Arkanoid: Revenge of Doh Heads to Modern Consoles Through Arcade Archives

Arkanoid: Revenge of Doh, Taito's 1987 arcade follow-up to one of gaming's most recognizable block-breaking hits, is making its way to current console platforms this week. Hamster is handling the reissue through its Arcade Archives line, bringing the sequel to Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4, while the newer Arcade Archives 2 range will cover Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

The release gives players a straightforward way to revisit a significant arcade sequel without relying on older hardware or one of the more specialized retro compilations. It also follows Hamster's release of the original Arkanoid earlier in 2026 for Arcade Archives and Arcade Archives 2, making the two arcade games available across the modern platform families supported by the publisher.

A sequel that pushed the Arkanoid formula further

The first Arkanoid arrived in arcades in 1986 and established a highly influential version of the brick-breaker format. Players guide a paddle at the bottom of the screen, returning a ball to destroy formations of blocks above. The concept is simple, but the pace, the changing ball angles, the threat of missed returns, and the unpredictable effects of collectible items give the game its enduring tension.

Arkanoid: Revenge of Doh retained that essential framework, but Taito did not approach the 1987 game as merely another assortment of stages. The sequel expands the original design with more systems and more variety in how progress unfolds. Its most notable addition is its branching route structure: after certain stages, players can move into L or R versions, determining the layout and direction of the next portion of the game.

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That choice-based element helps distinguish Revenge of Doh from the original. Instead of every session following one unchanging series of boards, the route can lead through different level arrangements. For a genre often associated with immediate reflex play and repeated attempts at clearing a fixed obstacle course, that added path selection gives the sequel extra replay value.

The game also introduced mini-boss encounters, further power-ups, and more kinds of bricks. Those changes add to the range of situations players need to handle while keeping the central objective intact: keep the Energy Ball in play and clear the Space Walls before the threat reaches its conclusion. The returning antagonist is Doh, described as a force able to control dimensions and now invading the player's universe.

Only you can stop the dimension-controlling force DOH, which has crossed dimensions to invade our universe.

For players who know the original but have not spent much time with the sequel, the upcoming reissue is an opportunity to see how quickly the series developed. Revenge of Doh remains immediately recognizable as Arkanoid, yet its routes, item selection, board features, and encounters make it more than a simple repeat of the 1986 arcade game.

Two releases, divided by platform generation

Hamster's rollout is split between the established Arcade Archives label and Arcade Archives 2. The Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 versions are part of Arcade Archives, and each is priced at $7.99. The Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S editions are branded as Arcade Archives 2 releases and cost $9.99.

The platform breakdown is as follows:

• Arcade Archives: Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 -- $7.99
• Arcade Archives 2: Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S -- $9.99

That pricing and branding distinction is important for anyone deciding where to buy the game. Players on Switch or PS4 will be looking at the standard Arcade Archives edition, while those using Switch 2, PS5, or Xbox Series X|S receive the Arcade Archives 2 version. The basic arcade experience is the draw in either case, but Hamster's releases have become known for packaging classic games with options intended to suit both casual revisits and score-focused play.

The available extras include additional modes, display filters, and online leaderboards. Screen options can be particularly welcome in an arcade preservation release, since players have different preferences for how an older game should look on a present-day display. Some may prefer a clean, crisp image, while others may want a presentation that recalls the appearance of an arcade monitor. Online rankings, meanwhile, add a contemporary competitive layer to a game built around precision, survival, and points.

Additional modes also fit the nature of an arcade title such as Arkanoid: Revenge of Doh. Arcade games were designed for repeat play, and a modern port can make that structure more inviting by giving players alternate ways to approach the same original material. The core mechanics remain those of Taito's 1987 release, while these features provide options around how it is displayed, practiced, and compared with other players' runs.

A notable return for a game with many earlier homes

This is not the first time Arkanoid: Revenge of Doh has been made available away from its arcade cabinet. After becoming a major success for Taito, the game reached the Nintendo Famicom as well as several home computer systems. Its computer versions included releases for the Atari ST, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, and Commodore 64.

Ocean Software published those computer ports under the Imagine Software label. That history reflects the broad appeal of the Arkanoid name during the late 1980s, when arcade hits were frequently adapted for a wide mix of machines with very different capabilities and controller setups. The game's paddle-and-ball premise was easy to understand, but recreating its quick response and constant motion across those platforms was part of what made each version distinctive.

Some dedicated retro players may already have access to Revenge of Doh through Taito's Egret II Mini ecosystem, where it was included alongside the paddle and trackball controller. The new standalone console releases serve a different purpose. They let players choose a current platform they already own, rather than requiring the mini arcade hardware and its associated controller package.

That flexibility is especially useful for a title whose appeal comes from returning to it in short sessions as much as mastering it over time. A few stages can make for a quick arcade challenge, but the branching progression and score chase can also reward repeated attempts. Bringing it to several console ecosystems means more players can select the version that best fits their existing library and preferred controller.

Hamster's busy week also includes Wiz

Arkanoid: Revenge of Doh is not Hamster's only Arcade Archives 2 release in this stretch. The company has also announced an Arcade Archives 2 edition of Wiz, Seibu Kaihatsu's action game. That title is due tomorrow on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox for Windows, priced at $9.99.

The two announcements underline the continuing scope of the Arcade Archives initiative. Rather than limiting the catalog to a single genre or publisher, Hamster continues to bring arcade titles from different eras and styles to current systems. In this case, players can look forward to an action game from Seibu Kaihatsu alongside one of Taito's best-known arcade follow-ups.

For Arkanoid fans, though, the main attraction is the chance to move from the original game's Arcade Archives release into its more elaborate sequel. The series' enduring premise still needs no complicated introduction: protect the ball, dismantle the wall, use the items wisely, and avoid letting the action get past the paddle. Revenge of Doh adds enough new ideas to make that familiar routine feel broader, more variable, and more demanding.

With releases planned for Switch, Switch 2, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S this week, the 1987 arcade classic is set for another return. Whether players are revisiting an old favorite, comparing it with the original Arkanoid, or discovering its branching stages for the first time, the new Arcade Archives editions put a defining block-breaking sequel back within easy reach.