Jolly Gunner (Too Late for Xmas)

Grab your shotgun and step into Jolly Jonh’s wintery revenge quest today!

Published (or updated) in December 17th, 2024.

Jolly Gunner (Too Late for Xmas) is a short but exciting retro-styled platform shooter from 2024 that brings back the charm of early 90s MS-DOS games. Developed by Yan’s Productions Games, this title pays homage to the iconic EGA graphics and SoundBlaster soundtracks that defined that nostalgic gaming era.

In Jolly Gunner, you play as Jolly “Gunner” Jonh, a father on a mission to avenge his son’s ruined Christmas. Armed with a shotgun, Jonh takes to the snowy landscapes, blasting enemies in a quest for redemption. This fast-paced run-and-gun platformer combines responsive gameplay with side-scrolling action, keeping players engaged as they traverse winter-themed levels.

Despite its brief length and small scope, the game packs a punch with its simple yet polished mechanics, making it accessible to both veteran gamers and newcomers. It’s also free so won’t harm to try it out!

Videos

Features

The standout feature of Jolly Gunner (Too Late for Xmas) is its art style and audio design. Inspired by games like Commander Keen and Duke Nukem from the EGA DOS era, Jolly Gunner captures the nostalgic pixel art visuals and chiptune sound effects of the early 90s.

The game’s development stemmed from a personal challenge by Yan, the creator behind Yan’s Videos. His goal was to deliver a “reasonably competent” game in a short amount of time while adhering to retro aesthetics. The result is a charming indie title that feels both modern and timeless.

• Classic Run-and-Gun Gameplay – Navigate side-scrolling levels, take down enemies, and explore a festive winter world.
• A Delightful Homage to a Bygone Era of Gaming – Enjoy visuals and audio reminiscent of MS-DOS titles with EGA color palettes and classic chiptune tracks.
• Short but Fun – A quick casual experience.
• Free to Play – 100% free to download and play on Windows PCs.
• Christmas Theme – A fun twist on the holiday spirit, even if it’s too late for Christmas.

Final thoughts

Jolly Gunner (Too Late for Xmas) delivers a nostalgic aesthetic, straightforward controls, and festive (albeit belated) Christmas theme. Also, whether you grew up playing DOS games or are discovering this style for the first time, its worthwhile to take a look at this combination of charming EGA visuals and simple mechanics. This short, sweet and full of nostalgic charm indie/homebrew platformer will transport you back to a golden era of PC gaming.

Grab your shotgun and step into Jolly Jonh’s wintery revenge quest today!

More info and Christmas platformers

• Jolly Gunner (Too late for Xmas) @ VaLeW Free Games – With more info.
• Jolly Gunner (Too late for Xmas) @ Gaming Room – With more info and media. In Portuguese.
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