Action 52

Released for the NES in 1991, Action 52 is a single-player compilation from Active Enterprises that packs 52 separate games onto one cartridge. Instead of following one extended adventure, you begin at a selection menu and choose from a wide assortment of short experiences, each with its own controls, objective, and visual style.

The collection moves across several familiar 8-bit genres. There are platformers, vertical and horizontal shooters, maze games, puzzle challenges, sports-themed titles, racing games, and arcade-style action. Some games ask you to guide a character through scrolling stages, while others focus on clearing enemies, avoiding hazards, collecting items, or reaching a simple goal. The variety is the main attraction, although the games differ sharply in polish, pace, and playability. A few feel like rough experiments, and many are over quickly, making Action 52 better suited to sampling than to settling into one carefully developed campaign.

Among its more recognizable entries is The Cheetahmen, a superhero-themed action game that stands apart from the compilation’s otherwise disconnected lineup. The lack of a shared story or consistent cast gives the cartridge an unusual pick-up-and-try character: browse the menu, test a new game, and move on when it does not click. For retro players, that uneven mix is part of the curiosity, offering a snapshot of ambitious but highly variable NES game design.

Action 52 is not a conventional polished classic, but it remains a distinctive piece of NES history and an intriguing cartridge for anyone interested in obscure compilations. If you want to explore its many oddities, you can play online on your browser through RetroCloud and sample the collection one title at a time.