Caveman Games

Released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1990, Caveman Games turns the Stone Age into a hilarious prehistoric sporting competition. Published by Data East, the game is the NES version of Caveman Ugh-Lympics, originally developed by Dynamix. Instead of traditional Olympic sports, it features a collection of unusual events where cavemen compete using strength, speed, timing, and a healthy amount of primitive chaos.

The game includes six events, each with its own rules and challenges. In Dino Race, you race against an opponent while avoiding obstacles and trying not to become a meal for a hungry dinosaur. Saber Race adds another prehistoric danger, forcing you to keep moving while a saber-toothed tiger closes in. Other events include Mate Toss, where you spin and throw your partner for distance, Fire Making, which tests your ability to create a flame, Clubbing, a rough contest of strength, and Dino Vault, a challenging jumping event.

Before competing, you can choose from six caveman characters, each with different strengths and weaknesses. This gives players a reason to consider their selection rather than simply picking the character with the funniest appearance. The events also rely heavily on timing and controller inputs, so learning the right rhythm is often more important than repeatedly pressing buttons.

Caveman Games supports up to six players through alternating turns, making it an interesting choice for friends who want a retro party game. You can practice individual events or compete in the full sequence and try to beat the existing records.

The humor is deliberately silly, with exaggerated animations and a Stone Age setting that makes even ordinary sporting challenges feel ridiculous. While some events take practice to master, Caveman Games offers a distinctive mix of competition and prehistoric comedy for players looking beyond conventional NES action games.