Advanced Variable Geo
pceAction1996
PC Engine
NEC's 16-bit Japanese home console, known for compact HuCard media, strong arcade ports, and a celebrated game library.
51games in catalog
Browseableby title and genre
About PC Engine
The PC Engine was NEC Home Electronics' 16-bit home video game console, first released in Japan in 1987. Despite its small size, it offered impressive graphics for its era and became a major competitor in the Japanese market, particularly against Nintendo and Sega.
Its strengths included a rich library of arcade-style action games, shooters, and Japanese RPGs, plus the later CD-ROM² add-on that helped pioneer console CD gaming. The platform had a lasting influence through its successful Japanese ecosystem and its overseas variants, especially the TurboGrafx-16 family.
Explore PC Engine games
View all ->ActionShoot 'em upPlatformerInteractive Movie
Bomberman '93
pceAction1993
Aldynes: The Mission Code for Rage Crisis
pceShoot 'em up
Bonk III: Bonk's Big Adventure
pcePlatformer
Bonk's Adventure
pceAction
Dragon Ball Z: The Legend of the Mighty Son Goku
pceInteractive Movie
Lords of Thunder
pceShoot 'em up
Darkwing Duck
pcePlatformer
Darius Alpha
pceShoot 'em up
Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon
pceAdventure
Technical specifications
- Processor
- Hudson Soft HuC6280, 8-bit/16-bit CMOS CPU, approximately 7.16 MHz
- Graphics
- Custom NEC video hardware with 16-bit color display capabilities
- Memory
- 8 KB work RAM; 64 KB video RAM
- Display
- Up to 482 colors from a 512-color palette; resolutions up to 565x242 (varies by mode)
- Audio
- 6-channel programmable PSG; expansion support via CD hardware and accessories
- Storage media
- HuCard
- Controllers
- Single 2-button pad; later 6-button pad and multitap support via accessories
Release history
- 1987-10-30Japan
Original launch as PC Engine.
- 1989North America
Released as TurboGrafx-16, a redesigned regional variant.
- 1989Europe
Released in limited markets as the PC Engine/CoreGrafx family variant.
Notable games
PC Engine questions
Catalog, discovery, and browser compatibility answers.
How many PC Engine games are in the catalog?
PC Engine currently has 51 active entries in the EmuGamers catalog.
How can I find a PC Engine game?
Use the platform directory filters or search by title, genre, series, and first letter. Open a game detail page for its controls and compatibility status.
Can I play every PC Engine game in the browser?
No. Browser play is title-specific. A configured runtime is not the same as a dated compatibility test, so review the status shown on each game page.