<- 1995 1996 1997 ->

Magical Drop II

vs gameplay of world attacking empress High priestess looking out a window to space, saying This is great!		 Magical Drop returns with its more recognizable artstyle and new characters. It feels more violent than ever.
Release Date: March 21, 1996
Developer: Data East
Platforms: Arcade, Neo Geo, SFC / SNES, Saturn

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magical drop blue circle
All of Capcom's fighting characters came to play puzzles together. Certain blocks detonate each color.
Release Date: May 29, 1996
Developer: Capcom
Platforms: Arcade, PSX, Saturn, Windows, Dreamcast, GBA

Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo

puzzle fighter gameplay with two darkstalkers characters

Neratte Chu

neratte chu gameplay with mouse and catapult		 Catapult mouse cheese game. It just looked kind of cute.
Release Date: May 1996
Developer: SETA
Platforms: Arcade
Tetris, plus the additional goal of guiding a professor down the well before a ceiling of spikes crushes him.
Release Date: (Early?) 1996
Developer: Jaleco
Platforms: Arcade, Saturn, PSX, Game Boy

Tetris Plus

menu art with the little professor and assistant and the text Challenging Puzzles

Puzzle Bobble 3 / Bust-A-Move 3

fake quiz screen with What is game you are playing now? and the options Bubble Bobble 3, Puzzle Bobble 3, Debble Bobble 3, and Bust A Move 3		 You fight characters from other fake games in this one, it's great.
Release Date: September 1996
Developer: Taito
Platforms: Arcade, Saturn, PSX, Game Boy, N64, Windows
Panel-esque but with a 2x2 cursor and spells. Cute zodiac themed characters. I feel a personal responsibility to advocate for this game, please play it.
Release Date: October 4, 1996
Developer: Tomcat System
Platforms: PSX

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kurukuru twinkle orange triangle block

Kurukuru Twinkle: Onegai Ohoshisama

kurukuru gameplay of the gemini bodybuilder twins losing Kurukuru twinkle title screen

Puyo Puyo Sun

puyo satan wearing a hawaiian shirt and playing the ukulele		 Satan has made it summertime and you have to stop him. Sun puyo are added to the formula.
Release Date: December 1996
Developer: Compile
Platforms: Arcade, Saturn, N64, PSX, Windows, GBC
Might have the best soundtrack ever. Seems extremely confident and effortlessly cool in its style. You push around bubbles too.
Release Date: 1996
Developer: Kouji Oono, Microcabin
Platforms: Windows, PSX, Saturn

Noon

pink haired girl from noon silhouetted against the moon

Karian Cross

bug eyed fighter girl character and her palette swap staring at the screen with the text Oh! Hope your kindness!		 Not particularly original but very charming Korean arcade game.
Release Date: 1996
Developer: Deniam Corp.
Platforms: Arcade
Bobble-like that saw success on computers.
Release Date: 1996
Developer: Snood, LLC
Platforms: Mac, MS DOS, Windows, GBA

Snood

snood gameplay with many many strange lightly grotesque face blocks

Ghostlop

ghostlop gameplay against friday the ghost dog bruce ghostlop vs the eater, a trash can with sunglasses		 A mix of Bobble and Breakout. Maybe the most charming pseudo-Ghostbusters presentation of any game here.
Release Date: Unreleased
Developer: Data East
Platforms: Arcade

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ghostlop orange ghost ball
<- 1995 1996 1997 ->
Lip from Panel De Pon running gif