Last updated: March 2026
ROM hacks are some of the most impressive things the gaming community has ever produced. Full new games built on top of classic engines, quality-of-life overhauls that fix decades-old design choices, and creative experiments that push old hardware in ways the original developers never imagined.
This is your go-to list of the best ROM hacks by system, how to apply them, and where to find them — all current as of 2026.
What Are ROM Hacks?
A ROM hack is a fan-made modification to a video game’s data. Someone takes the original ROM file, changes it — new levels, new stories, rebalanced mechanics, graphical overhauls — and distributes the patch (not the ROM itself).
This matters: ROM hacks are distributed as patch files, not full games. You apply the patch to a legally obtained ROM. The hack creators aren’t distributing copyrighted material. They’re distributing their own creative work.
That distinction is what makes the ROM hacking scene one of the purest forms of game preservation and community creativity out there. People aren’t just keeping old games alive — they’re building on top of them.
How to Patch ROM Hacks
Before you play anything on this list, you need to know how patching works. It takes about 30 seconds once you’ve done it once.
What You Need
- The original ROM — You need a clean, unmodified ROM of the base game. Source this yourself (we don’t link to ROMs).
- The patch file — Usually
.ips,.ups, or.bpsformat. Downloaded from the hack’s release page. - A patching tool — This applies the patch to the ROM.
Recommended Patchers
| Tool | Format | Platform | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Floating IPS (Flips) | IPS, BPS | Windows, Linux | Best all-around option. Lightweight, fast. |
| Lunar IPS | IPS | Windows | The classic. Still works perfectly. |
| MultiPatch | IPS, UPS, BPS | macOS | Mac users, this is your pick. |
| Rom Patcher JS | IPS, UPS, BPS | Browser | No install needed. Works on any device. |
The Process
- Open your patcher.
- Select the patch file (
.ips,.bps, etc.). - Select the clean ROM.
- Hit apply. Done.
The patcher creates a modified ROM. Load that in your emulator. Never download pre-patched ROMs — that’s distributing copyrighted material, and the patches are designed to work with specific ROM versions anyway. Pre-patched files often have the wrong base ROM and just cause bugs.
Best ROM Hacks by System
Pokemon ROM Hacks
Pokemon has the largest ROM hacking community in gaming. These aren’t small tweaks — some of these are essentially full new games.
| Hack | Base Game | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| Pokemon Radical Red | FireRed | Hardcore difficulty overhaul. Modern mechanics (Gen 9), abilities, EVs/IVs accessible. The competitive player’s dream. |
| Pokemon Unbound | FireRed | Original region, full story, Gen 1-7 Pokemon, side quests, difficulty modes. Feels like an official game. |
| Pokemon Crystal Clear | Crystal | Open-world Crystal. Pick any starter, go anywhere, fight gyms in any order. Game-changing concept. |
| Pokemon Emerald Kaizo | Emerald | Brutal difficulty hack. Every trainer is optimized. You will lose. A lot. |
| Pokemon Gaia | FireRed | New region, polished story, Mega Evolution. One of the most complete hacks ever made. |
| Pokemon Inclement Emerald | Emerald | Modern mechanics in Emerald. All Pokemon available, updated movesets, difficulty options. |
| Pokemon Blazed Glazed | Emerald | Two full regions, 5 generations of Pokemon, lengthy campaign. |
Start here if you’re new: Unbound or Radical Red. Both are polished, stable, and actively maintained.
Super Mario ROM Hacks
The Super Mario World hacking scene is legendary. SMW’s engine is so well-documented that hackers have built tools (Lunar Magic) that make level creation almost drag-and-drop.
| Hack | Base Game | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| Kaizo Mario World | SMW | The original “impossible” hack. Invented the Kaizo genre. Not for beginners. |
| SMW: Return to Dinosaur Land | SMW | Excellent level design, fair difficulty. Great entry point for SMW hacks. |
| Grand Poo World 2 | SMW | Premium Kaizo hack. Tight, creative, and somehow fun even when it’s destroying you. |
| Super Mario 64: Star Road | SM64 | 130 stars across new worlds. Feels like a proper sequel. |
| SM64: Render96 | SM64 | HD graphical overhaul. Makes SM64 look like what you remember it looking like. |
| Super Mario Land 2 DX | SML2 (GB) | Full color hack for the Game Boy game. Adds color to every sprite and background. |
Zelda ROM Hacks
| Hack | Base Game | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| Parallel Worlds | A Link to the Past | Completely new overworld and dungeons. Hard as nails. One of the most ambitious ALttP hacks. |
| Goddess of Wisdom | A Link to the Past | New dungeons, puzzles, and map. More accessible than Parallel Worlds. |
| The Legend of Zelda: Shadow of Night | Zelda 1 (NES) | Full overworld and dungeon redesign for the original. |
| Ocarina of Time Randomizer | OoT | Shuffles all item locations. Every playthrough is different. Massive community and racing scene. |
The OoT Randomizer deserves special mention — it’s not just a hack, it’s become its own competitive community with tournaments and weekly races.
Metroid ROM Hacks
Super Metroid is one of the most-hacked games ever made, and the community output is consistently excellent.
| Hack | Base Game | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| Super Metroid: Redesign | Super Metroid | Massive expanded map, new physics, longer campaign. |
| Hyper Metroid | Super Metroid | New map layout, tighter controls, great exploration flow. Top-tier. |
| Super Metroid: Ascent | Super Metroid | Vertical-focused exploration. Fresh take on the formula. |
| AM2R (fan game) | — | Full Metroid 2 remake. Technically a fan game, not a ROM hack, but essential for any Metroid fan. Nintendo DMCA’d it, but the community keeps it alive. |
Sonic ROM Hacks
| Hack | Base Game | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| Sonic 3 Complete | Sonic 3 & Knuckles | The definitive version before Sonic Origins existed. Combines S3&K with fixes, options, and polish. |
| Sonic Classic Heroes | Sonic 1 / Sonic 2 | Play Sonic 1 and 2 with team mechanics from Sonic Heroes. Switch characters on the fly. |
| Sonic Megamix | Sonic 1 | New characters, levels, and mechanics. Basically a new game. |
| Metal Sonic Hyperdrive | Sonic 1 | Play as Metal Sonic with unique abilities. Great level design. |
Final Fantasy and RPG ROM Hacks
| Hack | Base Game | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| Final Fantasy VI: Brave New World | FF6 | Complete rebalance. Every character viable, every Esper meaningful. The way FF6 should be played. |
| Final Fantasy Tactics 1.3 | FFT | Brutal difficulty rebalance. Every battle is a puzzle. |
| Final Fantasy IV: Ultima | FF4 | Expanded content, rebalanced jobs, quality-of-life fixes. |
| Chrono Trigger: Flames of Eternity | Chrono Trigger | Fan-made sequel using the CT engine. Years of development. |
| EarthBound: Halloween Hack | EarthBound | Toby Fox’s (yes, the Undertale creator’s) dark reimagining of EarthBound. Where Megalovania originated. |
Where to Find ROM Hacks
RHDN (romhacking.net) is the central hub. It’s the legitimate, community-run database for ROM hack patches, translations, and utilities. Everything hosted there is patch files only — no ROMs.
Other solid sources:
- PokeCommunity — Largest Pokemon ROM hack forum. Release threads, progress updates, discussions.
- SMW Central — The Super Mario World hacking community. Hacks, tools, resources, contests.
- Metroid Construction — Dedicated Super Metroid hacking community.
- Sonic Retro — Sonic ROM hacks and fan games.
- GitHub — Many modern hacks (especially randomizers) host their code and releases on GitHub.
Always download patches from the creator’s official release page or a known community hub. Random sites rehosting “pre-patched” ROMs are distributing pirated material and often bundle malware.
Tools You Need
Emulators (by System)
| System | Recommended Emulator | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| GBA | mGBA | Best GBA emulator, period. Handles ROM hacks flawlessly. |
| SNES | Snes9x or bsnes | Snes9x for compatibility, bsnes for accuracy. |
| NES | Mesen | Accurate, great debugging tools. |
| Genesis/Mega Drive | BlastEm or Kega Fusion | BlastEm for accuracy. |
| N64 | Ares or simple64 | N64 emulation has improved massively. |
| DS | melonDS | Active development, good accuracy. |
| GBC | SameBoy | Best Game Boy Color emulator available. |
Patching Tools
- Floating IPS (Flips) — Handles
.ipsand.bps. Your default patcher. - Lunar IPS —
.ipsonly but rock-solid. - Rom Patcher JS — Browser-based. No install, works everywhere.
ROM Hack-Specific Tools (For Creators)
- Lunar Magic — SMW level editor. Industry standard.
- Advance Map — Pokemon GBA map editor.
- PokeemeraldExpansion / pokefirered — Decompilation projects that modern Pokemon hacks build on.
- HxD — Hex editor for manual ROM editing.
FAQ
Are ROM hacks legal?
Distributing and applying patches is legal — patches contain only the hacker’s original work. Distributing the ROMs themselves is a separate issue. The ROM hacking community is built around patch distribution specifically to stay on the right side of this line.
Do I need the original cartridge to play ROM hacks?
Legally, the safest position is owning the original game. In practice, the ROM hacking community focuses on patch distribution and leaves ROM sourcing to the individual.
What’s the best ROM hack for someone who’s never tried one?
Pokemon Unbound if you like Pokemon. Return to Dinosaur Land if you like Mario. Both are polished, beginner-friendly, and show you what the scene is capable of.
Can I play ROM hacks on my phone?
Yes. Apply the patch on your computer (or use Rom Patcher JS in your phone’s browser), then load the patched ROM in a mobile emulator. MyBoy (GBA), Snes9x EX (SNES), and Lemuroid (multi-system) all work well on Android. Delta handles it on iOS.
What’s the difference between IPS, UPS, and BPS patch formats?
IPS is the oldest format — simple but limited to 16MB ROMs. UPS and BPS are newer, support larger files, and include checksums to verify you’re using the correct base ROM. BPS is the current standard for new hacks.
How do ROM hacks relate to game preservation?
ROM hacks keep old games alive and relevant. They fix bugs the original developers never patched, translate games that never left Japan, add accessibility features, and prove that these classic engines still have creative potential decades later. The ROM hacking community is one of the most active forces in game preservation — not just archiving games, but actively building on their legacy.
This list is maintained and updated regularly. Last reviewed March 2026. If a hack listed here has been abandoned or a better alternative exists, [let us know].
Last verified: March 2026