Contra Returns brings a 30-year-old classic to iPhone and iPad

Contra Returns Artwork (Image credit: Konami Digital Entertainment)

What you need to know

Contra Returns is now available for download from the App Store for iPhone and iPad.
The game hits the App Store "after a 30-year hiatus" and looks stunning.

it's time to revisit a game that's back after what Konami calls a "30-year hiatus." Fans of Contra can now download Contra Returns from the App Store and play on iPhone and iPad — and they really should do exactly that.

Contra is a game that's etched into the hearts of many gamers of a certain age, as is the infamous Konami code — Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A. Now it's time to dust that code down once more and jump into what looks like more than a trip down memory lane. Contra Returns actually looks like it's going to be a good time, too.

Check out the trailer to get the blood pumping.

In Contra Returns, players can enjoy the classic side-scrolling gameplay, two-person teams, alien bosses, and signature settings and soundtrack from the original series! All with updated HD resolution, 3D character models, and vivid acoustic and visual effects to deliver a sensory experience like no other! Get your fighting spirit all fired up with innovative content: real-time PvP battles, unique heroes, companions, and team mode! Legendary heroes Bill and Lance are making a comeback, so let's kick some alien butt and save the world!

Gamers can download Contra Returns from the App Store now. It's a free download with optional in-app purchases also available.

If you want to level up your Apple Arcade gaming experience, check out our list of the Best Game Controllers for Apple TV and Apple Arcade 2021.

Oliver Haslam has written about Apple and the wider technology business for more than a decade with bylines on How-To Geek, PC Mag, iDownloadBlog, and many more. He has also been published in print for Macworld, including cover stories. At iMore, Oliver is involved in daily news coverage and, not being short of opinions, has been known to 'explain' those thoughts in more detail, too. Having grown up using PCs and spending far too much money on graphics card and flashy RAM, Oliver switched to the Mac with a G5 iMac and hasn't looked back. Since then he's seen the growth of the smartphone world, backed by iPhone, and new product categories come and go. Current expertise includes iOS, macOS, streaming services, and pretty much anything that has a battery or plugs into a wall. Oliver also covers mobile gaming for iMore, with Apple Arcade a particular focus. He's been gaming since the Atari 2600 days and still struggles to comprehend the fact he can play console quality titles on his pocket computer.