The world Health Organization (WHO), a specialized agency of the United Nations concerned with international public health, states that being transgender is no longer classified as a mental illness. There is nothing wrong with it, and they apparently had it wrong for ages. In the newest version of the ICD, the WHO "has removed trans-related identities from a list of mental disorders, reclassifying them under 'Conditions Related to Sexual Health'. The World… Read more
Retro Fresh! 👾
Interview with Douglas from Limited Run Games
For those that don't know Limited Run Games [LRG] is a hot and young game developer taking the video game collecting hobby to a completely new level. In a nutshell, they do this by publishing games once only available on digital format, or older games otherwise lost in the sands of time. The catch is how limited these games actually are. They usually print anywhere between 3 and 5 thousand copies of… Read more
No NES for Pirate Bay co-founder
Tough break guy. Following his arrest last year, Pirate Bay co-founder Fredrik Neij is now serving time in a Swedish prison for his involvement with the controversial file-sharing site. Now, it's come to light that Neij's request for a Nintendo Entertainment System to play as he serves out his year-long sentence has been denied. Swedish news publication expressen.se reports that Neij's request for the 8-bit console was shut down, but not because… Read more
My Arcade Cabinet
If you are anything like me you grew up in the Arcades. It may be hard to believe for the younger generation but yes, arcades were popular at one point in time. It was not uncommon for me and my friends to drop $10.00 or more of our allowance each weekend on the monster 4 player arcade machine known as X-Men. Maybe you have dreamed of bringing the arcade to your home… Read more
Wolfenstein 3D (Atari Jaguar)
Wolfenstein 3D (Atari Jaguar) - Leftover Culture Review The Leftover Culture Review is premiering on Retro-Replay! And to celebrate, we wanted to start out by Schtompfing Nazi arsch im spiel WOlfenstein 3D fur die Atari Jaguar. http://blip.tv/leftover-culture-review/wolfenstein-3d-atari-jaguar-leftover-culture-review-6311117 LOCR Producer: When talking about first person shooters for the Jaguar, most peoples first thoughts are Alien vs Predator or Doom, and the Jaguar did have a great port of Doom, but with so many… Read more
New Super Nintendo game: Super Road Blaster
I'm Matthias Nagler and have recently released a new game for the SNES. It's an unlicensed port of a 1986 Laserdisc arcade game, the first full-motion movie game and the biggest game on the Super Nintendo yet at 6320 Mbit. The game is called Super Road Blaster and uses a special enhancement device called the MSU-1 that enables CD quality audio and a vast amount of storage space on the SNES. After… Read more
Retrode 2: A Retro Game Adapter For Computers
A pretty neat solution for anyone looking for a small and portable box that enables you to hook up Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo Controllers and game cartridges up to your computer for easy play. it plays through legal emulation, so if you feel uncomfortable scrounging the internet for grey area roms, load up your old school carts and have a ball. This is a pretty neat device, and can easily get… Read more
Video Game Soap – (NES Pad)
I stumbled across something pretty cool today on the net, and decided to share it with you guys. This chick Allison from Dirty Ass Soaps crafted a 1:1 scale look a like NES controller pad out of nothing but soap. Yes, you heard right, soap. Dirty Ass Soaps (cool name I know) NES controller is the first Retro Gaming project but hopefully not the last. One other really cool feature is, unlike… Read more
Interviews 🎤
Exclusive Interview with Mustin of The OneUps
When it comes to video game bands, The OneUps have been doing this longer than most. Their official site says they have been performing since their first show in 2002, and over the years they have played events like PAX, MAGFest, and GDC while building one of the most recognizable sounds in live VGM. Their catalog on Bandcamp stretches from Volume 1 all the way to later releases like Volume 4, Arkadia… Read more
Interview: Developer Gridattack on Super Mario Kart Horizons
Super Mario Kart Horizons is one of the most ambitious ROM hacks in recent years, reimagining the classic SNES racer with twenty brand new tracks, four custom battle maps, an original soundtrack, and presentation elements like a custom manual and box art. The project, available at RomHacking.net and RomHackPlaza, represents the culmination of over a decade of tinkering, iteration, and dedication from its creator, Gridattack. Horizons has also been the subject of… Read more
Exclusive Interview with The Arkadian Ahead of RetroGameCon in Syracuse
The Arkadian was born in 2015 as the brainchild of Jon O’Neal, a musician with a passion for both heavy rock and the timeless soundtracks of video games. Influenced by artists like Stemage, Viking Guitar, Mega Beardo, and Master Sword, he began crafting arrangements that fused 70s and 80s-inspired metal with the melodies gamers grew up with. What started as solo experiments in a basement studio quickly grew into something bigger... a… Read more
Interview with Southbird – Creator of Super Mario Bros. 3Mix
When people talk about the greatest ROM hacks ever made, Super Mario Bros. 3Mix almost always comes up. Created by Southbird, this hack was more than just a simple remix of Nintendo’s NES classic... it became a sprawling tribute to Mario’s entire history. 3Mix included new mechanics like gravity flips, Yoshi integration, secret star coins, alternate exits, and even bosses and themes inspired by later entries such as Super Mario World and… Read more
VomitroN Interview: NES Metal Covers, Gaming Roots, and the Future of 8-Bit Metal
When it comes to fusing heavy metal with the 8-bit sounds of classic gaming, few names resonate louder than VomitroN. The project is the brainchild a Massachusetts-based musician, producer, and lifelong gamer whose work has turned the nostalgic bleeps of the Nintendo Entertainment System into sprawling metal epics. What started as an experiment in the late nineties while playing Contra in a college dorm became a full-blown passion project, and by the… Read more
Interview with LetsTalkGames / xMANGRAVYx
The Super Mario World hacking scene is filled with passion projects, but few creators have managed to balance accessibility, creativity, and ambition quite like xMANGRAVYx, the driving force behind LetsTalkGames. I first came across his work through Castlemania II, a gothic and atmospheric sequel that brought Castlevania inspired storytelling into the Mario universe. That game opened my eyes to how far a ROM hack could push the SMW engine. The final boss… Read more
Emulator News 📰
VisualBoyAdvance-M Git Update (September 22, 2026)
VisualBoyAdvance-M Git (2026/09/22) is a Super Game Boy Color/Advance emulator available for Windows, Linux, and Mac. This release includes updates such as dropping _Float16 support on riscv64, ceasing the build of the DLSS NR Vulkan layer, and linking static MoltenVK dependencies. New additions include shaderc, glslang, and Vulkan to the dependency lists, and Metal DLSS NR support for macOS. Linux DLSS NR has also been fixed. Users can find information on the… Read more
FB Neo Git (September 22, 2026)
FB Neo Git (2026/09/22) is a newly compiled emulator for arcade games and select consoles, built on previous versions of FinalBurn and MAME. The latest changelog includes various updates, fixes for issues #2752 and #2754, improvements to darkseal, and modifications in d_megadrive.cpp, d_nes.cpp, and d_ngp.cpp. Users can download this update from the provided source link. FB Neo Git (2026/09/22) has been compiled. FinalBurn Neo serves as an emulator for arcade games and… Read more
DOSBox-X Git Update (September 22, 2026)
DOSBox-X Git (2026/09/22) is an updated version of DOSBox, designed to emulate Intel x86 PCs for running legacy MS-DOS games on modern operating systems like Windows and Linux. The latest changelog includes fixes such as preventing crashes during specific operations, resetting MSCDEX and drive allocations on BIOS boot for better IMGMOUNT command functionality, and addressing mouse input issues caused by recent PS/2 changes. Additionally, it implements a flag to mitigate problems when… Read more
PadForge Version 4.5.2
PadForge v4.5.2 has been released as a modern controller mapping utility for Windows. It allows users to map any controller, keyboard, or mouse to emulate virtual Xbox 360, DualShock 4, custom DirectInput, or MIDI controllers. This is accomplished through ViGEmBus, vJoy, and Windows MIDI Services, making the devices appear as real hardware to games and applications. For details on the changes in this release, users can refer to the changelog on GitHub.… Read more
Ymir Repository Update (September 21, 2026)
The Ymir Git emulator for Sega Saturn was released on September 21, 2026. It's in progress and allows loading games from various file formats, automatic BIOS detection, and region switching. It supports two players with customizable keybindings and features like save states, rewinding, and turbo speed. A backup memory manager helps import/export saves. The update includes several fixes for the D3D12 renderer, VDP issues, and game crashes, along with improvements in documentation.… Read more
Xenia Git Update (September 21, 2026)
Xenia Git (2026/09/21) has been compiled as an experimental Xbox 360 emulator, although it does not yet run games. Recent updates in the changelog include the addition of missing exports and parameter names, as well as fixes for GPU issues related to tiled resolve offsets and sample layout for host depth copies. The ZPD has also been rewritten as a running sample counter. For further details, the latest version can be downloaded… Read more
Editorial Reviews 🌟
Super Mario Kart – Horizons SNES Romhack Review | The True Sequel Fans Deserved
What if Super Mario Kart got the sequel we always dreamed of on the SNES? Horizons delivers 20 new tracks, new music, and pure nostalgia. From grassy plains to abandoned mines, Super Mario Kart – Horizons takes the SNES classic to new places. It feels like Mario Kart 2.0… and you can play it today! Super Mario Kart – Horizons: The Romhack That Feels Like a True Sequel. Watch the video or… Read more
Smoked Fish and Cabbage Review – A Beginner Friendly Kaizo Journey
The Super Mario World hacking community has produced everything from sprawling cinematic adventures to bite sized experimental projects. Smoked Fish and Cabbage, created by LetsTalkGames and the coder known as xMANGRAVYx, stands out as a compact yet polished introduction to the Kaizo style. Released in July 2023, the hack is short by design with seven carefully crafted levels, but within that small footprint it manages to deliver challenge, variety, and accessibility in… Read more
Castlemania II Review – A Dark and Ambitious Super Mario World Hack
The Super Mario World hacking scene has always thrived on experimentation, but few projects push the envelope as boldly as Castlemania II, created by LetsTalkGames and coder xMANGRAVYx. Released in July 2025, this sequel builds upon last year’s Castlemania with even more ambition, blending Super Mario World’s platforming with Castlevania’s gothic spirit. The result is a hack that feels familiar in its controls but completely fresh in its tone and structure. From… Read more
Super Mario Bros. 3Mix Review and longplay – Southbird’s Masterpiece ROM Hack
When it comes to ambitious ROM hacks, few projects can match the scale and polish of Super Mario Bros. 3Mix, created by the talented developer Southbird. Released more than a decade ago (2014), 3Mix is not simply a reworking of Super Mario Bros. 3 but a complete overhaul that pays tribute to Mario’s past, present, and even future. The hack introduces new mechanics, new worlds, and a staggering amount of secrets while… Read more
The Crow (NES ROM Hack) Review – Pacnsac Games Turns Batman Into a Gothic Classic
Pacnsac Games, the prolific ROM hacker known as pacnsacdave, has built a name for transforming beloved NES titles into something wholly new while staying true to the spirit of retro gaming. In March 2020 he released The Crow, a complete hack of Sunsoft’s Batman: The Video Game. Rather than a simple cosmetic swap, this project reimagines the 1994 cult film starring Brandon Lee as if it had received its own 8 bit… Read more
Review and Longplay: Mr. Gimmick 2 NES ROM Hack by pacnsacdave
When you talk about hidden treasures on the Nintendo Entertainment System, few games are as respected and mysterious as Mr. Gimmick. Released in 1992 by Sunsoft, this platformer was known for its stunning physics, demanding level design, and a soundtrack that pushed the NES sound chip to its limits. While it never reached wide audiences outside Japan and Scandinavia, it has become a cult favorite among retro enthusiasts. Fans have been asking… Read more
Satire & Humor 🤡
Nintendo Wants You to Spend $150 on Mario Galaxy Again, and You Absolutely Will
Nintendo has announced the boldest, most innovative move in gaming history: charging you up to two hundred dollars for the privilege of replaying a pair of Wii games you already own. Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 are officially coming to the Switch 2, and the bundle clocks in at a cool $150, edging toward $200 once you factor in collector’s editions, amiibo, and whatever random plastic accessory they force… Read more
Childhood Ruined: Mario Was Always Punching Yoshi in the Head
An Innocent Gesture with a Dark Twist For more than two decades, fans of Super Mario World believed Mario was simply pointing forward when Yoshi stuck out his tongue. It looked playful and harmless. Mario gave the signal, Yoshi obeyed, and the duo worked together as partners. That illusion shattered in 2017, when Nintendo veteran Shigefumi Hino, the designer who created Yoshi, revealed that the original concept was very different. According to… Read more
Every Controller I Have Smashed In Rage, Ranked By The Quality Of The Meltdown
Every Controller I Have Smashed In Rage, Ranked By The Quality Of The Meltdown There are difficult games, and then there are the ones that melt your brain until the only solution is to weaponize the nearest controller. We tell ourselves it’s just a game, but anyone who has stared down Alma in Ninja Gaiden Black, crawled across spikes in Celeste, or been betrayed by the blue shell in Mario Kart Wii… Read more
Leonardo DiCaprio Refuses to Play Final Fantasy IX After It Turns 25
A Consistent Cutoff Leonardo DiCaprio has built a reputation for consistency in his personal life, and it appears that this rule now extends to his gaming habits. According to sources close to the Hollywood actor, he has officially stopped playing Final Fantasy IX after the game reached its 25th anniversary. Released in 2000 for the original PlayStation, Final Fantasy IX is widely regarded as one of the greatest entries in Square Enix’s… Read more
Nintendo Threatens Legal Action Over $20 Garage Sale Copy of Super Mario Bros. 3
A Garage Sale Becomes a Legal Battlefield What began as a quiet Saturday morning in Saratoga, New York quickly escalated into what some neighbors now refer to as “the day Nintendo declared war on suburbia.” Local resident Robby Thompson held a simple garage sale in his driveway, offering old household items, clothing, and a box of retro video games. One of those games happened to be a sealed copy of Super Mario… Read more
Joy-Con Drift Marketed as “Immersive Gameplay Feature”
A Feature Masquerading as a Flaw Since its release in 2017, the Nintendo Switch has been celebrated as one of the most successful consoles of all time. It blended handheld convenience with home-console performance, revitalized franchises like Zelda and Mario, and sold over 140 million units. But along with this success came something else: the infamous Joy-Con drift. What began as a flood of user complaints, characters walking off cliffs without input,… Read more
Recent Posts
Before Star Wars Games Found a Formula, the 1990s Tried Everything
Flight simulator. CD-ROM spectacle. First-person shooter. Fighting game. Desktop adventure. In the 1990s, nobody seemed entirely sure what a Star Wars game was supposed to be. That was half the fun. There was a wonderful period when asking “What kind of game is Star Wars?” did not produce a sensible answer. It produced another question. Which year? In 1993, Star Wars became a demanding space-combat simulator that expected players to manage shields,… Read more
Is It Illegal to Play Emulated Nintendo Games? The Truth About ROMs, Emulators, and Fair Use
Is It Illegal to Play Emulated Nintendo Games? If you've ever wanted to relive classic games like Super Mario Bros., Super Metroid, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, or Zelda: Ocarina of Time using an emulator, you're definitely not alone. Emulation has become one of the most popular ways to revisit older games, especially as original hardware becomes more expensive, harder to maintain, and increasingly inconvenient to connect to… Read more
Retro Replay: Pixel Panic Is Now on Sega Genesis — 50 Unique Levels, New Sprites, New Music, and More
Retro Replay: Pixel Panic has officially made the jump from the Nintendo Entertainment System to the Sega Genesis, and this new 16-bit version is a much bigger, louder, faster, and more complete version of the original homebrew idea. What started as a small NES homebrew experiment has now grown into a full Sega Genesis homebrew release with 50 unique levels, new sprites, updated gameplay ideas, new sound effects, music, breakable walls, bombs,… Read more
Retro Replay: Pixel Panic v0.50 Brings Arcade Maze Chaos to the Nintendo Entertainment System
Retro Replay: Pixel Panic is now playable as a work-in-progress Nintendo Entertainment System homebrew release. Built from Shiru’s open-source Chase demo, the project has grown into a fast-paced arcade maze game starring the Retro Replay skull mascot in a chaotic digital world filled with enemies, glowing pickups, power-ups, and score-chasing action. Heads up: this game has been ported to the Sega Genesis and that is where I update the game. In Retro… Read more
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