Bonk's Adventure
Bonk's Adventure is a 1989 platformer developed by Red Company and Atlus, best known as a flagship title and unofficial mascot game for the TurboGrafx-16. It stars a bald, big-headed caveboy who battles his way through a prehistoric world of dinosaurs to rescue a captured princess.
Bonk's signature move is using his oversized skull as a weapon, headbutting enemies from below and spinning to bite foes while diving from above. Eating pieces of meat powered him up into stronger, temporarily invincible states that let him clear tougher sections, adding a layer of strategy to the colorful, cartoonish stages. Grabbing edges with his teeth to climb also gave traversal a unique feel.
As one of the console's defining characters, Bonk helped give the TurboGrafx-16 an identity during a fiercely competitive era against Nintendo and Sega. The game spawned sequels and has appeared on classic-game services, preserving its charming, quirky platforming for those curious about the console's library.
Play it today
Modern alternatives to Bonk's Adventure, with the devices they run on and their price. Ordered editorially by how well each one stands in for the original, with community votes weighted in as they accumulate.
Prices, platform availability and Steam Deck compatibility can change at any time. Always check the store page before buying.
| Alternative | Price | Steam Deck | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove Indie | € 24,99 | Steam Deck Verified | PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |
| Kaze and the Wild Masks Indie | € 19,99 | Steam Deck Verified | PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |
| New Super Lucky's Tale | € 29,99 | Steam Deck Verified | PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |
| Grapple Dog Indie | € 12,49 | Steam Deck Verified | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |
| Tiny Thor Indie | € 19,99 | Steam Deck Verified | PC, Switch |
Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove Indie
€ 24,99A retro platformer with the personality of classic mascot games.
Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove runs on PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet.
Kaze and the Wild Masks Indie
€ 19,99A retro-inspired indie platformer with punchy action and charm.
Kaze and the Wild Masks runs on PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet.
New Super Lucky's Tale
€ 29,99A cheerful modern platformer for fans of classic mascot romps.
New Super Lucky's Tale runs on PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet.
Grapple Dog Indie
€ 12,49A bright, fast platformer of grappling-hook momentum, in the same friendly 16-bit spirit.
Grapple Dog runs on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet.
Tiny Thor Indie
€ 19,99A precise pixel-art platformer built around a ricocheting hammer, cheerful and tough.
Tiny Thor runs on PC, Switch. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox.
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