Back To The Future 2 & 3

Back to the Future 2 & 3 brings Marty McFly’s time-traveling adventures to the NES in a side-scrolling action platformer inspired by the second and third films. Released in 1989 by Beam Software and published by LJN, the game sends Marty through several versions of Hill Valley, where familiar movie settings are reshaped into hazardous stages filled with enemies, obstacles, and demanding jumps.

The game’s central appeal is its changing time periods. Marty moves between different eras, including the recognizable worlds of 1955, 1985, 2015, and the Old West setting associated with Back to the Future Part III. Each section has its own visual flavor, while the overall objective remains focused on guiding Marty safely through scrolling environments and collecting useful items along the way. The DeLorean and the films’ time-travel premise provide the framework, but the moment-to-moment play is firmly rooted in classic 8-bit platforming.

Expect a straightforward, sometimes unforgiving experience. Enemy placement, moving hazards, narrow platforms, and the need to learn each stage’s layout make patience more valuable than rushing ahead. The controls and presentation reflect the limitations of the NES era, and the game is best approached as a period curiosity rather than a polished adaptation of the movies. Fans may enjoy spotting the way familiar locations and story elements have been translated into game form, while retro players will find a distinctly old-school challenge.

Back to the Future 2 & 3 is a notable example of licensed NES software from the late 1980s: uneven in places, but memorable for combining two popular films into one time-hopping adventure. If you want to revisit this unusual adaptation, RetroCloud lets you play online on your browser and experience its take on Marty’s journey without needing original hardware.