Rugrats: Retro Rewind Collection [REVIEW] – A Wobbly but Wonderful Trip Down Memory Lane 

When the topic of video game preservation comes up, the conversation usually shifts toward saving timeless masterpieces, critically acclaimed blockbusters, and cult classics. And why wouldn’t it? There are so many top-tier games that are simply inaccessible today. But, if we are being completely honest, a massive chunk of our childhoods wasn’t spent playing flawless works of art… instead, a lot of us spent our time happily wrestling with clunky, licensed tie-ins based on our favourite TV shows. 

That is exactly where the Rugrats: Retro Rewind Collection steps in, which gathers a collection of titles based around the Rugrats TV show. As someone who grew up as a 90s kid utterly obsessed with Tommy, Chuckie, and the rest of the gang, having all of these games easily playable on modern hardware brings a massive smile to my face. Are they objectively amazing games? No, not at all. But do they perfectly capture a specific era of gaming? Absolutely. 

Check out some screenshots down below: 

For anyone who owned a PlayStation back in the late nineties, Rugrats: Search for Reptar is likely the main reason you are looking at this collection… I’ll be honest, it was certainly the case for me. Booting it up and seeing that blocky, low-polygon recreation of the cartoon’s opening sequence is a brilliant blast from the past though, whilst revisiting the Pickles’ house as an adult is an utterly delightful experience.  

The game functions as a miniature, baby-themed collectathon where you wander around an open hub, jumping into levels based on classic episodes of the show. It still holds a surprising amount of charm, and whilst no level ever feels especially deep, there’s something enjoyable about the variety on offer. Yes, the camera has a mind of its own, and yes, the platforming is a bit clunky, but the sheer novelty of exploring that iconic house makes it all worthwhile. 

The other two 3D games in the package, Studio Tour and Rugrats in Paris, follow a very similar blueprint. They feature large sandbox areas, endless scavenger hunts for tickets or puzzle pieces, and clunky but varied gameplay. They’re arguably not as good as Search for Reptar, yet somehow, they too remain incredibly endearing. Sure, the nostalgia is incredibly strong with these games, but flaws and all, I still had fun playing them. 

The collection also bundles in some handheld adventures: The Rugrats Movie, Time Travelers, and the 2D version of Rugrats in Paris for the Game Boy Color, alongside the Game Boy Advance title Castle Capers. 

“But game preservation shouldn’t solely be reserved for the polished, timeless classics, and Rugrats: Retro Rewind Collection is proof of that… it’s about preserving a feeling.” 

They’re… not great. I’ll admit, I didn’t play the handheld titles when I was younger, so there wasn’t an instant attachment that made me want to stick with them for the feels. They’re just typical 2D adventures of that era: basic platforming, basic visuals, and the occasional difficulty spike that comes from nowhere. They’re fine, but unimpressive. 

However, I’ve got to give a shout out to Castle Capers, which I enjoyed a lot. It’s a Game Boy Advance title so it’s got the technical edge, which is clear with the colourful visuals and smoother controls, whilst the gameplay felt a lot more interesting. It’s the pick of the handheld bunch that kept me playing, and whilst I wasn’t blown away, I had a good time with it. 

Par for the course with a Limited Run Games release, Rugrats: Retro Rewind Collection has some modern comforts that make these older titles much more accessible. Once again, the rewind feature is an absolute godsend, and being able to scrub back a few seconds after missing a tricky jump completely removes the frustration that often comes with old-school titles. The CRT screen filters for the PlayStation titles and the dot-matrix overlays for the handheld games go a long way in replicating how they should actually look too, which is always something I like to see in emulated titles. 

Check out some screenshots down below: 

Another nice addition is the gallery of high-resolution scans of the original instruction booklets as well as the music player, giving players some nice little goodies to check out. Sure, it might have been nice to have had a few more extras like we’ve seen in similar re-releases, but these go a long way in giving players that extra dose of nostalgia – especially since instruction booklets in gaming are a thing of the past now (and something that I miss dearly). 

Developer: Mighty Rabbit Studios 
Publisher: Limited Run Games 
Platform(s): PC (Reviewed), PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 
Website: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3817710/Rugrats_Retro_Rewind_Collection/