Eternal Hunters Brings Co-Op RPG Action to SNES

Retro RPG fans looking for a reason to keep original SNES hardware connected should watch Eternal Hunters: The Branford Legacy. Ultima Team’s newly announced project is being built natively for Nintendo’s 16-bit console and promises solo or cooperative action-RPG play, though players will need to wait for a release date and Kickstarter details.

What makes Eternal Hunters different

Eternal Hunters: The Branford Legacy is not a modern game merely styled after the SNES era. French developer Ultima Team says it is being developed for the original Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Its combat is real-time rather than turn-based, with players using melee strikes and magic against demons and larger boss enemies. The game follows co-protagonists Duncan and Clive in a story involving time travel. Ultima Team has described the project as a Zelda-like adventure, while acknowledging that Chrono Trigger influenced its visual direction and narrative approach.

Who should keep an eye on it

The clearest audience is retro hardware owners who want a new game designed around the limitations and appeal of the SNES. Cooperative play is officially confirmed, a relatively unusual feature for a console-era RPG of this type. Players who prefer to play alone are also covered: the developer has indicated that solo mode may allow the second hero to be controlled by the CPU. Ultima Team is targeting at least 20 hours of gameplay, positioning Eternal Hunters as a substantial adventure rather than a short technical showcase.

What to expect before release

There is currently no launch date. A playable demo was shown at the French retro gaming event Hedge'Conv, but public footage of that demo had not surfaced at the time of the announcement. Ultima Team plans to launch a Kickstarter campaign to help fund the project, and prospective backers can register through the studio’s newsletter. The team has also partnered with Story Bird Studios, although the practical impact of that relationship has not been detailed. Modern versions are not planned for launch, but Ultima Team may consider platforms such as Switch 2 and Steam if the project performs well.

What players should know

• Eternal Hunters is planned for original SNES hardware, with no release date announced.
• It supports both solo play and two-player cooperative play.
• Combat is real-time and combines direct attacks with spells.
• The campaign centers on time travel and features Duncan and Clive as its lead characters.
• A Kickstarter campaign is planned, while potential modern-platform ports remain conditional.

Confirmed details

Expert View

Eternal Hunters has a compelling premise because it is being designed for authentic SNES hardware rather than simply borrowing retro visuals. Co-op and real-time combat could help it stand apart from nostalgia-driven RPG projects, but the absence of a release date, pricing, and Kickstarter terms means interested players should follow the campaign before committing. For now, it is a promising project rather than a guaranteed must-play.