Homing Missile

A recurring projectile weapon in retro video games that automatically tracks and targets enemies upon launch.

Action

Driving

Racing

Sports

17

Games

1991–2001

Years

6

Platforms

$26.55

Ø CIB

+8.9%

24M change

About

In Earthworm Jim 2, the Homing Missile is a weapon pickup that seeks out targets, though it sometimes targets harmless background elements. It also appears as a destructive projectile in Worms (1995), a weapon upgrade in Super Turrican 2, and a power-up in Last Resort and Bill Laimbeer's Combat Basketball.

During the 16-bit and 32-bit eras, this projectile type became a design staple for balancing action-oriented gameplay. In the Twisted Metal franchise, the weapon serves as a fundamental tactical tool across vehicular combat arenas, offering players a reliable lock-on capability that trades raw explosive damage for guaranteed hits against agile opponents. This mechanical trade-off is mirrored in the futuristic racing of the Rollcage series, where the item acts as a crucial catch-up mechanic to disrupt leading racers.

Platforming and action titles of the mid-1990s integrated the item to alter combat pacing. In Phantom 2040, the projectile functions as a heavy ordnance option for the protagonist's customizable toolkit, allowing players to bypass complex enemy defensive patterns. Similarly, the English localization of Pop'n TwinBee: Rainbow Bell Adventures utilizes the tracking projectile to assist players in navigating vertical screen layouts by automatically targeting airborne threats. Across these diverse genres, the item's implementation reflects a broader industry transition toward automated targeting systems, reducing the precision required by players during high-speed gameplay sequences.