Airborne Ranger

Airborne Ranger is a computer game by Microprose that may have been planned for the Super NES. By: Evan G Last updated: February 10, 2025

Airborne Ranger is an overhead run-and-gun game that was released on various late 80s computers such as the Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum. Unlike many Microprose games of the time, this was an action focused game, but it did contain a lot of strategic depth that differentiated it from other games in the genre like Commando and Ikari Warriors.

Whether or not a SNES port was actually planned is hard to determine. In 1993 and 1994, the game appeared in the list of games for sale on various mail-order game retailers like Chips & Bits and Funco. This may mean it was announced at one point, but these lists are not primary sources and are known to have errors. In late 1993, Microprose was having financial issues and was bought out by Spectrum HoloByte. If the game was being worked on for the SNES, it is possible it was canceled as a result of this turmoil.

Airborne Ranger as listed in the Chips & Bits advertisement in the November 1993 issue of EGM. Scan courtesy of Retromags.