Home Alone (1992). Play online

Summary

Home Alone for the Game Gear is one of the dozens of movie‑tie‑in games that sprouted in the early 90s. Unlike its console siblings, the handheld version mixes a top‑down view for sled‑riding around Kevin’s neighborhood with a side‑scrolling interior when the Wet Bandits break in. The player must keep an eye on two meters: one ticking toward police arrival (20 minutes on easy, 40 on hard) and the other filling as the thieves loot a house.

The game rewards ingenuity: Kevin begins with a BB gun but can scavenge glue, snow, light‑bulbs and other oddities to build makeshift rifles, bazookas or mortars, each with its own range and arc. Weapons can be disassembled, ammunition recycled, and traps set inside rooms to boost the defensive meter.

Bethesda Softworks published the Game Gear cartridge in 1991, delivering the quirky blend of puzzle‑crafting and timed defense that still amuses retro collectors today.

Storyline

Home Alone on the Game Gear follows the film’s basic premise: Kevin McCallister is accidentally left behind while his family jets off to Paris for Christmas. In this handheld version, the action shifts from a single house to the whole neighborhood. Kevin must guard several nearby homes, setting traps and using everyday items to stop the bumbling burglars, Harry and Marv, as they try to break in. The goal is to hold out until the police arrive, keeping the houses safe from the Wet Bandits.
The game lets players pick up objects like toy cars, ornaments, or kitchen tools and deploy them as improvised weapons. Each successful defense earns points and pushes the timer closer to the police’s arrival. The simple side‑scrolling layout and colorful 8‑bit graphics capture the chaotic, comedic spirit of the movie while delivering a quick, pick‑up‑and‑play experience.