What if the era of lightgun shooting games made a comeback thanks to modern technology? That’s exactly what G’aim’e offers, a plug-and-play lightgun compatible with current TVs, bringing back the classic arcade favorites.

A next-generation lightgun

Unlike lightguns from older consoles, which required a cathode ray tube (CRT) TV, G’aim’e uses innovative technology combining a high-resolution camera and artificial intelligence. This system allows playing classic shooting games on LCD TVs, which were previously incompatible with such accessories. A small technological revolution — and perhaps one of the most exciting uses of AI for retro gamers.

A lightning-fast start on Kickstarter

Developed by Tassei Denki, G’aim’e launched on Kickstarter on June 24, 2025. The funding goal of approximately €41,581 was reached in less than ten minutes. At the time of writing, the campaign has already raised over €323,000 and there are still 57 days left to participate.

The product holds official licenses from Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc., which allows it to include several iconic games: Time Crisis, Point Blank, Steel Gunner, and Steel Gunner 2. For reference, Steel Gunner, released in 1990, was Namco’s very first lightgun shooting game.

Two editions available

• The G’aim’e Basic pack (around €87) includes: the gun with a 3m cable, a TV unit dedicated to Time Crisis, the necessary cables (power and HDMI), a manual, and an exclusive Kickstarter keychain.
• The G’aim’e Premium pack (around €118) adds: Point Blank, Steel Gunner, Steel Gunner 2, a pedal with a 3m cable, and a collectible pin badge.

What about Recalbox?

If you’re a lightgun purist who prefers CRT displays, know that Recalbox also offers perfect hardware solutions for this. Thanks to the RGB JAMMA 2 for arcade cabinets and the RGB Dual 2 for home CRTs, it is possible to connect a genuine GunCon lightgun via the RCA video input. The result: near-zero latency and 100% faithful gameplay experience.

On modern screens, Recalbox also allows you to play "Lightgun" games using the Wiimote and the Mayflash Dolphin Bar for those who want to explore all aspects of trigger-based retrogaming.

Source: retronews.com