BvA : It's Snow Joke is a free-to-play ROM for the classic Amiga console. This indie shooter by 17BitRetro captures the 8-bit graphics and the chiptune music, creating an authentic 80s gaming experience. This Christmas-themed action game lets you play the titular Bean as you fight against aliens in Santa hats and ultimately, Mr. Freeze himself.

BvA : It's Snow Joke feels like a holiday re-skin of its hit Bean Versus the Animator and retains most of the original game’s features. If you’re looking for other Amiga games for your system, check out Warblade and Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe.

Boot your old Amiga up

BvA : It's Snow Joke comes in an Amiga Disk File (.ADF) file type. This means that you can store it in a floppy disk and run on an actual Amiga computer, or transfer the file and run it using any of the supported emulators. Most of these emulators are free anyway and having the game released in the original file type used adds to the authenticity of the experience.

It has 8-bit graphics illustrating a snowy graveyard. Like most games of the time, it has limited content. The game can be finished in a few minutes and there are only three types of weapons to play with. Similarly, there are only a few kinds of enemies, each of them having a repetitive movement pattern and attacking behavior.

However, it can still be worth more than its original playthrough thanks to its two-player simultaneous gameplay option. You can either play using a mouse or light gun, which is available as a game controller for the original Amiga as well as PC-compatible versions. If you’re using the latter, make sure to have the right hardware support for using light gun controllers.

Your retro holiday-themed action

With its commitment to recreating an authentic Amiga gaming experience–both the good and the bad — BvA : It's Snow Joke comes across as a refreshing entry for retro gamers everywhere. It has 8-bit graphics and chiptune music that works to capture the thrill of fighting during Christmas, and the climactic showdown with Mr. Freeze. Lastly, it lets you play with a second player, teaming up to save the holidays from your grisly retro invaders.