In a surprising twist of digital archaeology, a long-lost video game from the 1980s has finally seen the light of day. Titled “Shadow Circuit”, the game was originally developed in 1987 by a small, now-defunct studio called NeonByte. Intended for the Commodore 64, the game was completed but never released, due to the company going bankrupt just weeks before launch.

Today, over 35 years later, a collector discovered the original floppy disk in a dusty box at a garage sale. After painstakingly recovering the data, preservationists managed to restore the game and prepare it for a modern release. It officially launched online this morning, available to download and play on emulators.

Shadow Circuit is a side-scrolling cyberpunk action-platformer, featuring neon-drenched cityscapes, robotic enemies, and a synth-heavy soundtrack. Though simple by today’s standards, it’s a fascinating look into what could have been a cult classic.

Gamers and retro fans alike are celebrating the game’s release as a piece of digital history that somehow traveled through time to find its audience. It’s not just a game — it’s a time capsule.