Devilish

What if Breakout met an action game and the two set off on an adventurous quest together? That is exactly how you could describe Devilish — a fresh variation on the classic ball-and-paddle bouncing that refreshed the genre with inventive elements and pushed it forward. Instead of a static screen, the game flows, the scene scrolls, and you have to keep up.

The biggest twist compared to traditional Breakout lies in the fact that you control two paddles at once. You can change their relative positioning — stack them one above the other, side by side or vertically — and thereby fundamentally influence where the ball bounces. This creates an unexpected layer of tactics and dexterity, because keeping the ball in play through the shifting levels demands nimble fingers and spatial thinking alike.

Moreover, the levels scroll and change, obstacles, enemies and bosses appear, so Devilish feels more like an action adventure with a bouncing mechanic than a plain arcade puzzler. This hybrid nature keeps the game fresh even for someone who has long since played classic brick-breaking to death and is looking for something with more juice.

On the Mega Drive it was no grand blockbuster, but a solid, inventive title that deserves the attention of arcade-challenge lovers and collectors hunting for lesser-known treasures. Its dual paddle is exactly the kind of clever idea that can breathe life into a well-worn formula.

Anyone who enjoys exercising their reflexes and perception on something that is not just another clone will find in Devilish a pleasantly demanding and original companion. It is a small game with a big heart and a clever mechanical twist.

Why play: For an inventive action-flavored take on Breakout, where controlling two paddles at once adds unexpected depth and bite to the classic ball bouncing.