasts interested in homebrew games recreated for PC
Skip it if you…
Saves you a refund- Players seeking open-ended exploration may find the six-level structure narrow in scope
- Those looking for a relaxed or low-pressure experience may not suit its stated 8-bit challenge
- Players wanting a modern presentation may not prefer its NES-era graphics, sound, and hardware constraints
Our take on HAUNTED: Halloween '85 (Original NES Game)
The store page gives substantial attention to promoting the sequel and its Greenlight campaign, while the available game itself is a six-level adventure with six bosses. That material can make the page feel partly like a sequel announcement rather than a focused overview of this release.
What is HAUNTED: Halloween '85 (Original NES Game)?
Fight through Possum Hollow on Halloween 1985 as Donny Johnstown, battling haunts and zombie-like friends while navigating trees, underground caverns, and poisonous pumpkins.
The game combines side-scrolling platforming with beat ’em up combat and follows the restrictions of original NES hardware, including its graphics, color palettes, processing, and audio. Progress through six different levels of haunted suburbia, each with a unique boss, while avoiding hazards such as jagger bushes and deadly pumpkins. The story leads toward the source of the town’s evil and an encounter that leaves Donny fighting his way out of his own grave. This PC release is based on the game originally issued on an NES cartridge in October 2015.
How HAUNTED: Halloween '85 (Original NES Game) plays
- 01Six Haunted Levels
- The campaign moves through six different areas of Possum Hollow, including trees, caverns, and other parts of the haunted town.
- 02Boss Encounters
- Each level includes one of six unique bosses.
- 03NES Hardware Rules
- The game uses the original system’s restrictions for its visual presentation, color use, processing, and sound.
- 04Platforming Combat
- Progress combines jumping and environmental navigation with fights against haunts and other threats.
HAUNTED: Halloween '85 (Original NES Game) compared to similar games
HAUNTED: Halloween ’85 centers on side-scrolling platforming and beat ’em up combat across six levels, while Sundered: Eldritch Edition is described as a chaotic metroidvania with previous updates and a new content update. The listings therefore differ in structure: fixed level-and-boss progression versus a broader metroidvania format.
HAUNTED: Halloween '85 (Original NES Game): platforms & release
Is HAUNTED: Halloween '85 (Original NES Game) worth it?
It is worth it if: players who enjoy 8-bit platformers with beat ’em up combat. Skip it if: players seeking open-ended exploration may find the six-level structure narrow in scope.
Where can I download HAUNTED: Halloween '85 (Original NES Game)?
Use the Download Now button on this page: it opens HAUNTED: Halloween '85 (Original NES Game)'s store page, where you can choose how to get it.
What platforms is HAUNTED: Halloween '85 (Original NES Game) on?
Windows only.
