JAWS: Retro Edition

About

JAWS: Retro Edition is a single player shooter game. It was developed by Limited Run Games and was released on February 13, 2026. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

This can’t be happening. There has never been a Great White in these waters before. Never. This is more than a coincidence. This shark is different. Relentless. As if it’s hunting you down… like it’s personal. You’d better prepare yourself and strike back before it’s too late. Will you use the mini-sub, seaplane, sailboat, or scuba gear? Maybe it won’t even matter. Remember, you’re dealing with a…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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96%

Audience ScoreBased on 26 reviews

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game includes both the original NES Jaws and an enhanced edition that significantly expands gameplay, offering multiple chapters, quests, upgrades, and new enemy behaviors.
The enhanced edition transforms the short original into a longer, more engaging experience with RPG elements, improved AI for the shark, and a more dynamic, challenging atmosphere.
Nostalgic presentation with CRT filters and faithful retro styling appeals well to fans of classic NES and SNES games, delivering a fun, arcade-like vibe.

The game can feel repetitive and artificial in length due to multiple loops with similar gameplay and progressively harder difficulty, leading to boredom towards the later stages.
Technical issues such as lack of widescreen support, HDR problems, occasional bugs, and minimal new content beyond palette swaps limit polish and presentation quality.
The price is considered high for what is fundamentally a ROM hack and re-release, making it a less attractive purchase for those without strong nostalgia or interest in the license.

gameplay
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The gameplay is initially simple, centered on shooting marine life to earn money for upgrades, but becomes more dynamic as enemy attack patterns evolve in later phases. The enhanced edition modernizes the classic arcade mechanics with RPG elements, significantly improving the overall experience. This blend of nostalgic and revamped gameplay offers a notably engaging progression.
- “While I realize that many people nowadays may have heard about this game from reviewers with many different backgrounds and differing opinions, the arcade-like gameplay was amazing for those of us back in the 80's/early 90's.”
- “This one change really revamps the gameplay in a way that is a massive improvement.”
- “The gameplay is admittedly still a bit one-dimensional in the sense that you're a diver who shoots marine life for money to upgrade your equipment.”
- “The enhanced edition uses those baseline mechanics, but in a way that is far similar to other RPGs at the time.”
- “However, in the enhanced gameplay, once you get to phase 2 you will see that the beast starts to change his attack patterns, as do all your enemies underwater.”
story
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The story revolves around a repetitive Jaws-like game loop with minor quest variations involving hunting minibosses and finding lost items to unlock upgrades and progress. The enhanced edition expands this with additional chapters and quests, significantly extending the gameplay from a short experience to over three hours.
- “The enhanced edition adds different chapters where you hunt specific enemies to unlock weapon parts or upgrades. The extra quests extend the game from a 15-minute short to over 3 hours, making story progress engaging.”
- “The ports have people you talk to who ask you to hunt down minibosses or find lost items, rewarding you with upgrades and story progression.”
- “They give you quests which unlock certain upgrades, adding depth to the gameplay experience.”
- “You basically play the same Jaws-like game loop four times with only slight variations in the quests and objectives.”
- “The enhanced edition adds different chapters where you hunt specific enemies to unlock weapon parts or upgrades, but this turns a short 15-minute game into a 3+ hour experience.”
- “The quests mainly involve hunting minibosses or finding lost items to get upgrades and progress the story, leading to repetitive gameplay.”
music
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music aspect is highlighted by the inclusion of a music player featuring the original game's soundtrack, offering a nostalgic listening experience alongside the original box art and manual.
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users have mixed feelings about the game's monetization, with some criticizing it as a cash grab, while others remain more neutral or unconvinced by these claims.