Play Gyromite (JUE) Online

Gyromite came out in 1985 for the Nintendo Entertainment System, published by Nintendo. It was one of the games designed to show off the R.O.B. the Robot accessory, a unique piece of hardware that felt very futuristic for its time, even if it was a bit clunky in practice. The game itself is a puzzle platformer that stands out mostly for its peripheral use rather than its core design.

You control Professor Hector, a scientist who must navigate a series of single-screen chambers. The main goal is to reach the exit in each room, which often requires manipulating colored pillars that block your path. This is where R.O.B. comes in; by placing gyros on the robot's spinning trays, you can make it press buttons on the controller, which in turn raises or lowers the red and blue obstacles on screen. The pacing is slow and deliberate, as you have to coordinate your own movements with the robot's actions. It feels like a strange, physical dance between you, the controller, and this little plastic machine sitting on your floor.