ROM hacks have been around for decades. The internet has allowed for these modified games to be easily showcased and distributed, causing the ROM hacking community to only grow in popularity. There is a large variety of ways that ROM hacks modify their original game such as fan translations, adding additional features, or even completely re-imagining the game.
ROM hacks of Nintendo games seem to be especially popular, with most being made for retro games on consoles like the NES, SNES, and Game Boy. Sometimes, these fan-created ROM hacks provide a more fulfilling experience than what can be found in the official game.
10 Conker’s High Rule Tail Transforms Zelda Into A Bizarre Pop Culture Mash-Up
Conker’s High Rule Tail is a ROM hack of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past that acts as an unofficial follow-up to the cult classic Nintendo 64 game, Conker’s Bad Fur Day. This ROM hack sees Conker exploring dungeons in an adventure that makes references to franchises from across all of pop culture including Super Mario, Star Wars, The Simpsons, and Doctor Who.
Conker’s High Rule Tail mixes some stellar Zelda gameplay with the crude humor that Conker is known for to create a completely unique experience that can’t be found in any other game.
9 Pokémon Unbound Masters The Classic Pokémon Formula
Pokémon Unbound is the culmination of the first 20 years of Pokémon games. This ROM hack builds upon the foundation of Pokémon FireRed while also taking inspiration from other generations of the series. Unbound has a Pokédex that features Pokémon and moves from the first seven generations.
Unbound presents a wholly original story that takes place in the Borrius region and boasts plenty to do, including missions, mini-games, and substantial post-game content. In addition to a plethora of quality-of-life features, Unbound also uses a battle engine custom-made for the hack that masters the classic Pokémon gameplay.
8 Hyper Metroid Is A Darker Re-Imagining Of Super Metroid
Hyper Metroid is a ROM hack that completely re-envisions the world of Super Metroid. Hyper Metroid takes place in an alternate history from the official Metroid timeline and is backdropped by a considerably darker and more intense tone. This hack builds upon Project Base, another popular Super Metroid ROM Hack, to create a very fulfilling gameplay experience.
A standout feature is the brand-new ammo system that streamlines gameplay by having all weapons share the same pool of ammo. The re-imagined Zebes features rooms that are much more open than those found in Super Metroid, further encouraging vertical and horizontal exploration.
7 Mother 2 Deluxe Is Truly The Definitive Version Of EarthBound
Mother 2 Deluxe serves as the definitive version of EarthBound, providing a more challenging experience. Enemies have been reworked to be more intelligent and to constantly scale to the player’s power level, and enemies from the other Mother games are added.
Mother 2 Deluxe strives to be more faithful to the original Japanese release of EarthBound, known as Mother 2, by having a more accurate translation that reinstates the character’s Japanese names. Aside from quality-of-life improvements, this ROM hack features newly remastered sprites and animations. The newly added dungeon and boss battle are welcome additions that serve to better connect the events of Mother 2 and Mother 3.
6 Deadpool Remixes Ninja Gaiden Into A Raunchy Comic Book Adventure
Deadpool is a ROM hack that completely remixes and expands Ninja Gaiden on the NES, complete with the self-referential and raunchy humor that Deadpool has become known for. The standard slashing and jumping are still present from Ninja Gaiden, but the addition of Deadpool’s signature abilities like health generation and teleportation serve to elevate the gameplay.
Not to mention the new variety of weapons that the players have at their disposal. Everything, from the environments, enemies, music, and story has undergone a complete makeover. Deadpool is chock full of cameos and references to classic video games and comics.
5 The Legend of Banjo-Kazooie – The Jiggies of Time Is The Best Of Both Worlds
The Legend of Bajo-Kazooie – The Jiggies of Time is a ROM hack of Banjo-Kazooie that drops the duo into the land of Hyrule. There are 9 new worlds to explore in a story inspired by The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
The Jiggies of Time keeps the gameplay, collectibles, and humor that fans love from Banjo-Kazooie and merges it with the world of Zelda. The locations and music may be taken from Ocarina of Time, but they have been expertly adapted to fit the style of Banjo-Kazooie, creating an experience that is distinct from both games.
4 Super Mario World: Return to Dinosaur Land Is The Unofficial Sequel To Super Mario World
Super Mario World: Return to Dinosaur Land is a ROM hack for Super Mario World that can almost be seen as its unofficial sequel. Unlike many other ROM hacks, Return to Dinosaur Land doesn’t overhaul the graphics of the base game. Instead, it uses Super Mario World’s existing elements to create fresh and unique levels.
The underwater and snow-themed worlds, which were not present in the original game, were even created using existing graphics. In this way, Return to Dinosaur Land is reminiscent of the types of levels that can be created in Super Mario Maker.
3 Return of the Dark Sorcerer Extensively Modifies Final Fantasy VI
Return of the Dark Sorcerer is a very extensive ROM hack of Final Fantasy VI that greatly modifies many aspects of the game. The massive story includes several expanded events and plenty of brand-new scenarios. The combat and item mechanics have been heavily retooled for Return of the Dark Sorcerer.
The character roster, map, music, and sprites have all been changed from Final Fantasy VI. Return of the Dark Sorcerer is not only a celebration of Final Fantasy, with its addition of characters from across the series, but it also contains numerous references and cameos from characters from other video game and pop culture franchises.
2 Smash Remix Greatly Expands Upon Smash 64 By Adding New Characters And Stages
Smash Remix is a ROM hack that substantially expands upon Super Smash Bros. for the Nintendo 64. The gameplay remains faithful to Smash 64, with the original 12 characters behaving as they normally would. Multiple characters and stages from future Smash Bros. titles have been seamlessly translated into the look and feel of Smash 64.
Fellow Nintendo 64 character Conker fits right in as a newcomer to the series. The addition of playable boss characters is a welcome feature that has yet to be properly added to the Smash Bros. series. Many of Smash Remix’s brand-new stages come from other Nintendo 64 games that could have easily been represented in Smash 64, like Mario Party, Paper Mario, and Diddy Kong Racing.
1 The Legend of Zelda: Outlands Is A Worthy Follow-Up To The Original Zelda
The Legend of Zelda: Outlands is a ROM hack of the very first Legend of Zelda for the NES. Outlands provides the same gameplay as the original but presents it on a different map with totally new quests and dungeons. The story of Outlands sets up Link having a rematch with the same Thunderbird that was the final boss of Zelda II.
In many ways, Outlands can be viewed as what the sequel to the first Zelda game could have been, one that stays true to the basic gameplay of the original while presenting players with a brand-new world to explore.
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