Snow Bros. Nick & Tom (DMG) vs Snow Bros. 8-Bit: Which Version Fits Your Collection?

Quick answer

Choose Snow Bros. Nick & Tom Deluxe Edition (DMG) if you play on an original Game Boy or Game Boy-compatible handheld and want the two-character Nick & Tom adventure. Choose Snow Bros. Deluxe Edition (8-Bit) if you play on NES hardware and prefer the classic single-player Snow Bros. experience with a lower price. Both are open pre-orders, so availability is limited to the order window.

Snow Bros. has a confusing history of ports and regional releases, and Limited Run Games has two cartridge versions that look similar but target different hardware. The names themselves — Snow Bros. Nick & Tom Deluxe Edition (DMG) and Snow Bros. Deluxe Edition (8-Bit) — don't make the split obvious. This comparison breaks down the concrete differences from the catalog facts so you can match the cartridge to the console you actually own.

The short version: one is a Game Boy game, the other is an NES game. That single hardware difference drives everything else, including price, what's on the cartridge, and which collector niche the release serves. Neither is a strict upgrade over the other, so the right pick depends on your setup rather than a ranking.

Hardware: Game Boy (DMG) vs NES (8-Bit)

The most important difference is the platform. Snow Bros. Nick & Tom Deluxe Edition (DMG) is a playable cartridge for the original Game Boy, often called DMG after the handheld's model code. Snow Bros. Deluxe Edition (8-Bit) is a playable cartridge for the NES. That means they don't share a console: a Game Boy cartridge won't fit an NES, and an NES cartridge won't fit a Game Boy. If you only own one of these systems, the decision is already made for you.

The catalog descriptions don't list region-locking details for either cartridge, so if you play on imported hardware, check the product page before ordering. What the facts do confirm is that both are open pre-orders for a limited time, so neither is a permanent catalog item. If you want either version, you need to order during the window.

• Match the cartridge to the hardware you already own before comparing anything else.
• If you own both a Game Boy and an NES, decide which one you actually play most often.

Content: Nick & Tom vs classic Snow Bros.

The titles point to a content difference. Snow Bros. Nick & Tom Deluxe Edition (DMG) is described as the madcap Snow Brothers turning a mountain of ice foes into ice pops, with one of the Snow Brothers missing. That framing suggests the Nick & Tom version centers on the two-character storyline. Snow Bros. Deluxe Edition (8-Bit) uses the classic Snow Brothers description — slippin', slidin', and slingin' snowballs — without the missing-brother hook.

The catalog facts don't specify extra modes, level counts, or bonus content for either release, so treat any assumption about added features as unverified. What you can rely on is the core premise: the DMG release is the Nick & Tom adventure, and the 8-Bit release is the classic Snow Bros. arcade-style action. If you specifically want the Nick & Tom storyline, the DMG version is the one that carries it.

• Pick the DMG version if the Nick & Tom two-character story is the draw.
• Pick the 8-Bit version if you want the straightforward classic Snow Bros. setup.

Price and value

At catalog prices, Snow Bros. Nick & Tom Deluxe Edition (DMG) is USD 39.99 against a comparison price of USD 79.99, while Snow Bros. Deluxe Edition (8-Bit) is USD 45.00 against a comparison price of USD 89.99. Both show a similar discount off the comparison price, so the DMG version is the cheaper of the two by about five dollars. Neither price includes shipping or any taxes your region may add.

Price alone shouldn't decide this. A five-dollar gap is small next to the cost of buying hardware you don't own. If you already have a Game Boy, the DMG version is the lower-cost entry. If you already have an NES, the 8-Bit version is the only one that will run on it. The comparison price is a reference point, not a promise about future resale value.

• Check the current product page for the live price before ordering.
• Factor in shipping and any regional fees when comparing the two.

Which one to order first

Both releases are open pre-orders that close on Sunday, January 26, 2025 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time according to the catalog facts. That shared deadline means you can't stagger the decision — if you want either, you order within the same window. If you're torn and can only buy one, let your hardware decide, then let content preference break the tie.

If you own neither system, the practical move is to buy the cartridge for the console you're most likely to add first. Game Boy hardware is widely available and the DMG cartridge is the cheaper of the two. NES hardware is also common, but the 8-Bit cartridge costs slightly more. The catalog facts don't include bundle options, so plan on buying the console separately if you don't already have one.

• Note the shared pre-order deadline and set a reminder.
• If you're buying a console later, choose the cartridge that matches that plan.

Trade-offs to weigh

• Hardware lock-in: The DMG cartridge only plays on Game Boy, and the 8-Bit cartridge only plays on NES. Buying the wrong one means buying hardware you didn't plan for. Decide based on the console you already own.
• Content focus: The DMG version centers on the Nick & Tom two-character story, while the 8-Bit version uses the classic Snow Bros. description without the missing-brother hook. Pick the DMG version if the Nick & Tom story is what you want.
• Price gap: The DMG version is USD 39.99 and the 8-Bit version is USD 45.00 at catalog prices, a difference of about five dollars. The price gap is small; don't let it override the hardware decision.
• Shared deadline: Both are open pre-orders closing on Sunday, January 26, 2025 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time, so you can't order one later than the other. Order both in the same window if you want both.

Catalog facts at a glance

• Snow Bros. Nick & Tom Deluxe Edition (DMG): Playable cartridge for Game Boy; open pre-order closing Sunday, January 26, 2025 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time; catalog price USD 39.99 (comparison price USD 79.99). This is the only one of the two that runs on Game Boy hardware, and it's the lower-priced option.
• Snow Bros. Deluxe Edition (8-Bit): Playable cartridge for NES; open pre-order closing Sunday, January 26, 2025 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time; catalog price USD 45.00 (comparison price USD 89.99). This is the NES option, so it only makes sense if you own or plan to own an NES.
• Snow Bros. Nick & Tom Deluxe Edition (DMG): Described as the madcap Snow Brothers turning a mountain of ice foes into ice pops, with one of the Snow Brothers missing. Confirms the Nick & Tom storyline is the focus of the DMG release, which is the main content difference from the 8-Bit version.

Who each version is for

Best for

• Collectors who play on an original Game Boy or compatible handheld and want the Nick & Tom storyline.
• Buyers who want the lower-priced of the two cartridges at USD 39.99.

Not for

• Players who only own an NES, since the DMG cartridge won't run on it.
• Collectors who specifically want the classic single-player Snow Bros. presentation instead of the Nick & Tom story.

If you own a Game Boy, Snow Bros. Nick & Tom Deluxe Edition (DMG) gives you the Nick & Tom adventure for less. If you own an NES, Snow Bros. Deluxe Edition (8-Bit) is your only option between the two, and it delivers the classic Snow Bros. action. Check the product pages for the current price and confirm the pre-order deadline before you commit.