20 Best TurboGrafx-16 and PC Engine Games for Handheld Emulation

The TurboGrafx-16 is one of gaming's great underdogs. Known as the PC Engine in Japan, it never caught on in North America, which means most people missed a fantastic library. It was a shmup powerhouse, home to some brilliant platformers, and through its CD add-on it pioneered disc-based gaming. For handheld owners, it is a goldmine of games that feel fresh because so few people played them.

These 20 games mix HuCard titles and CD releases. They are grouped by genre and chosen for how well they hold up today. One setup note: the CD games need a BIOS, which we cover below. Frame all of these as games you already own or want to track down for your collection.

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Shoot 'Em Ups

R-Type. The console got one of the best home ports of this arcade legend. Tough, methodical, and iconic. Short levels make it a great handheld pick. A showcase for the hardware.

Soldier Blade. A fast vertical shooter from Hudson with a satisfying weapon system and a great soundtrack. Built for replay and quick sessions. One of the best shmups on the system.

Lords of Thunder. A CD-era horizontal shooter with armor selection and a legendary rock soundtrack. Spectacular and intense. A definitive reason to set up CD emulation.

Gate of Thunder. A horizontal shooter that runs straight off the CD with a driving soundtrack. Smooth, fast, and gorgeous. A standout of the CD library.

Super Star Soldier. Another excellent Hudson vertical shooter with a famous Caravan score-attack mode. Perfect for short, replayable sessions.

Blazing Lazers. A vertical shooter with deep weapon customization and relentless action. One of the best on the platform and a great place to start.

Platformers and Action

Bonk's Adventure. The console's cheerful caveman mascot. Bonking enemies with a big head never gets old. Bright, fun, and easy to pick up. A great showcase of the system's personality.

Bonk's Revenge. A bigger, more polished sequel with better level design. If you enjoyed the first, this improves on it in every way.

Ys Book I & II. A landmark CD action RPG with voice acting and an unforgettable soundtrack that stunned players in its day. The fast bump combat is easy to learn. A milestone worth experiencing.

Dragon's Curse. A Metroidvania-style action platformer with transformation mechanics, also known as Wonder Boy III on other systems. Atmospheric and rewarding. A hidden gem.

Splatterhouse. A gory horror beat 'em up that was edgy for its time. Short stages and a moody tone make it a memorable handheld pick.

Air Zonk. A futuristic spin-off of Bonk that plays as a cheerful shoot 'em up. Colorful, fast, and full of charm. A delightful change of pace.

RPGs and Adventure

Ys IV: The Dawn of Ys. A PC Engine exclusive entry in the Ys series, considered by many fans the best version of Ys IV. Fast action RPG combat and a strong soundtrack. A treat for genre fans.

Cosmic Fantasy 2. A charming CD RPG with anime cutscenes and a lighthearted story. Relaxing and approachable. A nice window into the CD era.

Neutopia. A top-down action adventure clearly inspired by Zelda, and a good one. Exploration and dungeons make it satisfying for handheld sessions.

Dungeon Explorer. An early action RPG with up to five-player co-op in the right setup. Fast, simple, and a blast with friends. A multiplayer standout.

Arcade and Fighting

Street Fighter II': Champion Edition. The PC Engine got a remarkably faithful port on a single huge HuCard. A technical showpiece and a great fighter on the go.

Bomberman '94. One of the best Bomberman games, with a strong campaign and excellent multiplayer. A riot in local play with extra controllers.

Parasol Stars. The third Bubble Bobble game, a colorful single-screen platformer that is great in co-op. Cheerful and endlessly charming.

Fantasy Zone brings its surreal, colorful shooter action to the platform as well, and the bright art looks fantastic on a modern screen. A relaxing, stylish pick to close on.

Setup Tip: CD Games Need a BIOS

HuCard games run with no extra files, but the CD games need a System Card BIOS to boot. Place the BIOS where your emulator expects it, usually the bios folder, and select it in the core options if prompted. You supply the BIOS from hardware you own. If a CD game shows a blank or error screen, a missing System Card BIOS is the usual cause.

In RetroArch, the Beetle PCE and Beetle PCE Fast cores handle both HuCard and CD games well. Our RetroArch setup guide covers cores and BIOS placement.

Recommended Handhelds

The TurboGrafx-16 is light to emulate, so any handheld runs it. Its many vertical shooters look especially good on a square or rotating screen. The

For more shmup and arcade action, see our best Genesis games and best Neo Geo games lists.