Rick Henderson Review (Nintendo Switch) – Arcade In The Palm Of Your Hands

Arcades are not a thing of the past quite yet, but when it comes to the offerings, we get in console releases, it feels that way. Rick Henderson is unabashedly an arcade game. For this reason, I was very interested in giving it a shot.

Game Name: Rick Henderson
Platform(s): PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch (reviewed), PC
Developer(s): Fat Pug Studio
Publisher(s): Fat Pug Studio, Eastasiasoft, VGNYSoft Games
Release Date: November 7th, 2025
Price: $34.99 (or $7.99 digital)

In Rick Henderson, your goal is to maximize your score as you side-scroll endlessly as one of three different ships. You need to shoot down enemy ships and dodge or graze their bullets. There are two difficulty modes and a single boss rush trial that challenges you to defeat all five bosses as quickly as possible for the best score. It’s a fun and very addictive experience.

Where Rick Henderson Shines

Rick Henderson controls nicely. You can use the D-pad or the left analog stick to move your ships, and the face buttons are assigned to your weapons. You have three equipped weapons that can be used one at a time. Some are lasers, bullets, or missiles. The spreads are unique, and you can grab new weapons to replace one of your current ones by picking them up after an enemy drops them. Drops are random, but they can be jewels, shield charges, points, weapons, and more. Enemies aren’t guaranteed to drop items, so make sure to pick them up when they appear unless it’s a weapon you don’t want to use.

The retro graphics in Rick Henderson complement the arcade feel nicely. All the ships look distinct, and the bullets, bombs, and lasers all stand out with their own visual and audio cues. This makes it easy to know which weapon you’re using and keeps the screen readable even in chaotic moments.

There are five total boss fights, and luckily, in endless mode, their patterns don’t stay the same each time. They change tactics based on the ship you’re using and the arsenal you have available. The game offers three ships: a fast ship with the ability to teleport once its gauge is full, a slow ship with higher shields and the best special in the game that destroys everything on-screen for a limited time, and the middle-ground ship that’s meant to be more strategic but doesn’t work as well since attacks come from everywhere.

There are alternative graphic modes that change the screen’s colors. You can make all ships a single color, which helps you track bullet patterns or adjust visibility if things are blending in too much.

Where It Misses the Mark

Rick Henderson has only five stages. It features an endless mode with varying enemy sequences and boss attack patterns, but it’s easy to learn them all quickly. While bosses change tactics, they don’t gain new moves. They remain the same boss with the same core attacks.

Rick Henderson, the main character, represents the middle-ground ship but unfortunately is the least effective option to play. His special ability is a decoy that lasts for a few seconds and draws some enemy fire. Sadly, not enough enemies target the decoy to make it useful, and many boss fights include screen-wide attacks that make the decoy pointless.

The speed ship works slightly better thanks to its teleport ability, which lets you dash through enemies or attacks and avoid large bullet spreads. The final ship, which is slower but tankier, is the best choice overall thanks to its special attack that wipes the entire screen. It isn’t exactly a balanced roster of ships.

Physical Edition Impressions

Normally, when I write a review, I focus on the gameplay and the experience itself; what it does well and what it doesn’t. However, I wanted to add this section because the physical version from VGNYSoft that I received for review is stunning to look at. When I first opened the box, I was immediately impressed by the holographic cover, which was done extremely well.

It’s hard to see in the image, but the space background, the ship, and the bullets look similar to the standard edition cover, while the white circles, text, and silver squares on the back are all holographic. This effect draws the eye to the artwork in a way I didn’t expect. The cover feels like it was made with the holographic effect in mind, even if it might not have been. It adds a lot of flair to the presentation. Disclaimer: The holographic cover art is only available with the Elite Edition of the physical game.

Adding to the fun of unboxing the game is that the physical release includes a manual. The manual is 24 pages long and features details about the ships, pilots, and enemy factions. It also includes concept sketches and a synopsis of the game, the developer, and both publishing studios. Eastasiasoft published it digitally (at least on consoles), while VGNYSoft handled the physical version.

The Verdict

Rick Henderson knows exactly what it is and who it’s for. It’s an arcade game built for players who enjoy chasing high scores and perfecting their runs. While it could be improved with more stages, better ship balance, or even a story mode, it remains a fun and addictive experience.

If you’re someone who just wants to play a classic arcade side-scrolling shooter, Rick Henderson is absolutely worth your time. It’s available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. You can also order the physical edition from VGNYSoft for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5.

Review Disclosure Statement: Rick Henderson was provided to us by VGNYSoft Games for review purposes. For more information on how we review video games and other media/technology, please review our Review Guideline/Scoring Policy.

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