ToeJam & Earl

ToeJam and Earl is a video game franchise created by Greg Johnson and Mark Voorsanger, beginning with the original ToeJam and Earl on Sega Genesis in 1991. The games follow two alien rappers, ToeJam and Earl, who crash-land on Earth and must collect the pieces of their spaceship while navigating a bizarre version of suburban American culture. The franchise is beloved for its laid-back funk aesthetic, its cooperative gameplay, and its distinctive sense of humor. After an extended absence, the franchise was revived through a successful Kickstarter campaign and the release of ToeJam and Earl: Back in the Groove in 2019.

ToeJam and Earl Games

ToeJam and Earl (1991)

The original game on Sega Genesis is a roguelike, before the term was widely used, with a randomly generated world each playthrough and permadeath. ToeJam is the tall, thin, red alien and Earl is the short, round, orange alien with a perpetual snack. They navigate Earth’s bizarre hazards including mail carriers, dentists, hula dancers, and giant hamsters in exercise balls while collecting pieces of their crashed spaceship. The cooperative mode, with one player as ToeJam and one as Earl, was ahead of its time. The game initially underperformed commercially but became a cult classic, particularly beloved by a generation of Genesis owners. I have loved this franchise since the 90s and it is great to see it come back.

ToeJam and Earl in Panic on Funkotron (1993)

The sequel shifted from the original’s roguelike format to a side-scrolling platformer set on the alien homeworld of Funkotron. Humans accidentally brought back from Earth must be captured using jars. The change in format was controversial with fans of the original. A competent platformer but the spirit of the first game was largely lost.

ToeJam and Earl III: Mission to Earth (2002)

A 3D game for Xbox that returned to something closer to the original’s format. Developed without Greg Johnson’s full involvement for much of its development. The game received mixed reviews and did not revive the franchise commercially.

ToeJam and Earl: Back in the Groove (2019)

Greg Johnson launched a Kickstarter in 2015 to bring ToeJam and Earl back and raised over $500,000. Back in the Groove returned to the roguelike format of the original with HD graphics, quality of life improvements, and online multiplayer. It was developed by Johnson’s studio HumaNature Studios and published by HumaNature Studios and Limited Run Games. For fans of the original it was a genuine return to form. Released on PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and Steam.