Do you play open-source or homebrew retro games?

[jiansongwong]

I feel like open-source retro games are this hidden gem of the gaming world that doesn't get nearly enough attention. I've been diving into them lately — things like free homebrew NES games, PICO-8 carts, or people remaking old classics with modern tweaks.

What got me started was actually building a small site called CRTPlay that curates these kinds of games. But beyond that, I'm genuinely curious — do you guys play any open-source or homebrew retro stuff? Any hidden gems you'd recommend?

Some of the ones I've come across are surprisingly polished. It's wild what people can do within old hardware limitations (or software that mimics them) just for the love of it.

Would love to hear what's on your radar.

 

[HoyeBoye]

Safety Stoat Studios has put out some homebrew Genesis games on itch.io that are fun and interesting. Tiger Bureaucrat is probably my favorite. It’s a reverse SHMUP/management sim?
Lock and Toad is also a fun block moving puzzle mixed with a top-down shooter.

 

[extermist]

I do, there's Blade Buster on NES, a golden standard but isn't on the Repo.
Zooming Secretary for the NES and Genesis.
Then there's all those games by Mojon Twins.
For opensource there's Cube and Cube 2: Sauerbraten, and M.u.g.E.N.

 

[SamanthaSamantha's icon]

I do play FreeDoom and a crap ton of homebrews.

 

[RageBurner]

One of my favorite games ever, Desktop Dungeons, started as a homebrew and that version is still available to play.

 

[jiansongwong]

Great recommendations, thanks! A few of these are new to me.
@HoyeBoye — Tiger Bureaucrat sounds wild, a reverse SHMUP/management sim? That's exactly the kind of weird hybrid you'd never see from a big studio. Gonna check that out.
@RageBurner — Desktop Dungeons is a great example. It's actually one of those games that proves homebrew can evolve into something that stands alongside commercial titles. I think a lot of people don't realize how many polished games started that way.
One I've been meaning to mention: Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead is still actively developed after over a decade, completely open-source. The depth is insane for something that started as a hobby project.

 

[RageBurner]

Great recommendations, thanks! A few of these are new to me.
@HoyeBoye — Tiger Bureaucrat sounds wild, a reverse SHMUP/management sim? That's exactly the kind of weird hybrid you'd never see from a big studio. Gonna check that out.
@RageBurner — Desktop Dungeons is a great example. It's actually one of those games that proves homebrew can evolve into something that stands alongside commercial titles. I think a lot of people don't realize how many polished games started that way.
One I've been meaning to mention: Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead is still actively developed after over a decade, completely open-source. The depth is insane for something that started as a hobby project.

I'll make sure to check Cataclysm! as for Desktop Dungeons, I wholeheartedly recommend the 2013 version with the Extreme Edition mod (since it has many improvements, including proper item randomization that the base game lacks) rather than Rewind.