Shadow of the Beast Lynx box art

Atari Lynx · Beat 'em Up

Shadow of the Beast

SystemAtari Lynx
Released1992
GenreBeat 'em Up
DeveloperDigital Developments
PublisherAtari
Players1 player
CommitmentQuick session (Under an hour, or endless arcade fun)
SeriesShadow of the Beast
LegacyDeep cut

Released for the Atari Lynx in 1992, Shadow of the Beast is a beat 'em up developed by Digital Developments and published by Atari.

It landed about 3 years into the Lynx's life. Other notable Lynx releases from 1992 include Crystal Mines II, Dirty Larry: Renegade Cop and Batman Returns.

It is part of the Shadow of the Beast series. The series also appears on other systems with Shadow of the Beast (Genesis) and Shadow of the Beast II (Genesis).

This is a solo experience: one player, no waiting on anyone else.

Pick it if…

  • you want to fight, blast and test your reflexes
  • you have time for a quick session (under an hour, or endless arcade fun)
  • you've played the Lynx hits and want something less obvious

Maybe skip it if…

  • you want depth and variety over simple, satisfying brawling
  • you are looking for something to play with friends

What playing Shadow of the Beast is like

Beat 'em ups send you down scrolling streets fighting waves of thugs with punches, kicks, throws and grabbed weapons. Most can be finished in a single sitting and shine with a second player.

Tip for newcomers: Avoid getting surrounded: keep enemies on one side of you and save your special attacks for crowds. Bring a friend if the game supports co-op.

Shadow of the Beast gameplay screenshot on Lynx
In-game screenshot (Lynx)

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Playing Lynx games today

The Lynx library is small, so it is easy to find its best games, and it remains a cult favorite among handheld collectors.

Shadow of the Beast FAQ

When did Shadow of the Beast come out on the Lynx?

Shadow of the Beast was released for the Atari Lynx in 1992.

Who made Shadow of the Beast?

It was developed by Digital Developments and published by Atari.

Is Shadow of the Beast multiplayer?

No. Shadow of the Beast is a single-player game.

How long does Shadow of the Beast take to play?

As a beat 'em up, Shadow of the Beast typically falls into the "Quick session" category: under an hour, or endless arcade fun. Your time will vary with skill and how much you explore.

Facts on this page are compiled from the open libretro database and Wikidata; "legacy score" reflects how widely a game is documented across Wikipedia's language editions. Spotted an error? Let us know.

Not sure? Let the Matrix pick for you