Namco’s original 1987 arcade brick breaker, Quester, is making its anticipated comeback to modern gaming platforms.
The announcement was officially made by Hamster, known for reviving classic titles under the Arcade Archives series.
Beginning January 29th, Quester will be available digitally for Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, bringing this retro challenge to a new generation of gamers via the eShop and other digital storefronts. A staple of 1980s arcades, Quester is often remembered for its engaging brick-breaking gameplay—drawing inspiration from Taito's 1986 hit, Arkanoid.
Players control a paddle at the bottom of the screen, bouncing a ball (or several) to clear intricately arranged blocks.
Quester set itself apart not only with its space-themed twist on the genre but also with team members like Pac-Man’s Toru Iwatani and Ridge Racer composer Shinji Hosoe contributing to its creation.
Notably, Quester eschewed traditional background music, instead generating musical tones as balls struck differently colored blocks, adding a unique audio dimension exclusive to the original. For this Arcade Archives release, two editions are being made available.
The standard Arcade Archives version for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 is priced at $7.99 and includes online leaderboards, CRT visual filters to replicate the arcade experience, HI SCORE MODE, and CARAVAN MODE, designed to appeal to score chasers and retro enthusiasts.
For players on Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, the Arcade Archives 2 version comes in at $9.99, adding an exclusive TIME ATTACK MODE for even greater challenge and replayability. Additionally, Hamster has introduced a $2.99 upgrade path, enabling players who purchase the Nintendo Switch or PS4 editions to move up to the enhanced Switch 2 or PS5 versions.
This upgrade ensures continuity for fans eager to experience Quester across multiple generations of hardware. Hamster’s official description emphasizes the classic’s objective: “Emergency Order! Annihilate all enemies! QUESTER is a brick breaker released by NAMCO LIMITED (now Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc.) in 1987.
Your goal is to safely return to Earth by piloting the spacecraft and defeating the mysterious space organisms (blocks) that obstruct your path.” True to its arcade roots, Quester offers 33 action-packed rounds where players can utilize power-ups, and the ball can split into multiple pieces as it careens around the screen.
Following its original arcade debut, a special edition with fan-created levels launched in 1987, and in 2009, the game returned via the Wii Virtual Console as "Namco Quester" in Japan.
This legacy ensures Quester remains a vital part of Namco’s enduring game catalog and a worthwhile addition to the expanding Arcade Archives collection for retro gaming fans worldwide.
The announcement was officially made by Hamster, known for reviving classic titles under the Arcade Archives series.
Beginning January 29th, Quester will be available digitally for Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, bringing this retro challenge to a new generation of gamers via the eShop and other digital storefronts. A staple of 1980s arcades, Quester is often remembered for its engaging brick-breaking gameplay—drawing inspiration from Taito's 1986 hit, Arkanoid.
Players control a paddle at the bottom of the screen, bouncing a ball (or several) to clear intricately arranged blocks.
Quester set itself apart not only with its space-themed twist on the genre but also with team members like Pac-Man’s Toru Iwatani and Ridge Racer composer Shinji Hosoe contributing to its creation.
Notably, Quester eschewed traditional background music, instead generating musical tones as balls struck differently colored blocks, adding a unique audio dimension exclusive to the original. For this Arcade Archives release, two editions are being made available.
The standard Arcade Archives version for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 is priced at $7.99 and includes online leaderboards, CRT visual filters to replicate the arcade experience, HI SCORE MODE, and CARAVAN MODE, designed to appeal to score chasers and retro enthusiasts.
For players on Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, the Arcade Archives 2 version comes in at $9.99, adding an exclusive TIME ATTACK MODE for even greater challenge and replayability. Additionally, Hamster has introduced a $2.99 upgrade path, enabling players who purchase the Nintendo Switch or PS4 editions to move up to the enhanced Switch 2 or PS5 versions.
This upgrade ensures continuity for fans eager to experience Quester across multiple generations of hardware. Hamster’s official description emphasizes the classic’s objective: “Emergency Order! Annihilate all enemies! QUESTER is a brick breaker released by NAMCO LIMITED (now Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc.) in 1987.
Your goal is to safely return to Earth by piloting the spacecraft and defeating the mysterious space organisms (blocks) that obstruct your path.” True to its arcade roots, Quester offers 33 action-packed rounds where players can utilize power-ups, and the ball can split into multiple pieces as it careens around the screen.
Following its original arcade debut, a special edition with fan-created levels launched in 1987, and in 2009, the game returned via the Wii Virtual Console as "Namco Quester" in Japan.
This legacy ensures Quester remains a vital part of Namco’s enduring game catalog and a worthwhile addition to the expanding Arcade Archives collection for retro gaming fans worldwide.
