The 1987 NES game Jaws is set to return in a new physical edition for the Switch and PS5, marking another entry in the growing trend of retro titles resurfacing in modern formats. Limited Run Games will handle the reissue, timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the original Spielberg film. Preorders open December 19 and run through January 18, giving collectors a month-long window to secure a copy.
The release comes in two versions. The standard Retro Edition is priced at $35, offering a straightforward package for those who want the game without extras. The Bigger Boat Edition, at $100, targets dedicated collectors with an NES-style box, a physical soundtrack CD, a keychain, and a pixelated shark lamp. Both versions include the 1987 game in its original form as well as an “enhanced” variant, though details on what enhancements entail remain minimal.
Jaws on the NES blended overhead exploration with short underwater sequences where players controlled a diver engaging various sea creatures before eventually confronting the title character. The design reflected many licensed games of its era: simple map traversal, repetitive enemy interactions, and a climax that experimented with perspective using limited hardware capabilities. While not considered a standout among NES releases, its return highlights the enduring pull of nostalgia-based reissues and the willingness of publishers to revisit games that once occupied only a small niche in the 8-bit library.
This re-release also raises the familiar question of how much value modern players will find in experiences built around older design conventions. For collectors, the appeal is largely in the physical packaging and the preservation aspect. For newer audiences, the game may function more as a historical curiosity than a compelling playthrough. Still, the project fits within Limited Run Games’ broader approach of reviving older titles for contemporary hardware, often emphasizing archival interest over mainstream relevance.
Preorders will be available directly through Limited Run Games’ website starting December 19 at 10 a.m. ET. The window gives fans of retro gaming, physical media, and film tie-ins an opportunity to revisit or discover a piece of late-80s home-console history, complete with the quirks and limitations that defined that period of licensed game development.
