City Hunter is an action game developed and published by Sunsoft for the PC Engine, released in 1990. It arrived during a fertile period for the platform, which had already established itself in Japan as a capable home for arcade-style action titles following landmark releases in the late 1980s. Sunsoft, known for technically accomplished console work, brought the game to a PC Engine audience hungry for licensed content, as the City Hunter manga and anime franchise by Tsukasa Hojo was at the height of its popularity in Japan at the time. The game draws directly from that source material, casting players in the role of Ryo Saeba, the sharp-shooting sweeper-for-hire who operates out of Shinjuku. The PC Engine's HuCard format kept the game compact, and Sunsoft leveraged the hardware's sprite capabilities to deliver smooth character animation and colorful urban environments that evoked the aesthetic of the anime. The game supports up to two players, a notable feature for an action title of this type, allowing a second player to join in and work through stages cooperatively. Level structure follows a stage-based progression through urban settings, with players navigating environments, confronting waves of enemies, and facing boss encounters that demand pattern recognition and precise shooting. Controls make use of the PC Engine's two-button layout: one button handles attacking while the other manages jumping or evasive movement, keeping the input scheme accessible while still requiring timing and spatial awareness to survive tougher encounters. Enemy variety escalates across stages, introducing armed thugs, larger enforcers, and eventually boss characters that draw from the anime's roster of antagonists. The pacing is brisk, consistent with the arcade-influenced design philosophy common to PC Engine action games of the era. Sunsoft's production values are evident in the presentation: the game opens with cutscenes that establish the narrative context, and stage transitions are accompanied by character artwork and dialogue that reinforce the licensed property's tone. In its era, City Hunter was received as a competent and entertaining licensed action game that delivered on the appeal of its source material for fans of the franchise, while also functioning as a solid, if not groundbreaking, action title for general PC Engine owners. Licensed games of this period varied widely in quality, and City Hunter sat comfortably in the upper tier of such releases, benefiting from Sunsoft's experience and the strong visual identity of the City Hunter property. Its two-player mode gave it additional replay value at a time when couch co-op was a meaningful selling point for home console games.
Screenshots1 / 4
City Hunter
城市猎人
City Hunter is a 2-player action game developed by Sunsoft and released in 1990 for the PC Engine. Based on the manga series, players take on the role of the protagonist and navigate through urban-themed levels, eliminating enemies and bosses to progress. The game features side-scrolling action gameplay with straightforward combat mechanics. Players can punch, kick, and use limited special attacks or weapons to defeat opponents. Each stage takes place in different city locations, with distinct enemy types and environmental hazards. The difficulty increases progressively across levels, requiring players to master timing and combat techniques. Two players can cooperate simultaneously, adding strategic depth as they coordinate attacks and support each other through the challenging stages. The game emphasizes responsive controls and arcade-style action pacing.
- Developer
- Sunsoft
- Released
- 1990
- Platform
- PC Engine
- Genre
- Action
- Players
- 2P
- Rating
- 4.5 / 5 (3.7K)
- Last updated
About City Hunter
Pro tips
- Learn each boss's attack pattern before committing to offensive moves — most bosses telegraph their actions with a brief animation wind-up, giving you a narrow window to dodge and counter.
- In two-player mode, coordinate so one player focuses on crowd control while the other handles the primary target; splitting responsibilities reduces the chance of both players being caught in the same attack.
- Conserve any powered-up ammunition for boss encounters rather than spending it on standard enemy waves, which can be cleared with basic attacks if you maintain movement.
- Keep moving horizontally during enemy-dense sections — standing still makes you an easy target for projectiles converging from both sides of the screen.
- Study the stage layouts on your first run rather than rushing; knowing where enemy spawns occur lets you pre-position on subsequent attempts and clear sections more efficiently.
City Hunter Controls — PC Engine Keyboard Keys
Default keyboard bindings for City Hunter on our in-browser PC Engine emulator. Plug in a USB or Bluetooth gamepad to auto-detect mappings, or rebind any key from the emulator settings menu.
| Keyboard | Console button | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| ↑ | D-Pad Up | Move up |
| ↓ | D-Pad Down | Move down |
| ← | D-Pad Left | Move left |
| → | D-Pad Right | Move right |
| X | I | Primary action (jump / confirm) |
| Z | II | Secondary action (attack / cancel) |
| Enter | Run | Start / Pause |
| Shift | Select | Select / Mode |
Rebind any key from the EmulatorJS in-game settings menu (gear icon → Controls). A connected gamepad auto-maps to the same buttons.
City Hunter Longplay & Gameplay Videos
Watch a full playthrough of City Hunter on PC Engine before you dive in — recommended for getting a feel for the game's pacing, story beats, and difficulty curve.
Watch longplay on YouTube
"City Hunter" PC Engine longplay 1990
City Hunter Cheat Codes
2 community-curated cheats for City Hunter. Tick any to activate them automatically when you click "Play with cheats" — or copy a code into your own emulator.
-
Infinite Energy
1F0B9C:16 -
Invulnerability
1F0B9E:B7
External references
Frequently Asked Questions
When was City Hunter released?
City Hunter was released in 1990 for the PC Engine.
Who developed City Hunter?
City Hunter was developed by Sunsoft, available to play in your browser on RetroGameSpace.
How many players does City Hunter support?
City Hunter supports up to 2 players, ideal for couch co-op or competitive sessions on the PC Engine.
What type of game is City Hunter?
City Hunter is a Action game for the PC Engine, playable instantly in your browser — no downloads, no installs.
How can I play City Hunter for free?
Open this page and click "Play Now" — City Hunter runs free in your browser via WebAssembly emulation. No account, no payment, no installer.
Do I need to download anything to play City Hunter in the browser?
No. City Hunter streams from a public archive into a browser-side PC Engine emulator. Nothing is installed on your computer.
Can I save my progress in City Hunter?
Yes. Save states are stored in your browser (IndexedDB) per game, and you can also use any in-game save the original PC Engine cartridge supported.
Does City Hunter work on mobile devices?
Yes — the PC Engine emulator runs on iOS Safari and Android Chrome. Touch controls overlay the game; landscape mode is recommended.
Is it legal to play City Hunter this way?
RetroGameSpace is a transient caching reverse-proxy and does not host first-party copies of City Hunter. Game files are fetched on demand from publicly-accessible archives. You are responsible for compliance with your local laws and the bring-your-own-ROM principle.
How long does it take to beat City Hunter on PC Engine?
A single playthrough for an experienced player typically runs between 30 and 60 minutes, as the game follows a compact stage-based structure common to licensed action titles of the era. New players learning enemy patterns and boss behaviors should expect closer to 90 minutes across multiple attempts.
Is the two-player mode worth using?
Yes — the cooperative two-player mode is one of the game's stronger features. Having a second player allows for divided responsibilities during hectic enemy waves and makes boss encounters more manageable, while also adding to the fun of experiencing the City Hunter story beats together.
What is the best starting strategy for new players?
Focus on movement first. Many new players stand still while shooting, which quickly leads to being overwhelmed. Prioritize staying mobile, learn the range of your basic attack, and do not rush toward enemies — let them come into your effective range rather than closing the gap unnecessarily.
Is City Hunter worth playing today if you are unfamiliar with the anime?
It holds up as a brisk, competent PC Engine action game even without franchise familiarity. Fans of late-1980s and early-1990s Japanese action games will find the pacing and presentation enjoyable, though the experience is noticeably enriched if you have some familiarity with Ryo Saeba and the City Hunter setting.
