A few weeks ago, a Steam page randomly showed up for Limited Run Games’ upcoming Gex Trilogy, a remastered (ported?) collection of beloved retro titles starring everyone’s favorite radical ‘90s gecko. He’s got jokes, man.
The imminent collection rounds up the first 2D Gex (1995)—the weakest of the bunch, if you ask me—as well as the two subsequent 3D sequels, Gex: Enter the Gecko (1998) and Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko (1999). Strange to think that an IP which humbly began on Panasonic’s ill-fated 3DO console is seeing a potential resurrection on modern platforms, and in the year 2025. Us geriatric millennials sure do love our nostalgia.
But speaking of release dates, the Steam listing doesn’t show one, and even Limited Run’s website has the game logged as COMING SOON. We’ve technically know about the Gex Trilogy happening for at least a year and a half, as the reveal trailer was posted back in July of 2023. The video leaned hard into Gex 3’s James Bond-esque aesthetic, stating how you “can always rely on the classics.” I guess what you can’t rely on are the classics hitting digital and physical stores anytime soon, maybe. We just don’t know.
Below is the trilogy’s description from its new Steam page. and as the previously linked Time Extension article says, it looks as if Limited Run is going with the Dana Gould voiceover versions of Gex, although maybe there will be a toggle option so we can additionally experience the UK voice actors, which would be cool.
Things are about to get weirder than the 4th of July at Rick James’ place! Everyone’s favorite tail-whipping, channel-surfing gecko is back in a collection that features all of his best-selling adventures!
GEX Trilogy includes the original 2D platformer, GEX, and the two 3D sequels: GEX: Enter the Gecko & GEX 3: Deep Cover Gecko —but these aren’t just re-runs! This Carbon Engine powered collection includes extras and numerous improvements like that bring GEX back into prime time!
- HBO comedian Dana Gould fuels GEX with over 300 hilarious one-liners and sound effects.
- GEX’s mouth gets him in trouble, but it’s his thrashing tail and suction cup paws that get him out.
- GEX has been sucked into the Media Dimension, the place where cheesy 70’s movies go to retire. To escape he’s gotta kill TV’s in each world.
- Over 450 frames of smooth 3D animation and hand-rendered backgrounds!
- GEX jumps and sticks to everything while thrashin’ secret levels in search of elusive remote controls.
Judging by past Limited Run titles that utilize the software emulation Carbon Engine (Tomba!, Clock Tower), I think we know pretty much what to expect here: Save states, the ability to rewind gameplay and other quality-of-life extras, plus maybe some fun behind-the-scenes bits, like design documents, game art and perhaps some developer interviews.
The upcoming Croc: Legend of the Gobbos remaster certainly comes to mind here, with its extensive Crocipedia/Crocumentary features. However, the Gex Trilogy won’t be getting the same loving graphical and control overhaul that Croc has enjoyed; these will essentially be the same Gex games we all played back in the ’90s, only now compatible with current consoles and systems. Think one-for-one emulation with a sprinkling of current-day additions.
I’ve long been a fan of these run-and-jump titles, and even went so far as to chat with a few developers who worked on the games. It was for a massive 2017 Retro Gamer feature I called The History of Gex (issue #167). There’s lots of fascinating info in those pages, like the cancelled Gex Team Racing/Eidos All-Stars (with Raziel, Lara Croft and Nikki from Pandemonium!), but good luck tracking down a copy. God forbid Retro Gamer ever digitize their entire catalog and put it online. Somebody, please offer to do this for them.
Gex may have never reached the heights of Crash Bandicoot or Mario, but like Croc, he definitely holds a special place in gaming lore, even if his presence simply reminds us of just how many mascot platformers existed in the decade that birthed the Backstreet Boys, Tamagotchi and Pogs.
I’ve messaged Limited Run to inquire about the status of the Gex Trilogy, but judging by the now-live Steam listing, I’d say we’re going to hear more about a potential launch date pretty soon. Sure, you could head over to Ebay today and pick up relatively cheap disc copies of these games, and there’s always the morally and legally gray emulation route, too. But if you’re looking to play Crystal Dynamics’ classic TV-inspired adventures, both easily and on the up and up, these ports could be a solid bet. I guess they’re not remasters, exactly.
I do wonder if Dana Gould be be down to reprise his reptilian role for a possible Gex 4—it sounds like he actually recorded fresh dialogue for the recent trailers, so there could be interest. If the Gex Trilogy sells well enough, we might find out. Apparently, RPG giant Square Enix owns the Gex IP, so they’ll have the final say. Why not put him in the next Final Fantasy?
Whenever it does release, the collection will come to Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S and, of course, Steam.
