Romhacks are great. They breathe new life into a game you may have played plenty of times, but still want more of. I am always looking for some cool new hacks to play on my retro handhelds, but usually lists come up with just Pokemon suggestions (although those are great too). I have decided to include 5 non-Pokemon romhacks that you should check out. This is not a definitive list by any means and I am open to suggestions for a future list! Let’s get started.
Zombies Ate My Roguelite (Sega Genesis)
Where to get: Romhack
Zombies Ate My Roguelite
Zombies Ate My Neighbors is great. It is also a game that lends itself well to being a rogue-lite game. This hack takes all the levels and puts them into 5 different tiers. Each time you complete a level, you progress to another random level in the next tier. You are only given one life to try and complete this game. This one is a challenge, but a fun pick-up-and-play game. If you have played Zombies Ate My Neighbors a ton and want a new challenge, try this one out!
The Legend of Banjo-Kazooie: The Jiggies of Time (N64)
Where to get: Romhack, Trailer
The Legend of B.K.
This is Banjo-Kazooie, but in the world of The Ocarina of Time. This is more than just a re-imagining, short demo to try. This game includes 9 worlds, 100 jiggies, 900 notes, 5 mambo transformations, and plenty of Easter Eggs to discover. I remember the first time I saw the trailer for this romhack, I was amazed and so excited. Playing this one is a delight. If you are a fan of the Banjo series or Ocarina of Time, this is a must-try game.
Conker’s High Rule Tail (SNES)
Where to Get: Romhack
Conker….on SNES??
I love the crude humor in Conker’s Bad Fur Day. I also know that it isn’t for everyone, just like this romhack will not be for everyone. Using Zelda: A Link to the Past as a base, this romhack creates a whole brand new game starring everyone’s favorite foul-mouthed red squirrel. The game is full of the lowbrow humor that the N64 game is known for. There are references to Zelda, Super Mario 64, Star Wars, The Simpsons, and so much more. The early stages of this romhack were difficult, but throughout new releases, it has been changed to be suitable for anyone to pick up and try.
Smash Remix (N64)
Where to get: Github, Recent Update Trailer
Smash Remix Cover
Super Smash Bros for the N64 gives me so many memories of late-night sleepovers. This romhack is extremely impressive and constantly growing as well. This romhack adds Wario, Conker, Mewtwo, Bowser, Sonic, and more. There are many new stages added as well. I first heard of this hack when I saw it added a story mode to the game, much like the one in Melee. This game is constantly having updates with a new one just coming out recently. Check out this game if you are a fan of the Smash series and you won’t be disappointed!
Paper Mario: Black Pit (N64)
Where to get: Romhack
Paper Mario: Black Pit
Yet another Rogue Lite hack, but this time for the Paper Mario series. Surprisingly, Paper Mario plays pretty well as a roguelite. You are diving deeper and deeper into the black pit. The partners and upgrades you get are random as you traverse through the game. Each run can feel unique and it motivates you to keep wanting to play. The game even has some improvements in the combat from The Thousand-Year Door. If you are a big fan of the original Paper Mario, give this one a shot!
Romhacking is a dangerous slope because there are so many great ones and you can get engrossed in the hobby. If you would like to see some more games on a future list, please let me know in the comments or stop by our Discord as well. Thanks for stopping by!