Rare Collection 1: Evercade to Release 12-Game Retro Compilation for Rare’s 40th Anniversary

Blaze Entertainment is marking the milestone 40th anniversary of renowned British developer Rare with the launch of Rare Collection 1, a curated 12-game compilation arriving for the Evercade family of retro systems in November 2025.

This special collection honors Rare’s influential legacy, tracing its roots back to the Ultimate Play The Game era, and is set to become a highlight for fans of classic video gaming. Rare, established in 1985 by brothers Tim and Chris Stamper, is recognized for its breakthrough contributions to the gaming landscape, notably through its collaborations with Nintendo in the late 1980s and 1990s.

The developer’s storied history includes iconic franchises and inventive titles across platforms that defined generations of players.

In 2002, Rare transitioned into Microsoft’s portfolio with a high-profile acquisition, but its early catalog remains beloved by retro enthusiasts. Rare Collection 1 encapsulates this history, assembling 12 significant games that span Rare’s formative years.

Among these are celebrated Ultimate Play The Game releases such as Atic Atac, Jetpac, and Knight Lore, notable for marking the debut of ZX Spectrum emulation on the Evercade platform.

The compilation also features some of Rare’s earliest Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) hits, including Cobra Triangle, R.C.

Pro-Am, and Battletoads.

For fans seeking variety, the package extends to the arcade version of Battletoads and the Game Boy Color title Conker’s Pocket Tales. Blaze Entertainment has designed Rare Collection 1 with collectors in mind, offering a reversible cover that caters to both console and home computer enthusiasts.

Owners can display the red spine alongside Evercade’s dedicated console collections, or the blue variant with the platform’s home computer titles for a unified look on their shelves. Blaze Entertainment CEO Andrew Byatt underscored the significance of this release, stating that Rare’s early work encompasses an extraordinary blend of creativity and charm, tracing their progression from ZX Spectrum innovations to later successes in arcades and handhelds.

Byatt emphasized that Rare Collection 1 is intended as a celebration of Rare’s evolution and as an invitation for both longtime followers and new players to explore these classics anew. Rare Collection 1 is scheduled to launch worldwide in November 2025, with pre-orders opening on September 30th.

The collection will be priced at £19.99, $29.99, or €24.99, making it an accessible entry point into a key chapter of video game history.

With this compilation, Blaze Entertainment and Evercade continue to uphold their commitment to preserving and showcasing seminal titles for today’s retro gaming audience.

NES Rare Xbox Series X|S Evercade Blaze Entertainment Blaze Ultimate Play The Game Nintendo Microsoft Tim Stamper Chris Stamper US Gold ZX Spectrum Game Boy Color Battletoads Conker's Pocket Tales R.C. Pro-Am Atic Atac Jetpac Knight Lore