The Most Addictive Arcade Throwback of 2026? Mister Chickums Review
Go! Go! Mister Chickums is a classic single-screen action platformer where you help a brave chick recover stolen eggs from the sneaky Grabbo. Inspired by the golden age of 80s arcade hits, players must navigate 100 levels filled with enemies and hazards to reclaim their property. It features vibrant pixel art and supports both solo play and local couch co-op for two players.
Specs & HUD | Gameplay Review | Performance & Fidelity | Settings & Control
Go! Go! Mister Chickums Steam Review: Specs & HUD
- Download Size: 372.27MB.
- Full controller support and mouse/keyboard support included.
- Steam achievements and separate in-game achievements.
- Full online leaderboards for competitive play.
- Cutesy animated cutscenes tell the story.
- A handy aiming arrow appears when you are ready to throw.
- Warning signs pop up before enemies respawn on the screen.
Gameplay Review & Mechanics Breakdown
This is a proper action platformer that oozes that one-screen 90s arcade atmosphere. It feels like a happy game that’s trying to take you along for the ride, giving off a massive MegaDrive and SNES era vibe. You’ve got a basic opening tutorial to get you moving, but the real meat is the egg-collecting loop. The goal is simple: grab the eggs and chuck them into the basket. The catch is you can only carry one at a time, and that weight slows you right down, making you a target.
To survive, you can throw the eggs at enemies to take them out, which is made way easier thanks to the aiming arrow. The game stays on one screen where you jump up and down platforms, hunting for those stolen eggs while grabbing bonus points from Sunnyside eggs and fruit. Once you clear a level, the game showers you in bonus fruit and gems for extra points. It’s a very addictive, fun little game that absolutely nails what it is going for with tight, responsive controls that are easy to pick up and learn.
There is a constant pressure here, though. Enemies will always respawn, and if you dawdle too long on a level, a grim reaper character named Morty shows up. He’ll chase you down and kill you in a single hit, so you can’t just sit around. I had a great time with it, and it’s a blast while it lasts, but I have to be honest—once I stopped playing, I never really felt that itch to go back to it. It’s great in the moment, but the gameplay never really mixes things up enough to stop it from feeling a bit repetitive toward the end.
Go! Go! Mister Chickums Steam Review: Performance & Fidelity
- Cutesy pixel art graphics that nail the retro aesthetic.
- Seven different frame styles/borders, including a plain black option.
- CRT filter included for that authentic old-school monitor look.
- Extremely lightweight 372.27MB install size.
- Solid performance with no lag during hectic screen-clearing bonus drops.
Settings, Customisation & Control Details
- Audio sliders provided for music, sound effects, and master volume.
- Full remapping available for both keyboard and controller.
- Gameplay settings include text language and an assist overlay.
- Vibration intensity slider to tune the feedback.
- Two-player local multiplayer support for couch co-op.
- Note: The remapping menu uses a different front-end that is clunky for controllers.
Related Gert Lush Gaming Reviews
- Virtual Pool 4: A Cue King Review
- Warlander Preview (Steam Early Access)
- Tad The Lost Explorer Review (PlayStation 4)
Go! Go! Mister Chickums
Summary
GOOD STUFF
This little gem absolutely nails the 90s arcade presentation with its cutesy pixel art and SNES-era vibes. The 372MB download is tiny, but it’s packed with features like full controller support, online leaderboards, and a stack of achievements. The gameplay is tight and responsive, making the egg-tossing and platforming feel great. I loved the extra touches like the CRT filter, the various border styles, and the local co-op. It’s an addictive, happy experience that provides a proper challenge with Morty chasing you down and those frantic end-of-level bonus drops.
BAD STUFF
It’s a shame the experience is let down by a total lack of accessibility options, as there’s no support for colorblind players or dyslexic fonts. While you can remap the buttons, the menu used for it is a clunky mess that clearly wasn’t built with a controller in mind, even if it works fine for a mouse. The biggest issue is that the gameplay loop never really evolves, so it starts to feel repetitive and loses its spark once you’ve seen the main tricks. Plus, if you want to play with friends, you’re stuck on the couch because there’s no online co-op at all.
FINAL VERDICT
A brilliantly responsive and cutesy retro throwback that captures the arcade spirit perfectly but runs out of steam before the finish line.
