Snow Bros Gets a New Physical Famicom Cartridge and a Matching Limited-Edition Handheld

Columbus Circle announces a fresh physical Famicom release of Toaplan's arcade classic Snow Bros alongside an 8-bit Pocket V2 handheld launching late November 2026.

Japanese retro hardware specialist Columbus Circle has announced a fresh physical release of Snow Bros. for the Famicom, accompanied by a special version of its 8-bit Pocket V2 handheld. Both products are scheduled for late November 2026, giving collectors another opportunity to acquire a cartridge version of one of the more entertaining single-screen arcade platformers of the early 1990s. Originally developed by Toaplan for arcades in 1990, Snow Bros. was adapted for the Famicom in 1991. Its two snowman protagonists, Nick and Tom, defeat enemies by covering them in snow before sending the resulting snowballs careening across the screen. Fifty stages, boss encounters and increasingly complicated enemy arrangements make the game considerably more substantial than its cheerful appearance suggests. Columbus Circle's new cartridge features updated packaging and carries a Japanese retail price of ¥7,678 including tax. The matching 8-bit Pocket V2 is priced at ¥8,778 including tax and includes 88 built-in original games. Importantly, the handheld does not include the Snow Bros. cartridge, so collectors wanting both products must purchase them separately. The cartridge supports one or two players, while the handheld itself is designed for single-player operation. Columbus Circle also cautions that compatibility with every third-party Famicom-compatible machine cannot be guaranteed. The announcement is particularly welcome because physical releases remain important to collectors who prefer actual cartridges over yet another digital licence. Snow Bros. has survived numerous reissues, remakes and compilations, but returning the original 8-bit version to cartridge form feels especially appropriate. Sometimes the best preservation strategy is simply making another cartridge.