Evercade Adds James Pond, The Last Ninja and International Karate Collections on December 4

Evercade is expanding its physical retro library once again with two newly announced collections built around some of the most recognisable home-computer and 16-bit names of their era. The James Pond Collection and The Last Ninja & IK Collection are now open for pre-order and are scheduled to launch on December 4.

Both cartridges are intended for Evercade's family of hardware, including its handheld and home-console systems, while Super Pocket owners can use them too. Each release includes officially licensed games and a physical manual, continuing the company's emphasis on boxed cartridges rather than a download-only retro catalogue.

The two collections serve notably different corners of classic gaming. James Pond focuses on colourful action-platforming and sports-themed silliness starring the aquatic secret agent, while the other cartridge gathers ninja adventures and foundational martial-arts fighting games from the home-computer scene. Together, they add 18 games, although the 14-title Last Ninja and International Karate package includes multiple versions of several releases.

Four games for the James Pond Collection

The James Pond cartridge contains four 16-bit titles from the series. Its lineup begins with James Pond: Underwater Agent, the game that introduced the fishy protagonist and its underwater action setup. It is joined by James Pond 2: Codename: RoboCod, the best-known entry in the franchise and a game remembered for its fast platforming, unusual vertical movement and an eccentric toy-filled presentation.

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The collection also includes James Pond 3: Operation StarFI5H, which followed the series' move into increasingly cartoonish action, as well as The Aquatic Games Starring James Pond and the Aquabats. The latter takes the character into a comic sports-game format, rounding out a cartridge designed to represent more than one style of James Pond experience.

For retro players, RoboCod will likely be the biggest draw. It remains a particularly familiar game from the 16-bit period, remembered for taking the basic idea of an underwater agent and pushing it into a more outlandish platforming adventure. Its hero's stretchable body and tall stages helped distinguish it from many of its contemporaries. Bringing the game to Evercade gives collectors a new officially licensed physical route to play it on modern portable and plug-in hardware.

That said, including the first game, the third main entry and The Aquatic Games makes the cartridge more than a single-game showcase. It provides a compact look at how the property shifted across its original releases: from aquatic action to platforming spectacle and a playful collection of sporting events. The full set should be useful both for longtime fans and for players whose familiarity with James Pond begins and ends with RoboCod's reputation.

The Last Ninja and International Karate share a cartridge

The Last Ninja & IK Collection is the larger of the two releases, featuring 14 8-bit and 16-bit home-computer classics. Its headline attraction is the complete Last Ninja series, supplemented by the enhanced Ninja Remix versions. The cartridge also includes International Karate and IK+, games that became hugely influential early examples of one-on-one martial-arts combat.

The Last Ninja games are remembered for their distinctive isometric presentation, exploration-heavy structure and period-setting atmosphere. Rather than presenting a simple side-scrolling action format, the series asked players to navigate detailed environments, locate items, solve progression challenges and survive confrontations. That combination gave the games a strong identity among home-computer players, particularly during the 8-bit era.

Including the Ninja Remix editions is important because it gives the collection an expanded view of the series instead of limiting it to the original releases. Multiple versions of classic games can sometimes make a compilation's game count harder to interpret, but it also reflects the way these titles evolved through revised and enhanced editions. For enthusiasts interested in comparing versions or revisiting specific releases, that additional material should be a welcome part of the package.

International Karate and IK+ bring a different kind of historical significance. They are influential fighting games from a period before the genre settled into many of the conventions now taken for granted. Their focus on martial-arts duels, competitive play and readable action made them landmark releases for home computers. IK+ in particular broadened the formula with three-fighter bouts, adding a memorable competitive twist that still makes it stand out from the crowd.

Putting The Last Ninja games beside International Karate is a natural fit beyond the broad martial-arts connection. Both represent an era in which home-computer developers found creative ways to deliver ambitious action games within the technical limits of the machines available. The cartridge presents a substantial slice of that history in a format compatible with modern Evercade hardware.

A physical release for Evercade collectors

Evercade has built its library around numbered, licensed physical cartridges that compile older games by publisher, developer, franchise or theme. These new releases continue that approach. Rather than treating classic titles as a purely digital subscription catalogue, the line gives players a cartridge, box and manual that can sit alongside other releases in a collection.

Physical media is a major part of the appeal for Evercade users. A curated cartridge can offer an easy entry point into a series without requiring original systems, ageing hardware or the sometimes expensive hunt for vintage copies. It also creates a more focused experience than a massive digital library: each release has a clear theme and an intentionally selected roster of games.

In this case, the contrast between the two products demonstrates the range of the platform's retro ambitions. The James Pond cartridge leans toward accessible, colourful 16-bit action and a character-led franchise. The Last Ninja & IK cartridge is rooted more firmly in home-computer history, with an emphasis on games that helped shape action-adventure design and competitive fighting. Players can choose the collection that best matches their nostalgia, or pick up both for a broader cross-section of classic British-developed game history.

Compatibility and timing

Both collections are compatible with all Evercade systems and Super Pocket devices. That includes players who favour Evercade's dedicated handheld format, those using the company's TV-connected hardware, and Super Pocket owners looking to expand beyond the built-in game libraries supplied with those compact handhelds.

The announcements also arrive shortly before the planned October launch of the Evercade Nexus handheld. For prospective Nexus buyers, the December 4 cartridge date means these releases are positioned as early additions to the wider software library after the new device reaches players. Existing Evercade owners do not need to change hardware to access them, however, thanks to the stated cross-device cartridge compatibility.

That support is valuable for a platform built around physical releases. It allows a cartridge bought for one Evercade system to remain useful if a player later moves to a different model or adds a Super Pocket to their collection. It also makes these compilations suitable gifts for retro fans without requiring the purchaser to know precisely which compatible Evercade device the recipient owns.

Price and pre-order details

The James Pond Collection and The Last Ninja & IK Collection are priced at £24.99 / $29.99 each. Pre-orders are available now through a range of retailers, including Amazon. Availability can differ by region and retailer, so prospective buyers can use Evercade's Where To Buy section to identify local stockists.

At that price, the two cartridges take different approaches to value. James Pond is a four-game franchise package centred on a single character and a set of 16-bit releases. The Last Ninja & IK Collection carries 14 games and variants, concentrating on several connected home-computer legacies. The right choice will depend on whether players want a focused nostalgia trip through James Pond's adventures or a larger archive of ninja and karate classics.

With the December 4 release date approaching, these cartridges further reinforce Evercade's commitment to giving historic games a modern, licensed physical home. James Pond fans finally have a dedicated cartridge for the aquatic agent, while The Last Ninja, International Karate and IK+ receive a compilation that recognises their enduring importance to retro action and fighting-game history.