Fan Game Oldest Fan Game you are aware of?

[TamagotchiTamaHero24's icon TamagotchiTamaHero24 TamagotchiTamaHero24]

So, the term “Fan Game” has a lot of permutations, but I’m specifically thinking of games that exist using properties that already exist and are owned by somebody else.

This is wild, but the oldest overall is probably Ms. Pac Man. No joke, look it up.

But that got an official release. If we’re going for the pure grade, 99.9% fan game goodness, then the oldest I’m aware of is Sonic Robo Blast. The first one. From 1995.

What’s the oldest one you know of?

 

[Advil Lavs]

The oldest one I am aware of is probably Mario Quest. It has sprites from Super Mario RPG, it was probably made in klik and play and it has pretty standard stuff you'd see in future goofy Mario fan games. From what I remember it was released in 1994 but I'm probably wrong

 

[TamagotchiTamaHero24's icon TamagotchiTamaHero24 TamagotchiTamaHero24]

The oldest one I am aware of is probably Mario Quest. It has sprites from Super Mario RPG, it was probably made in klik and play and it has pretty standard stuff you'd see in future goofy Mario fan games. From what I remember it was released in 1994 but I'm probably wrong

Well, Super Mario RPG I’m pretty sure dropped in 1995. That said, still old. I can’t take that away from the game.

 

[Advil Lavs]

Well, Super Mario RPG I’m pretty sure dropped in 1995. That said, still old. I can’t take that away from the game.

Actually, it released in 1996. And I think Sonic Robo Blast started development in 1997 (according to a wikipedia page I just read).

 

[TamagotchiTamaHero24's icon TamagotchiTamaHero24 TamagotchiTamaHero24]

Actually, it released in 1996. And I think Sonic Robo Blast started development in 1997 (according to a wikipedia page I just read).

You’re right! I just looked it up!

So… wow. We’re both wrong. But also, I was remembering a weird Sonic game where you played as Sonic and threw apples as projectiles. And I KNOW that came out in 1995. So, I guess the question now is… what game am I remembering?

Post automatically merged: Mar 21, 2025

Just looked it up. It’s a fan game called “Sonic Boom”. And it was released in 1995.

It says it’s “considered the first” which I think means there’s other options most likely still out there.

 

[Advil Lavs]

You’re right! I just looked it up!

So… wow. We’re both wrong. But also, I was remembering a weird Sonic game where you played as Sonic and threw apples as projectiles. And I KNOW that came out in 1995. So, I guess the question now is… what game am I remembering?

Post automatically merged: Mar 21, 2025

Just looked it up. It’s a fan game called “Sonic Boom”. And it was released in 1995.

It says it’s “considered the first” which I think means there’s other options most likely still out there.

Do you know any cool but very old fan games? I played Mushroom Pancakes last year and I liked it and I was looking for something with old internet humor.

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

I mostly remember Flash games but SRB2 is surprisingly old.

 

[Deca]

Cuando aún existía la pagina de Mugen China había un proyecto llamado Street Fighter Mega Mix un juego de peleas creados por fans con el motor Mugen, en este sitio alcanzaron a compartir varios personajes de modo individual estos se podían descargar y usar en tu mugen, hasta que el sitio cerro y todo se perdió con el PD otro gran proyecto que estaba en creación en este mismo sitio era el The King of Fighters zillion de este ultimo si alcanzaron a sacar varias betas te dejo un video que aun existe de Street Fighter Mega Mix para que te hagas la idea de lo que pudo ser saludos

 

[UnDubious]

Back in the day I was really into Phantasy Star (the original, pre-Online series) and when I first started going on the Internet as a kid there were several fangames in development, probably since the late '90s. The one I thought looked cool was called Phantasy Star: Dark Millenium and had a playable demo. None of those games were ever finished though, except some of the later, lower-quality RPG Maker 2000 games.

 

[fake-chan]

The oldest Mega Man fan game I know of is Mega Man 83-ASM.

 

[miguk miguk]

It's more of a hack than a fan game, but Street Fighter II: Rainbow Edition deserves a mention. We only got SFII Turbo because people preferred the fast-pace action of SFII:RE over the slowness of SFII:CE.

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

It's more of a hack than a fan game, but Street Fighter II: Rainbow Edition deserves a mention. We only got SFII Turbo because people preferred the fast-pace action of SFII:RE over the slowness of SFII:CE.

Isn't it funny how a romhack inspired a newer entry?

I've seen gameplay of it and it reminded me of Brawl Minus.

 

[Mopeybloke]

Duo Princess by Easy Game Station. It's a Dew Prism/Threads of Fate fan game.

 

[Evaccaneer Doom]

So, the term “Fan Game” has a lot of permutations, but I’m specifically thinking of games that exist using properties that already exist and are owned by somebody else.

This is wild, but the oldest overall is probably Ms. Pac Man. No joke, look it up.

But that got an official release. If we’re going for the pure grade, 99.9% fan game goodness, then the oldest I’m aware of is Sonic Robo Blast. The first one. From 1995.

What’s the oldest one you know of?

Exact same

 

[Mr. SyS]

Mario & Luigi for Dos which came out in the early 90's. I played it and it was alright. Someone remade it once as a Super Mario World hack.

 

[Konatalzumi]

So, the term “Fan Game” has a lot of permutations, but I’m specifically thinking of games that exist using properties that already exist and are owned by somebody else.

This is wild, but the oldest overall is probably Ms. Pac Man. No joke, look it up.

But that got an official release. If we’re going for the pure grade, 99.9% fan game goodness, then the oldest I’m aware of is Sonic Robo Blast. The first one. From 1995.

What’s the oldest one you know of?

max payne kung fu mod, its one of the earliest tributes to the matrix video-game wise

 

[TamagotchiTamaHero24's icon TamagotchiTamaHero24 TamagotchiTamaHero24]

Mario & Luigi for Dos which came out in the early 90's. I played it and it was alright. Someone remade it once as a Super Mario World hack.

1994. Earliest I've seen in this thread.

 

[bjork]

Look up a list of Shoot Em Up Creation Kit games, there's assuredly something much older than 1994. Off the top of my head, there are He-Man and TMNT games made using this and that was the 80s, anyway.

 

[Azuris]

Hmm i wouldn't call it a Fan Game, but the very first Time i saw a Fan Made Mod, it was the Simpsons Mod for Doom.
It changed the Enemies with Simpsons Characters, it was included with the Game on a Disc my Uncle gave me, i discovered it because i had no clue what the "Simpsons.bat" is.
In that way, i also discovered that Bats can execute something.

Edit:
Later on around 2000s a lot of Dragonball Games, from Bit to Fire to the Mugen Games and some Fanmade.

I also have Zelda made for Dos, have found it last Week on a old Disc, while searching for ohter Stuff.

 

[bjork]

I also have Zelda made for Dos, have found it last Week on a old Disc, while searching for ohter Stuff.

can we see it? that sounds to good to just mention offhand

 

[Azuris]

can we see it? that sounds to good to just mention offhand

Yep, i will upload it when i am at Home :)
Doing a quick Search:
The Armageddon Logo at the Start seems very familiar, i am 95% sure it is this one (or an older Version):

Zelda Classic (2000) DOS : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Zelda 1 port for MS-DOS

archive.org

Zelda Classic v1.84 : Armageddon Games : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

A PC remake of the NES classic The Legend of Zelda.

archive.org

Edit:
Guessing from the Contents, my Version must be older^^

Edit2: Downloaded it an put in on Magic Dosbox on my Smartphone, it crashed a few Times in the Browser.
It runs pretty bad^^
Not sure if it is this Version in particular or the Emulation, but even if it 25 Years since i played that, i could swear it did run better on my Win 98 PC.

Post automatically merged: Apr 14, 2025

So, i am at home and it seems i can't edit again.
My is Version 1.84 as in the second Link, the Files are dated ‎28. ‎July ‎1999.

I can't run it in Dosbox, so i guess i should install it fresh, rather than taking it from an anciend CD :)
It had a link to a still existing Webpage and it seems, the newest Update is from 2019:
https://www.armageddongames.com/

It seems the Dev(s) made own Graphics, guess to prevent Nintendo Lawyers ;)

 

[GatorCountry]

Oh man I'm pretty sure that'll be micro PCs at the latest. Like amstrad cpc and zx spectrum. Those cassette computers. I'm talking like 80-85. by 85 definitely happened is my claim.

Because you had mags like Sinclair User running submission campaigns where fans submit their games to the magazine and the mag would give them away to readers. As in fan made games that earned those devs no money.

What makes it hard to be specific is the submissions would be named stuff like "invaders - j.jones" but if you get yourself one of those over the top speccy collection of roms you're bound to run into a few.

Basically, when home computer became a thing. Give me a while, I'll dig around a speccy or amiga collection for more specific examples.


Interesting topic bud.

 

[KaiserMk7]

Isn't it funny how a romhack inspired a newer entry?

From what I've read, the extra levels of the original Yoshi's Island were inspired by Mario kaizo hack bs.

 

[MasterEn]

i was going to find this one on newgrounds that i played back in intermediate school and post it, but i don't think it exists anymore.

 

[Darzhgrod]

Oh man I'm pretty sure that'll be micro PCs at the latest. Like amstrad cpc and zx spectrum. Those cassette computers. I'm talking like 80-85. by 85 definitely happened is my claim.

Because you had mags like Sinclair User running submission campaigns where fans submit their games to the magazine and the mag would give them away to readers. As in fan made games that earned those devs no money.

What makes it hard to be specific is the submissions would be named stuff like "invaders - j.jones" but if you get yourself one of those over the top speccy collection of roms you're bound to run into a few.

Basically, when home computer became a thing. Give me a while, I'll dig around a speccy or amiga collection for more specific examples.


Interesting topic bud.

Definitely this, early computing was rife with fan games. Star Trek from 1971 may be the very first one, off the top of my head.

Star Trek (1971 video game) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org