Ah yes the NES, home and birth place for some of the greatest videogame franchises of all time. What would it be like to receive updates and new content on these old systems?
I have visited ton of project pages on ROMhacking.net and collected more than 100 patches for archival reasons. About half of them are curated and presented on this article. You can download the entire package in one go from the snapshot section. I recommend visiting the project pages nonetheless, because some of them get updates themselves. If you are new to this topic, I’ll also show you how to patch the games yourself.
Important: I do not link to or offer Rom files for download. Please do not ask me about Roms.
55 Romhacks
Clever programmers and game designers have the ability to manipulate old games from the 80s and 90s. These specialized modders are called romhackers. They can fix bugs, make complex level design changes, add new abilities, enhance graphics, change text and so much more. And the community around the NES console is huge. Some even create full on new games with the engine of an existing game.
I worked my way downwards beginning from the latest entries of NES mods in Romhacking.net. Those which piqued my interest are listed here. Hope you enjoy.
Mario 
Extra Mario Bros.
Hack of Super Mario Bros.
2005, 2022 ATA
Download
An older but unusual gameplay style for this classic Mario game. The hack is inspired by Metroid with an exploration and puzzle solving progress.
Mario’s Moonlight Adventure
Hack of Super Mario Bros.
2017 teeporage777
Download
Full on traditional 6 worlds mod with new graphics and challenging, but not unfair level structures. It even includes new enemies.
Super Mario Bros. – Two Players Hack
Hack of Super Mario Bros.
2018, 2019 Corpse Grinder
Download
One of the best Romhacks of all time for this game. It simply makes it possible to play with 2 players simultaneously. Everything else is intact and the same.
Giant Mario Bros.
Hack of Super Mario Bros.
2021 N·K
Download
A simple and super fun idea. Play as a giant Mario (or Luigi) the same levels as the original game. This “little” twist is such a fresh breath of air.
Bob-Omb Mario
Hack of Super Mario Bros.
2022 NesDraug
Download
A new power up mechanic, where the fireball will break walls. The stages are completely redone with the new power up in mind.
Teenage Super Ninja Plumbers
Hack of Super Mario Bros.
2022 NesDraug
Download
Very strange Ninja Turtles themed hack with entirely new levels and graphics. Plays fast and fluid, just like a ninja. And the music is the icing on the cake.
Starlight Mario: Underworld
Hack of Super Mario Bros.
2022 TPWC Hacks
Download
Complete new makeover with charming graphics and music. There are 12 levels with a structure and progress similar to vanilla game.
Super Mario Bros. Tweaked
Hack of Super Mario Bros.
2022 Ribiveer
Download
This is more a collection of many small changes, bug fixes, improvements and little feature addons, while retaining the base game.
The Beatles Adventures in Pepperland
Hack of Super Mario Bros. 2
2021 NesDraug
Download
Did you always wanted to play a Beatles game with the US SMB 2 engine? I know, me too. This tribute is a total conversion in graphics, music and level structure.
Mario Adventure
Hack of Super Mario Bros. 3
2004, 2022 DahrkDaiz
Download
Legendary grandfather of all SMB 3 mods. It’s very old, but has ton of added features, including new abilities, new power up mechanics and random weather effects.
Super Mario Bros. 3Mix
Hack of Super Mario Bros. 3
2014, 2021 Southbird
Download
Full new game with new abilities and levels, while attempting to stay true to the spirit of original gameplay structure. Also has collectibles and a save option.
Super Mario Ultimate
Hack of Super Mario Bros. 3
2018 Silas
Download
Pretty unique difficulty selection, save option and lot of new enemies and stages awaits the player. In fact 90 newly designed levels.
Hack SMB3
Hack of Super Mario Bros. 3
2022 RussianManSMWC
Download
A 8 stages short game, each with a unique and creative gimmick. This is mostly focused on game mechanics and level design. Very challenging without being Kaizo like.
Mega Man 
Rockman No Constancy
Hack of Mega Man 2
2019 IKA
Download
Complete redesign of the game, with new weapons, graphics, boss AI, music and more. Comes as Hard and Normal patch. One of the community favorite.
Mega Man Wily’s Conquest 2 – Hyper Edition Turbo!
Hack of Mega Man 2
2022 DragonEye Studios, 8-bit fan, Hyper Megaman Z
Download
Entire game is redesigned to be very fast paced and quick to play. Overall not very difficult, unlike most other Mega Man hacks.
Mega Man 2 Megamix
Hack of Mega Man 2
2021, 2022 SimplyDanny
Download
Collection of multiple patches, with the goal of rebalancing and adding quality of life improvements, including a save function. Otherwise same levels as before.
Mega Man 3 Improvement
Hack of Mega Man 3
2022 kuja killer
Download
Ton of small bug fixes and improvements without altering level structure or any major changes. Making this the definitive edition of the game.
Mega Man 4 Voyage
Hack of Mega Man 4
2019 DurfarC
Download
One of the most complete reworks, where every little bit of the original is changed. Basically an entire new high quality game, that could have been released by Capcom.
Rockman 4: Minus Infinity
Hack of Mega Man 4
2016, 2020 Puresabe
Download
Well balanced new stages with branching paths and hidden bosses. Does not have much new graphics, but everything else, plus an options menu.
Mega Man 5: Protoman Edition
Hack of Mega Man 5
2017 MetHy
Download
Play as Protoman, with all his abilities from later games. Can be applied to original game. Also comes with a patch for new stages and balancing too.
Castlevania 
Castlevania: Chorus of Mysteries
Hack of Castlevania
2007, 2022 Dr. Mario, Optomon
Download
An old mod with some weakness, and at times very difficult. Still a good time to play with all new levels and graphics.
Castlevania: The Holy Relics
Hack of Castlevania
2017 Optomon
Download
A well known masterpiece. Everything is new and at a very high quality standard. Good level design, but overall a very short but sweet.
Castlevania Red Stained
Hack of Castlevania
2022 H.L.Ash
Download
Has an interesting coloring style like old horror movies in black and white. Comes as hard mode with new level design and the original variant.
Castlevania II English Re-translation (+Map)
Hack of Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest
2020, 2021 Bisqwit
Download
Quality translation from Japanese to English. In addition lots of quality of life improvements were included, such as anytime battery save function and a map.
Castlevania 3: Improved Controls
Hack of Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse
2017, 2018 NaOH
Download
Makes modifications to the character controls to modernize them. Jump as long as A button is held down, control mid air jump and a few other tweaks.
Metroid 
Metroid – Rogue Dawn
Hack of Metroid
2017, 2022 snarfblam, Optomon, Grimlock
Download
Complete new game with new graphics and map, telling the story before Zero Missions. Includes save function and a map.
Over the Moon
Hack of Metroid
2018 TestZero
Download
Play an alien cow with a gun! A complete new game conversion, with new maps, graphics and balancing. Tries to avoid health grind and backtracking.
Metroid + Saving Unofficial Update
Hack of Metroid
2014, 2020 snarfblam, SimplyDanny
Download
Based on a previous patch, which includes battery save and a map without altering the game design. Update comes with additional improvements and fixes.
Junkoid
Hack of Metroid
2022 P. Yoshi
Download
Charming horror themed take on the Metroid formula. The atmosphere and music sticks out, together with the polished work on the level design.
Zelda 
Zelda Challenge: Outlands
Hack of The Legend of Zelda
2001, 2017 GameMakr24
Download
One of the oldest and best Zelda mods. Overworld map and all dungeons are redesigned, while trying to capture the original game feeling.
Zelda III – The Wrath of Ganon
Hack of The Legend of Zelda
2020, 2022 RetroGamer76
Download
Continue the story right after the ending of Zelda 2. All new dungeons and maps and overall a polished game. Gets difficult quite a lot later.
The Legend of Zelda – Perils of Darkness
Hack of The Legend of Zelda
2022 The3Dude
Download
All new world maps and dungeons, with new regions and a complete make over for the graphics and sound. Got a difficulty selection as well.
The Legend of Zelda Redux
Hack of The Legend of Zelda
2022 ShadowOne333
Download
Fixes lot of bugs, adds quality of life changes and rebalances little things without altering the maps and original game design. Comes with ton of optional patches too.
Hellwalker
Hack of The Legend of Zelda
2021 MetalMachine
Download
Every aspect of the game is changed with a horror theme to it, including a few new mechanics. It is very large and gets quiet difficult later.
The Legend of Zelda: Ancient Dungeon
Hack of The Legend of Zelda
2022 arnpoly
Download
Turns the game into a giant rogue like game, with randomized rooms and enemies. Every playthrough is unique. Some items have new meaning in the dungeon.
Zelda 2 Redux
Hack of Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
2021, 2022 ShadowOne333
Download
Rebalances all stats, adds quality of life improvements such as manual save and many more details. Story and world design stays true to the original.
Zelda II – Amida’s Curse
Hack of Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
2021, 2022 Ok Impala!
Download
Complete new game with new world map, dungeons, graphics, music, story, features and more. Gives ability to save anywhere, eliminates grind and random encounters.
Other 
Super Mario Balloon
Hack of Balloon Fight
2014 Magnus Nilsson
Download
Mainly a graphics uplift changing the game into Mario related theme. And also removes the annoying high pitched sound.
Crystalis QOL & Ungrind
Hack of Crystalis
2022 Mentil
Download
Decreases the grind by giving more money and experience points. Rebalances game to be more fair and makes changes to get various quality of life improvements.
Double Dragon 2 – Forward Kick + Controller Fix
Hack of Double Dragon II: The Revenge
2020, 2021 Kaiser_Gun
Download
Simple button layout change, so that punch and kick are on A and B. Kicks are hitting forward now.
DuckTales 2 – Two Players Hack
Hack of DuckTales 2
2014, 2017 Ti
Download
Adds in a two player simultaneous mode. Alongside the main patch, it also fixes lot of bugs, improves performance and reduces slowdowns.
Excitebike w/ SRAM + MMC1 Mapper
Hack of Excitebike
2013, 2015 Morgan Johansson
Download
Adds in the missing battery support for save and load function of the track editor.
Final Fantasy Ultra Champion Edition
Hack of Final Fantasy
2019 Robert August de Meijer
Download
Makes ton of changes, adds stuff to it and rebalances without losing the identity of the game. Based on a previous patch, improving on it.
Final Fantasy III Maeson
Hack of Final Fantasy III
2022 Maeson
Download
Complete overhaul of stats and progression. Comes with a few optional patches, such as lower difficulty. Can be applied to various translations.
Gyromite Special Edition
Hack of Gyromite
2014 the jabu
Download
Simple fix to make the game playable with one standard controller.
Kid Icarus Randomizer
Hack of Kid Icarus
2022 Rumbleminze
Download
Implements an ingame randomizer for screens, levels, enemies and items. Adds a few quality of life improvements as well, such as adjusted prices.
Kirby’s Halloween Adventure
Hack of Kirby’s Adventure
2021 Kirb-Star
Download
Modifies the graphics to match Halloween related theme. All level layouts some bosses are changed as well.
Mother: 25th Anniversary Edition
Hack of Mother
2014 DragonDePlatino
Download
Updates sprites and overworld graphics slightly, adjusted encounter rate and monster xp and more. Retranslates the text as well.
Deadpool
Hack of Ninja Gaiden
2019, 2020 Techmoon
Download
Wanna play as Deadpool? Mod changes up about everything, stages, weapons, music, graphics (off course), adds in easter eggs and executes everything very well.
Ninja Gaiden Upgrade A
Hack of Ninja Gaiden
2022 magus
Download
Adds in a level up system to acquire new techniques like a rpg. Has new jump mechanics, a few sprite adjustments and other little changes.
Evil Dead: Ash lives!
Hack of Splatterhouse: Wanpaku Graffiti
2020 Crying Onion
Download
Graphics change to match the Evil Dead theme, with lot of cameos. Entire text is also modified to fit the characters and story.
Super Pitfall 30th Anniversary Edition
Hack of Super Pitfall
2016, 2021 Nesrocks
Download
Fixes many of the terrible issues from the original game. Changes all graphics and music, improves game controls, performance and certain game design details.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Return to New York
Hack of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
2022 guitarpalooz
Download
Balances the Turtles a bit and gives them unique abilities as well. Almost all enemies and ingame text is updated. Adds save function and Turtles swap. Still very hard game.
Tiny Toon Adventures stage select hack
Hack of Tiny Toon Adventures
2016 DANGER X
Download
A very simple stage select mechanism.
Wrecking Two
Hack of Wrecking Crew
2018, 2022 Q____, puchiedarcy
Download
Makes it a two player co-op game, plus redesigns all stages too with neat level design ideas.
Important: I do not link to or offer Rom files for download. Please do not ask me about Roms.
Archive – A snapshot of all discussed Romhacks
Overview: https://archive.org/details/nes_mods_and_romhacks_20230214.7z
Inside this downloadable package are more than 100 romhacks for NES games in total collected. In addition to the patch files, each project contains the readme text (when available) and a copy of the project’s webpage without images. Plus every archive is already (partially) unpacked into a folder named “patch” for quick access.
Note: The download can get slow.
Update note after package upload: The patch “Legend of Banjo” for Zelda in the above archive package has a bug and cannot save progress. A new updated version with a fix of this game can be downloaded here: https://www.romhacking.net/hacks/3987/
How to play a Romhack
Romhacks (also known as mods) in the emulation scene are provided as patches. These files contain update information to the unaltered original game ROM to convert it into a standalone playable romhack game. This way the patch files stay small and can be distributed without the copyrighted ROM. The process to patch a game is simple and fast; provided the correct files and application are available.
In the bottom slideshow I will teach how to do that with an example and the Rom Patcher JS. You can use other programs instead too, in example my favorite patcher Flips (Floating IPS). The process is similar. (On below slideshow use left and right handles on the images to show next.)
- Download patch file from https://www.romhacking.net/hacks/4180/ .
- Once in a while a CAPTCHA password needs to be entered.
- Now save the archive file, which contains the romhack patch.
- Unpack the archive file. Depending on the file format and the applications you have installed, this process can be different for you. For some file formats such as .7z or .rar you probably need a program for.
- Make notes about the filename and MD5 checksum of the unaltered ROM. There are different standards how to name these files. Even if the names are the same, the ROM file can be different. But that also means, if the filename are different, it can still be the same ROM file. This can get confusing very fast.
That is why we have MD5 checksum. It is away to check if two files are identical, regardless of their filename. - Now find the original unaltered ROM file in your “collection”. Note, that the names on this screenshot are totally different to what we noted previously, but it is the correct one.
- Open up the Rom Patcher JS (or any other tool that you prefer). Make sure it is NOT in “Creator mode”. We need to be in “Apply” mode.
- Select the files by clicking “Browse…” buttons or just drag and drop the files directly into the browser.
- Compare the MD5 checksums of the unaltered ROMs. In example in this case look in the patcher and on the place where you downloaded the ROM, or alternatively it is described in the readme.txt file that often comes with the patch archives.
- Click “Apply patch” and save the created romhack game. You can name the file whatever you want and it should run on most emulators.
Famous last words
There you have it, yet another collection of interesting mods from the community. It’s been a while since I did this last time. This article serve as a showcase and acts as preservation providing re-uploads on archive.org. I hope you found something interesting today. Well, I will leave it here for now and wish you a good time. As always, have fun.
things i play 