The Addams Family

The Addams Family brings the strange, darkly funny world of Gomez, Morticia, Wednesday, Pugsley, and the rest of the family to the NES in a platforming adventure based on the 1991 movie. Released by Ocean Software in 1992, the game puts you in control of Gomez, who returns home to discover that his family has disappeared and that the family fortune is in danger.

Rather than simply moving through a straight series of levels, Gomez explores different sections of the Addams mansion and its surrounding areas while searching for his missing relatives. The environments have plenty of the series' trademark gothic humor, with creepy enemies, strange hazards, hidden areas, and rooms that feel appropriately bizarre. There is also plenty of money to collect, which is more than just a high-score bonus: gathering enough wealth is part of the adventure itself.

The platforming is straightforward at first, but the game can become surprisingly challenging. Jumping over enemies, avoiding traps, and figuring out where to go next requires some patience, especially in the more dangerous sections. Gomez has a life meter rather than relying entirely on one-hit deaths, giving you a little room for mistakes.

One of the most interesting things about this NES version is that it has its own level design rather than being a simple copy of the versions released on other systems. That gives it a distinct feel for anyone exploring the Addams Family games across different platforms.

It may not be the smoothest platformer on the NES, but its unusual atmosphere, recognizable characters, and mansion full of secrets make The Addams Family an interesting piece of early-1990s licensed gaming.