Play Tinhead (Europe) (Proto) Online

Tinhead for the SNES is one of those weird little platformers that somehow slipped under the radar back in the day. You play as this tiny robot dude with a cannon for an arm, bouncing around these neon-soaked levels that feel like someone mashed up Mega Man and a Saturday morning cartoon. The prototype version’s a bit rough—some hitboxes feel off, and there’s the occasional glitch—but that almost adds to the charm. Like you’re uncovering some lost artifact.

The first level throws you right into it: springs launch you over pits, weird crab robots scuttle at you, and the music’s got that crunchy SNES synth sound. Boss fights are ridiculous in the best way—one minute you’re dodging a giant mechanical fish, the next you’re getting chased by a screen-filling… thing with too many eyes. It’s janky, sure, but there’s something about the energy here that makes you want to see what bizarre enemy or gimmick the next stage throws at you.

Honestly, half the fun is realizing this never got a proper release. You can spot where they might’ve tweaked things—some platforms feel just a pixel too far to jump, and the power-ups are oddly placed. But that’s what makes it interesting. It’s like finding a beta version of your favorite childhood game, warts and all.