The Top 500 NES Homebrews, Vol. 6

Decades after the last licensed Nintendo Entertainment System game, NES games still get released. This list—which excludes prototypes or localizations of first-gen NES games—ranks 1,287 “NES2” titles.

Aug 23, 2022

{Note: Full RETRO subscribers can read earlier editions of the Top 500 homebrew rankings here, here, here, and here. Full subscribers gain access to all of RETRO, including national polling–driven articles The Definitive Top 100 Worst NES Games, The Definitive Top 100 Hardest NES Games, The Definitive Top 100 Best Video Game Consoles, The Definitive Top 100 Best NES Games Never Released in America, The Consensus Top 100 NES Games, The Consensus Top 100 Underrated NES Games, and The Top 100 Unreleased NES Games. You can subscribe now by clicking below. The cost is just $5/month, and you can cancel anytime.}

Introduction

Subscribers can read the Methodology and Eligibility sections of this ranking here.

Please note that a ranking of anything is by definition subjective, if only because every ranking has a creator behind it who has determined what will be measured and how. I’ve taught video games as an R1 university professor, been a journalist for 25 years, and am a professional culture critic, but none of this ensures you’ll agree with any of my judgments or that they’re “objectively” correct. Information on my background as a journalist, a critic, and an academic specializing in digital culture can be found here.

Changes in This Edition of the Ranking

New additions in this volume of the RETRO Top 500 NES Homebrews include:

The addition of 80 new NES homebrews;
the addition of a Top New Additions section to give readers a quick way to see which NES2 games new to the archive RETRO most recommends everyone try;
the addition of an Ineligible Games section (to distinguish between authentic NES2 games and original NES games that are often confused for NES2 games); and
the addition of a section for The NES Homebrew Hall of Fame.

Total Homebrew Library Size

This archive now lists 1,288 NES homebrews, making it the largest archive of its kind in the world.

This tally includes 500 ranked homebrews, 334 honorable mentions, 108 red-pinned (“Tier 3”) titles, 197 titles assessed but not tiered (see “Other Reviewed Games”), 117 “watchlisted” NES homebrews that have not yet received a full public release, and 30 library-only games that count toward total library size but are not ranked in any tier.

Of the homebrews in the four tiers identified in this article (see Ranking Key below), 276 are available as complete-in-box titles.

Review Copies

Studios or developers looking to send review copies to RETRO can arrange to do so here. The curator of the RETRO ranking owns a retroUSB AVS, and can receive new NES games as CIB, cartridge-only, digital ROM, or any combination of these forms.

If you have a link to your NES homebrew game that you’d prefer RETRO use over the one that’s been used below, use the contact form linked to above to request a change.

{Note: Use “Ctrl+F” and the italicized phrases below to find the following ranking sections.}

💮 Key

Ranking Key

💮 Top New Additions

Top 20 New Additions to the RETRO Top 500 Homebrews

💮 Action-Adventure Games (64 games)

Action-Adventure Rankings

💮 Adventure Games (28 games)

Adventure Game Rankings

💮 Anthologies (5 anthologies)

Anthology Rankings

💮 Arcade Games (87 games)

Arcade Game Rankings

💮 Art Apps (5 apps)

Art App Rankings

💮 Card / Dice Games (4 games)

Card / Dice Rankings

💮 Fighting / Brawler Games (14 games)

Fighting / Brawler Rankings

💮 Kids Games (2 games)

Kids Game Rankings

💮 Multicart Games (2 games)

Multicart Rankings

💮 Music Carts (34 carts)

Music Cart Rankings: Music (24 carts)
Music Cart Rankings: Apps (10 carts)

💮 Party Games (5 games)

Party Game Rankings

💮 Platformer Games (57 games)

Platformer Rankings

💮 Puzzle Games (50 games)

Puzzle Game Rankings

💮 Rhythm Games (9 games)

Rhythm Game Rankings

💮 Role-Playing Games (29 games)

RPG Rankings

💮 Shooter / Run n’ Gun Games (42 games)

Shooter / Run n’ Gun Rankings

💮 Simulation Games (8 games)

Simulation Game Rankings

💮 Sports / Racing Games (10 games)

Sports / Racing Game Rankings

💮 Strategy Games (8 games)

Strategy Game Rankings

💮 Tech Demos (5 demos)

Tech Demo Rankings

💮 Utilities (1 utility)

Utility Rankings

💮 Zapper / FPS Games (2 games)

Zapper / FPS Rankings

💮 FamiCom-Only Games (11 titles)

FamiCom-Only Rankings

💮 Hacks (20 hacks)

Hack Rankings

💮 Multiplayer Games (49 titles)

Multiplayer Rankings

💮 Ports (34 ports)

Port Rankings

💮 Other Reviewed Games

💮 Ineligible Games (93 titles)

Localizations (19 titles)
Prototypes (47 titles)
Reproductions (20 titles)
Special Editions (7 titles)

💮 The RETRO Homebrew Watchlist

💮 Premium Recs

Premium Edition Games’ Classic Series Recommendations

💮 The Overall Top 10 NES Homebrews (13 games)

Reviews and Gameplay Videos

💮 The NES Homebrew Hall of Fame (88 games)

Hall of Fame Games (5 games)
Current Vote Tallies (83 games)

💮 Awards

Best Composer (In-Game Music)
Best Composer (Music Carts)
Best Graphics
Best In-Game Song
Best Musical Score
Best Sound
Best Writing
Best Musical Composition

💮 Special Citations (1 game)

Kubo 3

💮 Special Thanks

💮 Dedication

Ranking Key

{Note: This section is best viewed on a desktop computer.}

🔰 = A “Top 500” (First Tier) game; the bolded number beside it is its in-genre ranking.

💠 = An “Honorable Mention” (Second Tier) NES homebrew, according to RETRO.

📍 = An “Other Noted Game” (Third Tier) NES homebrew, according to RETRO.

🔘 = An “Other Reviewed Game” (Fourth Tier) NES homebrew, according to RETRO.

🎴 = A homebrew that has at some point been available as a complete-in-box product.

🔹 = A homebrew new to the Top 500; this symbol is removed for subsequent volumes.

🔸 = A game whose ranking has changed notably in this volume due to a reassessment.

🅰️ = A game featuring adult images, situations, or themes; viewer discretion is advised.

🅿️ = A game added to Premium Edition Games’ “Classic Series” for Nintendo Switch.

🔫 = A game that requires (rather than just allowing) an NES Zapper to play properly.

📢 = Denotes forthcoming NES2 games (some of which may already exist as prototypes).

📒 = A game with a Special Citation (but only counted once toward total library size).

📕 = A NES game (localization, prototype, or reproduction) ineligible for NES2 status.

📙 = A Multiplayer game; these games are only counted once toward total library size.

📗 = A FamiCom-only game counted for total library size but ineligible for the Top 500.

📘 = An NES Hack ranked in its category but not counted toward total library size.

Top 20 New Additions to the RETRO Top 500 Homebrews

🆕 #1 | The Adventures of Panzer 2, #3 Platformer (^)
🆕 #2 | Coin World, #7 Arcade (^)
🆕 #3 | The Arm Wrestling Classic, #1 Sport (^)
🆕 #4 | Rupui, #19 Puzzle (^)
🆕 #5 | Rabbits World, #13 Action-Adventure (^)
🆕 #6 | Amazon’s Training Road, #6 Sport (^)
🆕 #7 | Street Fighter II: Champion Edition, #2 Port (^)
🆕 #8 | Tola, #25 Puzzle (^)
🆕 #9 | Pwn Adventure Z, #20 RPG (^)
🆕 #10 | Pac-Man: Championship Edition, #14 Port (^)
🆕 #11 | Tekken 2, #15 Port (^)
🆕 #12 | Swords and Runes: The Dark Tower, #21 RPG (^)
🆕 #13 | Swords and Runes, #22 RPG (^)
🆕 #14 | CORGS Simulator, #24 RPG (^)
🆕 #15 | Welcome Treasure Man, #36 Platformer (^)
🆕 #16 | Pepsiman, #19 Port (^)
🆕 #17 | Tomb Gator, #42 Platformer (^)
🆕 #18 | Pac-Man Xtreme, #HM Arcade (^)
🆕 #19 | Octopus, HM Arcade (^)
🆕 #20 | Crypto-Fascist, #38 Puzzle (^)

Action-Adventure Rankings

🔰 #1 | Dungeons & Doomknights, Artix (^)
🔰 #2 | Alfonzo’s Arctic Adventure, SBP (^)
🔰 #3 | Little Medusa, Mega Cat (^)
🔰 #4 | Trouble at 2A03, Team Disposable (^)
🔰 #5 | Alwa’s Awakening, Elden Pixels (^)
🔰 #6 | L’Abbaye des Morts, Parisoft (^)
🔰 #7 | Nix: The Paradox Relic, Huddleston (^)
🔰 #8 | Spacegulls, Morphcat (^)
🔰 #9 | Trophy, Gradual Games (^)
🔰 #10 | Battle Kid 2, retroUSB (^)
🔰 #11 | Super Bat Puncher, Morphcat (^)
🔰 #12 | The Great Gatsby, Hoey (^)
🔰 #13 | Rabbits World, Cmyksoft (^)🔹
🔰 #14 | Wolfling, Lazy Cow (^)
🔰 #15 | Orebody: Binder’s Tale, Vanderhoef (^) 🅿️
🔰 #16 | Space Raft, Raftronaut (^) 🅿️
🔰 #17 | Eyra, Second Dimension (^) 🅿️
🔰 #18 | Cheril’s Nightmares, Mojon Twins (^)
🔰 #19 | Mark of the Beast, Red Moon (^)
🔰 #20 | Battle Kid, retroUSB (^)
🔰 #21 | Adventures of Panzer, Pixelcraft (^)
🔰 #22 | Biocats, PB Games (^)
🔰 #23 | Nin Nin, Mojon Twins (^)
🔰 #24 | Cheril the Writer, Mojon Twins (^)
🔰 #25 | More Glider, retroUSB (^)
🔰 #26 | Cheril the Goddess, Mojon Twins (^)
🔰 #27 | The Wizard of Oz, Waixing (^/^)°
🔰 #28 | Yun, Mojon Twins (^)
🔰 #29 | Bootèe, Mojon Twins (^)
🔰 #30 | Project Sword, Raftronaut / Bite the Chili (^)
🔰 #31 | Tower of Turmoil, CutterCross (^)
🔰 #32 | The Mad Wizard, Sly Dog (^)
🔰 #33 | Jet-Paco, Mojon Twins (^)
🔰 #34 | Flowers in the Mirror, Waixing (^/^)
🔰 #35 | Underground Mission, Inventor (^)
🔰 #36 | Nomolos, Gradual Games (^)
🔰 #37 | Center of the Alien, Mojon Twins (^)
🔰 #38 | Saturdayman, Sunday Pistols (^)
🔰 #39 | Sir Ababol, Mojon Twins (^)
🔰 #40 | Space Foxes, Henry (^)°°
🔰 #41 | Che-Man, Mojon Twins (^)°°°
🔰 #42 | Ralph 4, Pubby (^)
🔰 #43 | Vigilante Ninja II, Fraker (^)
🔰 #44 | Filthy Kitchen, Dust Mop (^)
🔰 #45 | Hiatus Ward, Sedwave (^)
🔰 #46 | Streemerz, Faux Games (^)
🔰 #47 | Nova the Squirrel, Nova Squirrel (^)
🔰 #48 | Lala the Magical, Mojon Twins (^)
🔰 #49 | Rainbow Brite, Pixelheart (^)
🔰 #50 | Espitene, Mojon Twins (^)
🔰 #51 | Mawthorne, CrazyGroupTrio (^)
🔰 #52 | Machine Cave, Aeromangus (^)
🔰 #53 | Press Start Again, Coop (^)
🔰 #54 | The Banketh, RetroNES Games (^)
🔰 #55 | Antenna Antics, FG Soft (^)
🔰 #56 | Kuku-Ruku, Siudym (^)
🔰 #57 | The Stranger, FG Soft (^)
🔰 #58 | Almika: Star Rider, Mouse Spirit (^)
🔰 #59 | The Binding of Isaac, Nasdalack (^)
🔰 #60 | Ramen Adventure, Baldriz (^)
🔰 #61 | Press Start, Coop (^)
🔰 #62 | Wo Xiang Niao Niao, Mojon Twins (^)
🔰 #63 | The Wizard, RetroAge (^)
🔰 #64 | Claudia Adventure, Voltopt (^)

HONORABLE MENTIONS

OTHER ACTION-ADVENTURE HOMEBREWS

COMPLETE-IN-BOX GAMES

° Requires the use of an English-language patch to play. Use the UniPatcher app from the Google Play store to quickly combine any NES ROM with an “.ips” translation file.
°° Approximate ranking only (derived exclusively from available gameplay footage).
°°° Dire Job—an earlier, equally playable version of this game, with different sprites and a slightly different narrative—can be found here.

Adventure Game Rankings

HONORABLE MENTIONS

OTHER ADVENTURE HOMEBREWS

COMPLETE-IN-BOX GAMES

° The Mojon Twins’ Cheril of the Bosque extends over three separately titled ROMS: Cheril of the Bosque: Prologue; Cheril of the Bosque; and Cheril of the Bosque in the Other Bosque. A version of the game in which the protagonist is portrayed as a baby instead of a woman is called Cheril Begins, and is not counted as a separate homebrew here. Another version of the game—Ninjajar, in which the protagonist is portrayed as a ninja—can be found here, and is also not counted as a separate game (despite the presence of other altered sprites in the gameplay, as with Cheril Begins).

Anthology Rankings

(with the top games in each anthology, per RETRO rankings; only first anthologizings noted)

🔰 #1 | Action 53 #4, Various (^)°°

🥇 Gruniożerca 3
🥈 Project Blue°
🥉 Gruniożerca 2
🏅 The Cowlitz Gamers’ Lost Adventure
🏅 Wolfling
🏅 We Are Hejickle
🏅 Aspect Star N
🏅 Cheril’s Nightmares
🏅 Super Uwol
🏅 Jammin’ Honey

🔰 #2 | Action 53 #3, Various (^)

🥇 Nebs n’ Debs°
🥈 Twin Dragons
🥉 Haunted: Halloween ‘85°
🏅 Sinking Feeling
🏅 Cheril the Goddess
🏅 Filthy Kitchen
🏅 Ralph 4
🏅 Super Tilt Bro.
🏅 Lala the Magical
🏅 Karate Kick

🔰 #3 | Action 53 #2, Various (^)

🥇 Sgt. Helmet: Training Day
🥈 2048
🥉 RHDE: Furniture Fight
🏅 Super PakPak
🏅 Double Action Blaster Guys
🏅 Sir Abadol
🏅 PCB Artist
🏅 MilioNESy
🏅 Solar Wars
🏅 Love Story

🔰 #4 | Action 53 #1, Various (^)

🥇 Zooming Secretary
🥈 Lawn Mower
🥉 LAN Master
🏅 Streemerz
🏅 MineShaft
🏅 Pogo Cats
🏅 Driar
🏅 Thwaite
🏅 Russian Roulette 🅰️
🏅 Forehead Block Guy

🔰 #5 | NESDEV 2019 Compo Cart, Various (^)

🥇 Böbl
🥈 Blockage
🥉 NIN NIN
🏅 Hot Dance 2020
🏅 Bloodfall
🏅 Falling Tiles
🏅 Veggie Invaders
🏅 Super City Mayor
🏅 Save the Kuin
🏅 NNNNNN

HONORABLE MENTIONS

💠 | 3-in-1 2P Pack, Sly Dog (^)*
💠 | 2011 Midwest Gaming Classic NES Homebrew Showcase, Various (^)*
💠 | Atari Flashback Mini 7800, Haywood (^)🔹
💠 | Game On Expo Retro Championships 2015, Collectorvision (^)°°°/*
💠 | Garage Cart, Parsell / Covell (^)*
💠 | HBWC 2012, Various (^)*
💠 | MGC Arcade Pack, Tolbert (^)*

COMPLETE-IN-BOX GAMES

° Demo version.
°° Other games of particular note anthologized for the first time in this unusually stacked anthology cart include (in alphabetical order), The Alfonzo Game, Alfonzo Melee, Espitene, Euchre, Falling, Get It!, Leak or Die, Nalleland, Nim & Nom, Robo-Ninja Climb, Split Second, Star Evil, and Super Homebrew War.
°°° This 25-screen-long Sydney Hunter adventure is exclusive to this competition cart.
* 3-in-1 2P Pack includes Boombox, !CLIK! (better known as NES Virus Cleaner), Pegs, Snail Maze Game, and Tic-Tac XO; 2011 Midwest Gaming Classic NES Homebrew Showcase includes Concentration Room, LJ65, Munchie Attack, Thwaite, and Yars’ Revenge; Game On Expo Retro Championships 2015 includes Meteor Swarm, Pedal to the Metal, and a special demo edition of Sydney Hunter; Garage Cart includes Hot Seat Harry, Munchie Attack, and Solar Wars; HBWC 2012 includes Chunkout 2, NES Virus Cleaner, Seagull’s Revenge, Slappin’, and Ultimate Frogger Champion; MGC Arcade Pack includes Convention Quest, NNNNNN, Spacey McRacey, and Super Homebrew War.

Arcade Game Rankings

🔰 #1 | Sparky, Most (^)
🔰 #2 | Assimilate, Nessylum Games (^) 🅿️
🔰 #3 | XenoCreeps, Ehlers (^)
🔰 #4 | Fire and Rescue, Skyboy Games (^)
🔰 #5 | Kira Kira Star Night DX, RIKI (^)
🔰 #6 | Space Raft Arcade, Raftronaut (^)
🔰 #7 | Coin World, Cmyksoft (^)🔹
🔰 #8 | Yeah Yeah Beebis II, Mega Cat (^) 🅿️
🔰 #9 | Super Painter, Retrosouls (^)
🔰 #10 | Zooming Secretary, Shiru (^)
🔰 #11 | Blazing Rangers, Karu_gamo (^)
🔰 #12 | Cue, Most (^)
🔰 #13 | Eskimo Bob, SBP (^)
🔰 #14 | Neo Heiankyo Alien, Columbus Cir. (^)
🔰 #15 | Altercation, Scott (^)
🔰 #16 | Super Snake, HD380000 (^)
🔰 #17 | Paws N’ Play, Darthlother (^)
🔰 #18 | Get ’em Gary, Second Dimension (^)
🔰 #19 | Wart Worm Wingding, Vanderhoef (^)
🔰 #20 | Plummet Challenge, Fista Games (^)
🔰 #21 | The Cell, Most (^)
🔰 #22 | Super Crusher Fighters, FG Soft (^)
🔰 #23 | Escape From Pong, Gashlin (^)
🔰 #24 | Up the Wall, Most (^)
🔰 #25 | Carpet Shark, Fista Games (^)
🔰 #26 | Lawn Mower, Shiru (^)
🔰 #27 | Jammin’ Honey, Fraker (^)
🔰 #28 | Blob Land, Scardua (^)
🔰 #29 | Beer Slinger, Second Dimension (^)
🔰 #30 | Rooms, Manjiro (^)
🔰 #31 | Spacewalk 3030, Cramer (^)
🔰 #32 | Perfect Pair, Second Dimension (^)
🔰 #33 | I Love Polun-chan’s Rice Balls, Mook TV (^)*
🔰 #34 | Sinking Feeling, Mega Cat (^)
🔰 #35 | Get It!, Gravel Studios (^)
🔰 #36 | NES Virus Cleaner, Sly Dog (^)
🔰 #37 | Be a Pirate!, FutuRETROistic (^)
🔰 #38 | Chopper Bombs, Most (^)
🔰 #39 | Robo-Ninja Climb, Bite the Chili (^)
🔰 #40 | Germ Squashers, 8bit Evolution (^)
🔰 #41 | Ninja I & II, Elisondo (^) 🅿️
🔰 #42 | Heather the Beheader, Pewko (^)
🔰 #43 | Bombermania, Senil Data (^)
🔰 #44 | Mooooo!, Toscani (^)
🔰 #45 | Radish Field, Nice Code (^)
🔰 #46 | Micro Knight V, Siudym (^)°
🔰 #47 | Ouroboros, Scardua (^)
🔰 #48 | Immunatio, Romek RJM (^)
🔰 #49 | Blow Em’ Out, Second Dimension (^)
🔰 #50 | Turtle Party, Sherman (^)
🔰 #51 | Crap Job, Oniric (^)
🔰 #52 | FamiDepth, Oliver Twins (^)
🔰 #53 | Submarine, Dream Gear (^)
🔰 #54 | Fox Hunt, Tolerant X (^)
🔰 #55 | Wacko, Most (^)
🔰 #56 | Twelve Seconds, retroUSB (^)
🔰 #57 | Nibbles, Yerrick (^)
🔰 #58 | Super NeSnake 2, retroUSB (^)
🔰 #59 | The Grind, RNG (^)
🔰 #60 | Egg Contest, Nice Code (^)🔹
🔰 #61 | Corpse, Mojon Twins (^)°°
🔰 #62 | Alley Bat, FG Soft (^)
🔰 #63 | NESnake, Matrixz (^)
🔰 #64 | Snakky, Shiru (^)
🔰 #65 | Shrew Mouse, TWTS (^)🔹
🔰 #66 | Rocketman, Nice Code (^)

HONORABLE MENTIONS

OTHER ARCADE HOMEBREWS

COMPLETE-IN-BOX GAMES

° More commonly known as Micro Knight: Revenge of the Foul Skulls.
°° Brick Breaker is also known as Mini Brix Battle; Corpse is also known as Cheril in Cadàveriön.
°°° Available in FamiCom edition only.
* The untranslated title of this game is (in Japanese) Porun-chan no Onigiri Daisuki.

Art App Rankings

HONORABLE MENTIONS

💠 | Color a Deer, Pubby (^)
💠 | GalleryNES, Miller [No Carrier] (^)
💠 | GlitchNES, Miller [No Carrier] (^)
💠 | Graphics Editor, Yerrick (^)
💠 | Lightwall, Green (^)
💠 | NES Paint, KHS (^)
💠 | NESpix, Morphcat (^)
💠 | Paint or Draw, Fraker (^)
💠 | Palettician, RG59 (^)
💠 | Pixel Art Editor, Baraso (^)
💠 | Power Coloring, Parker / retroUSB (^)
💠 | Random Access, Miller [No Carrier] (^)

COMPLETE-IN-BOX APPS

🎴 | Power Coloring
🎴 | Turtle Paint

° This entry—and this ranking—correspond to the original NES ROM of Retro Puzzle Maker. The app has now been built out to constitute a full web-based application that, while excellent, is not (because of its form) eligible for this ranking of NES homebrews.

Card / Dice Rankings

🔰 #1 | Donsol, Rek & Devine (^)
🔰 #2 | Euchre, Fraker (^)
🔰 #3 | Freecell, Neodolphino (^)
🔰 #4 | Yacht, Scardua (^)

HONORABLE MENTIONS

💠 | Concentration Room, Yerrick (^)

OTHER CARD / DICE HOMEBREWS

📍 | Baccarat (^)🔹

COMPLETE-IN-BOX GAMES

🎴 | Freecell

Fighting / Brawler Rankings

HONORABLE MENTIONS

OTHER FIGHTING HOMEBREWS

📍 | Meet Me in the Parking Lot

COMPLETE-IN-BOX GAMES

Kids Game Rankings

🔰 #1 | Maile Penguin’s Christmas Adventure, Karikas (^)
🔰 #2 | Pair the Pets, Broke Studio (^)

HONORABLE MENTIONS

💠 | The Alphabet, Sly Dog (^)

*Perkele: Saimaa Ringed Seal’s Revenge.*

Multicart Rankings

🔰 #1 | Mojonian Tales, Mojon Twins (^)
🔰 #2 | Perkele, Donkey Games (^)°

HONORABLE MENTIONS

💠 | 4-in-1 Retro Gamepak, Hanley (^)
💠 | Geminim & Siamond, Sivak (^)

OTHER MULTICARTS

📍 | PowerPlayer 3-in-1 (^)°°

COMPLETE-IN-BOX GAMES

🎴 | 4-in-1 Retro Gamepak°°
🎴 | Geminim & Siamond
🎴 | Mojonian Tales°°°
🎴 | Perkele

° One of the three NES homebrews on the Perkele cart, Winter War, can be—but need not be—played using an NES Zapper (🔫).
°° PowerPlayer 3-in-1 includes Hanuman Quiz Game, Hanuman Typing Game, and Malaria; 4-in-1 Retro Gamepak includes E.T.: The Extraterrestrial, Fishing Challenge, Sneak n’ Peek, and Ultimate Frogger Champion, all by Kevin Hanley of KHAN Games (a publisher pronounced as the two-syllable word “KAY-HAN”, with “han” rhyming with “ban,” “ran,” or “tan”).
°°° Contains “20+” Mojon Twins games, including all of those listed in this ranking.

Music Cart Rankings: Music

🔰 #1 | Quiet, Ragonnet [Zi] (^)
🔰 #2 | Dawn Metropolis, Anamanaguchi (^)
🔰 #3 | Silicon Statue, Ragonnet [Zi] (^)
🔰 #4 | Thornby, Ragonnet [Zi] (^)
🔰 #5 | 8-Bit Music Power Final, RIKI (^)
🔰 #6 | 8-Bit Music Power, RIKI (^)
🔰 #7 | Goofy Foot, Swedish Columbia (^)
🔰 #8 | 9999 in 1, Nuclear Mushroom Boom (^)
🔰 #9 | NOFX, HeavyW8Bit (^)
🔰 #10 | Vegavox 2, Mauer (^)
🔰 #11 | Endless Fantasy, Anamanaguchi (^)
🔰 #12 | Moon8, Smith (^)
🔰 #13 | Alwa’s Awakening, Kreese / Sakamoto (^)
🔰 #14 | Project PAL, Kreese, Zabutom & Wiklund (^)
🔰 #15 | Curious Quail, Petriform (^)
🔰 #16 | 8-Bit Music Power Encore, RIKI (^)
🔰 #17 | Duck Tails, Puzzle Boys (^)
🔰 #18 | Four, Ragonnet [Zi] (^)
🔰 #19 | Power Supply, Anamanaguchi (^)
🔰 #20 | Years Behind, Retrocoders (^)°
🔰 #21 | Fie, Ragonnet [Zi] (^)
🔰 #22 | 2A03 Puritans, BitPuritans / Smith (^)
🔰 #23 | Mom My Ears Are Bleeding, Various (^)
🔰 #24 | Polygondwanaland: 2nd Edition, 5Seven (^)

Music Cart Rankings: Apps

HONORABLE MENTIONS: MUSIC

HONORABLE MENTIONS: APPS

💠 | CajoNES, Baldwin (^)
💠 | LogoNES, Miller [No Carrier] (^)
💠 | ScrollNES, Miller [No Carrier] (^)
💠 | Speech Synthesizer, Parsell (^)

OTHER MUSIC HOMEBREWS: MUSIC

OTHER MUSIC HOMEBREWS: APPS

📍 | droNES
📍 | liveNES

COMPLETE-IN-BOX MUSIC CARTS

° If played on an emulator, the emulator’s Region setting must be changed to “PAL.”
°° An NES music cart comes with an expansion audio chip so that this non-8-bit LP can be played—and heard in its original form—on an NES. See here for more details.
°°° A direct successor to (and evolution of) NRTQ, PULSAR, is intended to allow the user to sequence and synthesize sounds directly on an NES console.

Party Game Rankings

HONORABLE MENTIONS

💠 | Expedition, Mega Cat (^)
💠 | HappyNESs, Scardua (^)
💠 | Quadralords, retroUSB (^)
💠 | $how do 1000000, Scardua (^)°°

OTHER PARTY HOMEBREWS

📍 | Fireplace Bash (^)

COMPLETE-IN-BOX GAMES

° Tailgate Party is a bean bag–throwing party game that uses the NES Power Pad.
°° Requires knowledge of Portuguese—though for certain of the questions in this quiz-show NES game, advanced knowledge of Spanish will also suffice.

*Ghoul Grind: Night of the Necromancer.*

Platformer Rankings

🔰 #1 | Micro Mages, Morphcat (^)
🔰 #2 | Flea!, Lowtek Games (^)
🔰 #3 | The Adventures of Panzer 2, Pixelcraft (^)🔹
🔰 #4 | Nebs ’n Debs, Dullahan Software (^)
🔰 #5 | Project Blue, Phillips / FrankenGraphics (^)
🔰 #6 | Basse Def Adventures, Broke Studio (^)
🔰 #7 | Cowlitz’s 2nd Adventure, Kur / M-Tee (^)
🔰 #8 | Twin Dragons, Broke Studio (^)
🔰 #9 | The Void, Behr / LCM Games (^)
🔰 #10 | Cowlitz’s Lost Adventure, Kur / M-Tee (^)
🔰 #11 | Wolf Spirit, Salgueiro (^)
🔰 #12 | Rollie, Optovania (^)
🔰 #13 | Espitenen & Pimponen, Mojon Twins (^)
🔰 #14 | Shera and the 40 Thieves, CGT (^)
🔰 #15 | Ghoul Grind, WoogWorx (^)
🔰 #16 | Slow Mole, Rosenlund (^)
🔰 #17 | Hey Reset, Jacotomo (^)
🔰 #18 | Deth Complex, Moore (^)
🔰 #19 | Copter Bot, Cramer (^)
🔰 #20 | Assault on Planet Beezlbub, Moore (^)
🔰 #21 | Pinky, Axbakk Games (^)
🔰 #22 | Nessy! The NES Robot, DTG (^) 🅿️
🔰 #23 | Super Uwol, Mojon Twins (^)
🔰 #24 | Cheril in the Cave, Mojon Twins (^)
🔰 #25 | Doodle World, Peters (^) 🅿️
🔰 #26 | Rendezvous, Mojon Twins (^)
🔰 #27 | Nim & Nom, Krill (^)
🔰 #28 | Espinete Meets Ana, Mojon Twins (^)
🔰 #29 | Espinete Strikes Back, Mojon Twins (^)
🔰 #30 | Nalleland, Nallebeorn (^)
🔰 #31 | Cheril Perils Classics, Mojon Twins (^)
🔰 #32 | Battery Chad, Formula Fanboy (^)
🔰 #33 | Pinky Xmas, Axbakk (^)
🔰 #34 | Mutant Sewer Girls, Boring Kate (^)
🔰 #35 | Blickel, Vintro Studios (^)
🔰 #36 | Welcome Treasure Man, Awful Games (^)🔹
🔰 #37 | Attack of the Gummy Bears, Duel (^)
🔰 #38 | Enormous Adventures, Game Losers (^)
🔰 #39 | Petulant Pugslay’s Powerful Parades, Mojon Twins (^)
🔰 #40 | Bowels of the Beast, Moore (^)
🔰 #41 | Inversion, Kur / Red Moon (^)
🔰 #42 | Monona Ninona Pana, Mojon Twins (^)°
🔰 #43 | MineShaft, Nioreh (^)
🔰 #44 | Tomb Gator, Addolorato (^)🔹
🔰 #45 | Pogo Cats, Yggi (^)
🔰 #46 | Study Hall, Hanley (^)
🔰 #47 | Study Hall 2, retroUSB (^)
🔰 #48 | Moonglow, Yurt Fiend (^)
🔰 #49 | Driar, Adolfsson & Eriksson (^)
🔰 #50 | Platycat, Logana (^)
🔰 #51 | Lala Lah, Mojon Twins (^)°°°
🔰 #52 | Underground Adventure, Coop (^)
🔰 #53 | Falling, Tragic Muffin (^)
🔰 #54 | Falldown, Sivak (^)
🔰 #55 | I Wanna Flip the Sky, Livak (^)

HONORABLE MENTIONS

OTHER PLATFORMER HOMEBREWS

COMPLETE-IN-BOX GAMES

° Another version of this game, Baboon, has identical gameplay but different sprites.
°° This game, an unlicensed NES adaptation of Sonic the Hedgehog, extends across three discrete subgame ROMS: Sonic Mal, Sonic 2, and Sonic 3: Sonic of the Bosque.
°°° This game is a “mirror image” of Petulant Pugslay’s Powerful Parades; in Lala Lah, the player plays the former game “right side up” rather than wholly upside-down.
°°°° This game’s final boss hasn’t yet been coded, leaving the game without an ending.

Puzzle Game Rankings

HONORABLE MENTIONS

OTHER PUZZLE HOMEBREWS

COMPLETE-IN-BOX GAMES

° To play this homebrew, you will need to rename the ROM file after downloading it by removing the “.txt” extension; this will automatically convert the file to a “.nes” file.

Rhythm Game Rankings

HONORABLE MENTIONS

💠 | Hocus Pocus Hero, Tomlin / Percival (^)
💠 | Utaco, Zurashu (^)°°°

COMPLETE-IN-BOX GAMES

🎴 | 8-Bit Rhythm Land°°°°

° Supermagic Music Maker isn’t so much an NES “game” as it is an NES “experience.”
°° TRACK+FEEL II is optimized for use with the Power Pad, but can be played without it; Hocus Pocus Hero requires the use of a hacked Guitar Hero 2 guitar, and cannot be played without it.
°°° A karaoke game requiring use of a FamiCom Microphone in the second NES port.
°°°° Available in FamiCom edition only.

RPG Rankings

🔰 #1 | The Legends of Owlia, Gradual (^)
🔰 #2 | Weed N’ Stiff, CalGames (^)
🔰 #3 | Light From Within, Atarath (^)
🔰 #4 | Scourge of the Goblin King, Bite the Chili (^)
🔰 #5 | We Are Hejickle, Pubby (^)
🔰 #6 | Mystic Origins, New 8-Bit Heroes (^)
🔰 #7 | Quest Forge, Ludosity (^)
🔰 #8 | Candelabra: Estoscerro, Sly Dog (^)
🔰 #9 | Chaos Between Realms, VGU (^)
🔰 #10 | Adventures of Eldorin, Outlaw Bits (^)
🔰 #11 | Just a Game, Jacotomo (^)
🔰 #12 | 1000 Stars, Vufka (^)
🔰 #13 | Paws of the West, Pigeonaut (^)
🔰 #14 | Steins Gate, MAGES (^)°
🔰 #15 | Stellarator, McKinley (^)
🔰 #16 | No Good Choice, Veremenko (^)
🔰 #17 | File Fixers, Scardua (^)
🔰 #18 | Time Survivor, Tinsley (^)
🔰 #19 | Black Box Challenge, Sly Dog (^)
🔰 #20 | Pwn Adventure Z, Vector 35 (^)🔹
🔰 #21 | Swords and Runes III, Sole Goose (^)
🔰 #22 | Swords and Runes: The Dark Tower, Sole Goose (^)🔹
🔰 #23 | Swords and Runes, Sole Goose (^)🔹
🔰 #24 | CORGS Simulator, Burke /Files (^)🔹
🔰 #25 | Eternal Prelude, Rustocrat (^)
🔰 #26 | The Paths of Bridewell, ZKIP (^)
🔰 #27 | Roguelore, Scardua (^)
🔰 #28 | Inherent Smile, Calima (^)
🔰 #29 | To the Ends of the Earth, RinRem01 (^)

HONORABLE MENTIONS

💠 | An Elf’s Tale, Bardsley (^)
💠 | Page Turner, Ferret Hall (^)
💠 | Shadow Animus, Chronicler of Legends (^)
💠 | Shokan Doro, Gonzalez (^)

OTHER RPG HOMEBREWS

📍 | The Adventures of Lex & Grim (^)
📍 | First Light’s Cry
📍 | Monster Slayer (^)

COMPLETE-IN-BOX GAMES

° Often stylized as “Steins;Gate” [sic].

Shooter / Run n’ Gun Rankings

🔰 #1 | Astro Ninja Man, Columbus Cir. (^)
🔰 #2 | Star Keeper, 87 Arts (^)
🔰 #3 | Blade Buster, High Level Challenge (^)
🔰 #4 | Haradius Zero, Neodolphino (^)
🔰 #5 | Haratyler, Impact Soft (^)
🔰 #6 | NeMULEsis, Vanderhoef (^)
🔰 #7 | Aspect Star N, Nicole Express (^)
🔰 #8 | Mine Mayhem, FG Soft (^)
🔰 #9 | Godzilla: King of Monsters, FG Soft (^)
🔰 #10 | Sgt. Helmet: Training Day, Mojon Twins (^)
🔰 #11 | Copper Jacket, Monsoon Studios (^)
🔰 #12 | D’veel’ng, Mojon Twins (^)
🔰 #13 | Gold Guardian Gun Girl, GoodTune (^)
🔰 #14 | Cheril the Nine, Mojon Twins (^)
🔰 #15 | The Rise of Amondus, Sly Dog (^)
🔰 #16 | Star Versus, Dust Mop (^)
🔰 #17 | Bat Lizard Bonanza, Vanderhoef (^)
🔰 #18 | Mega Meghan, Mojon Twins (^)
🔰 #19 | Sgt. Helmet: Commando, Mojon Twins (^)
🔰 #20 | Encuera Women, Mojon Twins (^)°
🔰 #21 | Touhou Rououmu, Kyoske (^)
🔰 #22 | F-22, Inventor (^)
🔰 #23 | MultiDefender, Tvoybro (^)
🔰 #24 | Vegetablets Go, Tulip House (^)
🔰 #25 | Rekt, FG Soft (^)
🔰 #26 | DABG, Hoffman (^)
🔰 #27 | Spook-o’-Tron, Sole Goose (^)
🔰 #28 | Mermay’s Den, Mihoshi (^)
🔰 #29 | Drunk Time Traveler’s Fiancée, 8BZ (^)
🔰 #30 | Troll Burner, New 8-Bit Heroes (^)
🔰 #31 | Thwaite, Yerrick (^)
🔰 #32 | Chrono Knight, Artix (^)
🔰 #33 | Sweethearts, Zhamul (^)
🔰 #34 | Spirit Impel, Passe Gaming (^)
🔰 #35 | Improbability Fighter, Scardua (^)
🔰 #36 | CYO, Nemesys (^)
🔰 #37 | Lunar Limit, Pubby (^)
🔰 #38 | T*Gun, Crisafulli (^)
🔰 #39 | Super PakPak, AOH Games (^)
🔰 #40 | Bandana, Most (^)
🔰 #41 | Zombie Night, Most (^)

HONORABLE MENTIONS

OTHER SHOOTER HOMEBREWS

COMPLETE-IN-BOX GAMES

Simulation Game Rankings

HONORABLE MENTIONS

° This game requires both a Power Pad and a Power Glove.
°° Only the first two “rooms” in this game have been completed (the “basement” and the “living room”). The remaining two rooms can be viewed but are not fully playable.
°°° A conversation/dating simulation game with text entirely in Japanese. An English patch or intermediate reading knowledge of Japanese is needed to play this homebrew.

*Gotta Protectors: Amazon’s Running Diet.*

Sports / Racing Game Rankings

HONORABLE MENTIONS

OTHER SPORTS / RACING HOMEBREWS

📍 | Box & Wrestle (^)
📍 | Caged Fury
📍 | Soccer of the World (^)🔹

COMPLETE-IN-BOX GAMES

° Offers a substantial Adventure game component as well as a bowling game.

Strategy Game Rankings

HONORABLE MENTIONS

💠 | Guardian 5, Maaskant (^)

COMPLETE-IN-BOX GAMES

🎴 | Armed for Battle
🎴 | Galactic Ascension
🎴 | Tower Defense 1990

° The title of this game has been mistranslated from Chinese, possibly as “Fighting Pirates” (erroneously transliterated as “Fated Pirate”). The correct title (“对抗海盗”) is Against the Pirates; the protagonist is in each stage fighting off hordes of marauders. Note that you input your ship’s movement in a very unusual way—via the Start button.

Tech Demo Rankings

HONORABLE MENTIONS

💠 | Rotozoom, FG Soft (^)
💠 | Sayoonara, Covell (^)

OTHER TECH DEMO HOMEBREWS

📍 | Super Stalin Bros. (^)

COMPLETE-IN-BOX DEMOS

🎴 | Bad Apple

Utility Rankings

🔰 #1 | ConnectedNES, Weil (^)

HONORABLE MENTIONS

OTHER UTILITY HOMEBREWS

📍 | Brainf*ck Interpreter (^)
📍 | Power Glove DevKit
📍 | Social Media Bros.

Zapper / FPS Rankings

{Note: Games with a “🔫” icon after them require the use of an NES Zapper. The remaining games are first-person shooters (FPS) or Zapper games that can be played with a controller.}

🔰 #1 | Shark, Most (^)
🔰 #2 | Super Russian Roulette, Reitano (^) 🅰️🔫

HONORABLE MENTIONS

OTHER ZAPPER HOMEBREWS

📍 | Blastered Cats 1K (^) 🔫
📍 | Zap Ping 🔫

COMPLETE-IN-BOX GAMES

🎴 | Super Russian Roulette

° Requires the use of an Oculus Rift as well as an NES and NES Zapper. See the link following the game for an explanation of the game’s mechanics and synchronization.

FamiCom-Only Rankings

{Note: This section contains games only available as a FamiCom cart. FamiCom homebrews that have been made available as NES-compatible ROMs are ranked above by genre. Because of the difficulty in accessing these carts, the rankings below are only an approximation based on game descriptions, news articles, screenshots, longplays, reviews, and developer interviews. These games are not counted toward the RETRO Top 500, but are counted toward the total library of this archive. If or when any of these games are ported to the NES or become legally made ROMs, the game(s) in question will be moved to the RETRO Top 500 rankings, above.}

📗 | 🔰 #1 | Cross-Strait Independence, ITG (^)°°°
📗 | 🔰 #2 | Ilevan, Tulip House (^)
📗 | 🔰 #3 | Hungry Ghost Night, ITG (^)
📗 | 🔰 #4 | F-Θ (F-THETA), Little Sound (^) 🅰️
📗 | 🔰 #5 | Utakata Synopsis, Little Sound (^) 🅰️
📗 | 🔰 #6 | Dragon Boat Festival, ITG (^)
📗 | 🔰 #7 | Chinese New Years Adventure, ITG (^)
📗 | 🔰 #8 | Peace, Love, Trippy Club, ITG (^)
📗 | 🔰 #9 | Nearly Eastern Story, Jiyugiga (^)
📗 | 🔰 #10 | NES Rocky Theme, Habit Soft (^)
📗 | 🔰 #11 | Pirate Pop OST, Dadako (^)

HONORABLE MENTIONS

📗 | 💠 | DENDYCompo II, 8081 Netlabel (^)

OTHER FAMICOM-ONLY HOMEBREWS

📗 | 📍 | Southern Taiwanese Haunted House (^)
📗 | 📍 | Leopard Cat (^)
📗 | 📍 | Piss the Fish (^)°°°°

FORTHCOMING FAMICOM-ONLY HOMEBREWS

📗 | 📢 | Fighting HRD, Impact Soft (^)🔹
📗 | 📢 | HaraForce, Impact Soft 🔹
📗 | 📢 | Hot Pot Runs, FC Gamer (^)🔹

FAMICOM-ONLY PORTS AWAITING ENGLISH TRANSLATION

📗 | ⚙️ | Pokémon 4-in-1, Martian Electronics (^)🔹
📗 | ⚙️ | Pokémon Crystal, Mars (^)🔹
📗 | ⚙️ | Pokémon Diamond I, Jncota (^)🔹
📗 | ⚙️ | Pokémon Diamond II, Jncota (^)🔹
📗 | ⚙️ | Pokémon Gold, Mars (^)🔹
📗 | ⚙️ | Pokémon Leaf Green I, Hengge (^)🔹
📗 | ⚙️ | Pokémon Leaf Green II, Hengge (^)🔹
📗 | ⚙️ | Pokémon Leaf Green III, Hengge (^)🔹
📗 | ⚙️ | Pokémon Ruby I, Hengge (^)🔹
📗 | ⚙️ | Pokémon Ruby II, Hengge (^)🔹
📗 | ⚙️ | Pokémon Ruby III, Hengge (^)🔹
📗 | ⚙️ | Pokémon Sapphire, NJ (^)🔹

COMPLETE-IN-BOX GAMES

° Available in FamiCom edition only.
°° You can watch some gameplay footage of this game at this link.
°°° This appears to be the same game as Never Say Die, whose website is at this link.
°°°° RETRO has not yet had the opportunity to review this FamiCom homebrew.

Hack Rankings

{Note: There’s a fine line between the categories below, which—to be clear—are not arranged by value. Some gamers prefer hacks that are essentially new games, while others want hacks to be games they already love that have been significantly improved somehow. There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to what a “hack” should achieve. Below, RETRO ranks hacks in its Top 20 on the basis of (a) their quality, cross-indexed with (b) how close they are to being original homebrews (the focus of this archive). Because of the difficulty of ranking hanks, the lists below also use numeric emojis to indicate how many experts of seventeen consulted—see the list below—ranked the hack in question as being among the best on the NES. Note that there are more than 1,000 NES hacks, so even being named by two or three experts is striking.}

Category A Hacks: Top 20 Original-Homebrew Equivalents

🔰 #1 | 9 | Mario Adventure (^)
🔰 #2 | 6 | Metroid: Rogue Dawn (^)
🔰 #3 | 5 | Super Mario Bros. 3mix (^)
🔰 #4 | 3 | Dragoon X Omega II (^)°
🔰 #5 | 4 | Deadpool (^)°
🔰 #6 | 4 | Mega Man in the Mushroom Kingdom (^)°°
🔰 #7 | 1 | The Legend of Iowa (^) 🅰️
🔰 #8 | 1 | Dragoon X Omega (^)°
🔰 #9 | 5 | The Legend of Zelda: Outlands (^)
🔰 #10 | 6 | Castlevania: The Holy Relics (^)
🔰 #11 | 4 | Extra Mario Bros. (^)°°
🔰 #12 | 6 | Castlevania: Chorus of Mysteries (^)
🔰 #13 | 3 | Beatles: Adventures in Pepperland (^)°
🔰 #14 | 3 | The Legend of Link (^)
🔰 #15 | 3 | Super Mario Bros. Unlimited Deluxe (^)
🔰 #16 | 3 | Super Mario Ultimate (^)°
🔰 #17 | 1 | Byte’s Adventure (^)°°
🔰 #18 | 2 | Legend of Zelda: Link’s Shadow (^)
🔰 #19 | 6 | Mega Man 4: Minus Infinity (^)°°
🔰 #20 | 3 | Mega Man 2: No Constancy (^)

Category A Hacks: Original-Homebrew Equivalents Honorable Mentions

💠 | 1 | Castlevania: Castlevania 5 Legacy
💠 | 1 | The Legend of Zelda: The Trial of Courage
💠 | 1 | Mega Man: Limbo Edition
💠 | 1 | Pony Quest 🔹
💠 | 1 | Puresabe Kirby’s Adventure
💠 | 1 | Shin Zelda Densetsu Final
💠 | 1 | Spaceweed (^)°
💠 | 1 | TetrisGYM (^)
💠 | 1 | Zelda II: The Adventure of Link 2
💠 | 1 | Zelda II: Amida’s Curse
💠 | 1 | Zelda II: Part 2

Category B Hacks: Dramatic Variations of Existing Games

📘 | 🟥 | 2 | Mega Man: The New Lands
📘 | 🟥 | 2 | Rockman Claw
📘 | 🟥 | 2 | Rockman Gaiden
📘 | 🟥 | 2 | Super Mario Bros. Special
📘 | 🟥 | 2 | Challenging Lolo
📘 | 🟥 | 1 |Challenging Lolo 2
📘 | 🟥 | 1 | Final Fantasy ++: World of Chaos
📘 | 🟥 | 1 | Guardian Legend: Secret Edition
📘 | 🟥 | 1 | Jackal 2
📘 | 🟥 | 1 | Kirby’s Adventure: Star Rod Scuffle
📘 | 🟥 | 1 | The Legend of Zelda: Winter Solstice
📘 | 🟥 | 1 | Mega Man: Mega Mari
📘 | 🟥 | 1 | Mega Man 4: Voyage
📘 | 🟥 | 1 | Rockman 3: Burst Chaser
📘 | 🟥 | 1 | Rockman 4: Burst Chaser x Airsliding
📘 | 🟥 | 1 | Super Mario Bros. 2: Legend of the Blob
📘 | 🟥 | 1 | Super Mario Bros. 3: Rainbow Realms 2
📘 | 🟥 | 1 | Super Pitfall: 30th Anniversary Edition

Category C Hacks: Dramatic Amendments to Existing Games

📘 | 🟧 | 3 | Castlevania: Blood Moon
📘 | 🟧 | 3 | Mega Man: Mega Man Reloaded
📘 | 🟧 | 3 | Mega Man 2: Rockman CX
📘 | 🟧 | 2 | Final Fantasy: Ultra Champion Edition
📘 | 🟧 | 2 | The Legend of Zelda: Perils of Darkness
📘 | 🟧 | 2 | Metroid Deluxe
📘 | 🟧 | 2 | Metroid: Mother
📘 | 🟧 | 1 | Adventure Island 3: The Lost Isles
📘 | 🟧 | 1 | Castlevania: Overflow Darkness
📘 | 🟧 | 1 | Castlevania II: Redaction
📘 | 🟧 | 1 | The Legend of Zelda Randomizer
📘 | 🟧 | 1 | Mega Man: Return of Wily
📘 | 🟧 | 1 | Mega Man IV: Gadget Master
📘 | 🟧 | 1 | Remix of Tiny Toons Adventures
📘 | 🟧 | 1 | Rockman 2000
📘 | 🟧 | 1 | Rockman EX
📘 | 🟧 | 1 | Rush n’ Attack G
📘 | 🟧 | 1 | Super Mario Bros. DX
📘 | 🟧 | 1 | Super Mario Bros. 3: Chaos Control
📘 | 🟧 | 1 | Zelda II: Redux
📘 | 🟧 | 1 | Zelda II: Shadow of Night

Category D Hacks: Primarily Cosmetic Alterations to Existing Games

📘 | 🟨 | 3 | Mother: 25th Anniversary Edition
📘 | 🟨 | 3 | Sonic the Hedgehog°
📘 | 🟨 | 3 | Tecmo Super Bowl: Current NFL Season
📘 | 🟨 | 2 | Duck Tales 2: New Journey
📘 | 🟨 | 2 | Super Mario Fantasy Adventure°
📘 | 🟨 | 1 | Adventures of Lolo: The Quest of Lala
📘 | 🟨 | 1 | The All-New? Punch-Out!!!
📘 | 🟨 | 1 | Batman: Assassin’s Creed
📘 | 🟨 | 1 | Batman: Justice
📘 | 🟨 | 1 | Bomber Mario°
📘 | 🟨 | 1 | Captain America: The Winter Soldier°
📘 | 🟨 | 1 | Cute Zelda
📘 | 🟨 | 1 | Donkey Kong Redux
📘 | 🟨 | 1 | Hyrule Warriors°
📘 | 🟨 | 1 | Kirby’s Halloween Adventure
📘 | 🟨 | 1 | The Legend of Banjo°°
📘 | 🟨 | 1 | The Legend of Zelda DX
📘 | 🟨 | 1 | Mega Man IV: Maverick Revenge
📘 | 🟨 | 1 | Mega Man Redux
📘 | 🟨 | 1 | Mega Man Remastered
📘 | 🟨 | 1 | Metroid: Dark Alliance°
📘 | 🟨 | 1 | Metroid: Incursion
📘 | 🟨 | 1 | Monster Party: Parody World Revisited
📘 | 🟨 | 1 | R-Type EX+°
📘 | 🟨 | 1 | Royal Flush: Princess Side Story°
📘 | 🟨 | 1 | Super Smash Bros.
📘 | 🟨 | 1 | Rick & Morty (^)°

Category E Hacks: Alterations to Make Existing Games Easier

📘 | 🟩 | 1 | Batman: Easy Version
📘 | 🟩 | 1 | Kid Icarus: Retold
📘 | 🟩 | 1 | Mega Man Simplified
📘 | 🟩 | 1 | Metroid + Saving
📘 | 🟩 | 1 | Ninja Gaiden III: Restored
📘 | 🟩 | 1 | Recca: Pure
📘 | 🟩 | 1 | Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (Easy)
📘 | 🟩 | 1 | Swamp Thing: Easy
📘 | 🟩 | 1 | Wolverine: Easy Version

Category F Hacks: Expansions of One-Player Games to Co-Op Games

📘 | 🟦 | 2 | Super Mario Bros.: 2P (2)
📘 | 🟦 | 1 | Batman Bros: Co-Op (1)°
📘 | 🟦 | 1 | Duck Tales 2: 2P (1)
📘 | 🟦 | 1 | Mighty Final Fight: Ultimate Confrontation (1)
📘 | 🟦 | 1 | New Ghostbusters II: 2P (1)

Category G: The Overall Top 20 NES Hacks According to Experts

📘 | 🟪 | 9 | Mario Adventure
📘 | 🟪 | 6 | Castlevania: Chorus of Mysteries
📘 | 🟪 | 6 |

The Top 500 NES Homebrews, Vol. 6

Decades after the last licensed Nintendo Entertainment System game, NES games still get released. This list—which excludes prototypes or localizations of first-gen NES games—ranks 1,287 “NES2” titles.

Introduction

Changes in This Edition of the Ranking

Total Homebrew Library Size

Review Copies

Table of Contents

Ranking Key

Top 20 New Additions to the RETRO Top 500 Homebrews

Action-Adventure Rankings

HONORABLE MENTIONS

OTHER ACTION-ADVENTURE HOMEBREWS

COMPLETE-IN-BOX GAMES

Adventure Game Rankings

HONORABLE MENTIONS

OTHER ADVENTURE HOMEBREWS

COMPLETE-IN-BOX GAMES

Anthology Rankings

HONORABLE MENTIONS

COMPLETE-IN-BOX GAMES

Arcade Game Rankings

HONORABLE MENTIONS

OTHER ARCADE HOMEBREWS

COMPLETE-IN-BOX GAMES

Art App Rankings

HONORABLE MENTIONS

COMPLETE-IN-BOX APPS

Card / Dice Rankings

HONORABLE MENTIONS

OTHER CARD / DICE HOMEBREWS

COMPLETE-IN-BOX GAMES

Fighting / Brawler Rankings

HONORABLE MENTIONS

OTHER FIGHTING HOMEBREWS

COMPLETE-IN-BOX GAMES

Kids Game Rankings

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Multicart Rankings

HONORABLE MENTIONS

OTHER MULTICARTS

COMPLETE-IN-BOX GAMES

Music Cart Rankings: Music

Music Cart Rankings: Apps

HONORABLE MENTIONS: MUSIC

HONORABLE MENTIONS: APPS

OTHER MUSIC HOMEBREWS: MUSIC

OTHER MUSIC HOMEBREWS: APPS

COMPLETE-IN-BOX MUSIC CARTS

Party Game Rankings

HONORABLE MENTIONS

OTHER PARTY HOMEBREWS

COMPLETE-IN-BOX GAMES

Platformer Rankings

HONORABLE MENTIONS

OTHER PLATFORMER HOMEBREWS

COMPLETE-IN-BOX GAMES

Puzzle Game Rankings

HONORABLE MENTIONS

OTHER PUZZLE HOMEBREWS

COMPLETE-IN-BOX GAMES

Rhythm Game Rankings

HONORABLE MENTIONS

COMPLETE-IN-BOX GAMES

RPG Rankings

HONORABLE MENTIONS

OTHER RPG HOMEBREWS

COMPLETE-IN-BOX GAMES

Shooter / Run n’ Gun Rankings

HONORABLE MENTIONS

OTHER SHOOTER HOMEBREWS

COMPLETE-IN-BOX GAMES

Simulation Game Rankings

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Sports / Racing Game Rankings

HONORABLE MENTIONS

OTHER SPORTS / RACING HOMEBREWS

COMPLETE-IN-BOX GAMES

Strategy Game Rankings

HONORABLE MENTIONS

COMPLETE-IN-BOX GAMES