Murtop Announces Nintendo Entertainment System Port: Indie Arcade Hit Returns to Retro Roots

Murtop, the inventive arcade-style title developed by hiulit, is set to make an impressive return to its retro roots with a planned port for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES).

Originally launched in 2023 for the Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam, Murtop has earned attention from retro gaming enthusiasts and indie fans alike for its unique blend of Dig Dug and Bomberman influences and fast-paced, throwback gameplay.

Created by Barcelona-based developer hiulit, Murtop challenges players to take control of a bomb-pooping rabbit on a quest to recover stolen carrots from tunneling moles.

The game quickly found an audience after its launch, later becoming a featured title on the Evercade gaming platform as part of Indie Heroes Collection 4 in 2025.

This widespread availability has helped cement Murtop’s reputation as a notable modern homage to golden-age arcade experiences. In a recent update shared via the developer’s official Twitter/X account, hiulit confirmed active development of a dedicated version for Nintendo's iconic 8-bit system.

Alongside the announcement, the developer showcased early footage depicting classic fixed-screen action reminiscent of the original releases.

The preview featured the familiar rabbit protagonist navigating underground tunnels and dodging moles to collect carrots, all rendered within the constraints of NES hardware.

Notably, while core gameplay remains faithful to Murtop's modern incarnations, some adjustments in enemy AI have been observed, such as simplified mole movement calibrated for the system’s technical limitations. hiulit provided insights into the porting process, explaining that the NES version is being programmed in the C language and is compiled to 6502 assembly code with the help of the cc65 toolchain.

The developer also cited the use of several specialized tools and libraries—NesLib, Nesdoug, YY-CHR, and nesst—that are staples within the NES homebrew development community.

These resources help bridge the gap between contemporary game design and the constraints of legacy hardware. At present, no official release date for the NES port of Murtop has been announced.

However, the project exemplifies both the enduring appeal of retro hardware and the ongoing creativity within the independent game development sector.

Fans of classic gaming and arcade action alike should keep an eye out as hiulit brings Murtop full circle, ensuring its place as a unique bridge between gaming generations.

Nintendo Switch Nintendo Steam Nintendo Entertainment System Switch arcade developer Arcade Murtop hiulit Evercade Indie Heroes Collection