Homebrew & Indie

Fans Revive 1991 AOL Neverwinter Nights via Fan Server

A fan project called Neverwinter Nights Revival has brought back SSI's original Neverwinter Nights, the Gold Box style D&D online RPG that ran on AOL from 1991 to 1997 and is widely considered the first graphical MMORPG. The revival runs as a fan-operated server that connects to the original DOS client, letting players access the game again after AOL's version went offline. The project focuses on preserving the original experience rather than offering a remake or new engine. via forum.vcfed.org

Mario Sunshine Online 2.0 Adds Custom Characters, Stages

Mario Sunshine Online 2.0 Adds Custom Characters, Stages

Better Super Mario Sunshine Online, a fan mod that adds online multiplayer to the GameCube game, has reached version 2.0. The update adds support for Eclipse, along with custom characters, new stages, and stability improvements for online play. It also expands the ways players can join friends, building on the mod's existing ability to host up to ten players in a single session via Dolphin emulator on Windows. via console-classics.com

Farstrand Metroidvania Demo Released for AGA Amiga

Japanese indie studio Gand has released a free demo of Farstrand, a science-fiction Metroidvania, ported to AGA Amiga systems. The demo covers the first game area, Halm, a glass forest world beneath a red dwarf star, where players control cartographer Hesper Lind as she fights through the alien setting. The Amiga version requires an Amiga 1200 or 4000 with Kickstart 3.1 and a hard drive, and comes in a "Fast Build" for 68030 machines running at 50fps and a "Stock Build" for standard A1200 hardware. The full game is planned for later release on Amiga for US$3.99, alongside versions for Windows, Mac OS, Linux and Steam Deck, with AI used for graphics, music, voice acting and text. via amiga-news.de

TurboVektor Brings 3D Anti-Gravity Racing to ZX Spectrum

TurboVektor Brings 3D Anti-Gravity Racing to ZX Spectrum

Developer BokenDev Studios has released TurboVektor, a free anti-gravity racing game for the ZX Spectrum, available in both 48K and 128K versions. Written from scratch in Z80 assembly, the game renders its tracks in real vector 3D, with players flying over hills, jumping bumps and blasting through tunnels beneath a scrolling neon city skyline. Players can pick a ship and collect missiles, repair kits and turbo pads while racing. The game is still listed as in development. via itch.io

Aquaplane Remake of ZX Spectrum Classic Hits Windows

Aquaplane Remake of ZX Spectrum Classic Hits Windows

Developer TCKSOFT has released Aquaplane, a free remake of John Hollis's 1983 ZX Spectrum game Aquaplane, now available for Windows and HTML5. The original 2014 version was made for Android, and this release ports it to Windows. Players tow a water skier behind a speedboat, steering both to dodge logs, crocodiles, yachts, steamers and sharks, with a collision ending the run. The game is free to download. via itch.io

Policenauts Fan Translation Completed for Sega Saturn

Policenauts Fan Translation Completed for Sega Saturn

A fan translation project for Policenauts on Sega Saturn has reached completion, covering all three discs of the Japan-exclusive adventure game. The patch translates subtitles, menus, in-game graphics, dialogue and video cutscenes, giving English-speaking players full access to the game's story. Policenauts was originally created by Hideo Kojima and released only in Japan, making fan translations the primary way for Western audiences to experience it. via console-classics.com

Starwinder Shoot-’em-up Released Free for AGA Amiga

Developer NeilEricson has released Starwinder, a name-your-own-price vertical-scrolling shoot-'em-up for AGA Amiga machines including the A1200, A4000 and CD32. The game spans 14 worlds and features 15 bosses, with co-op support for single player action. It began life as an Amiga game before being developed in parallel as a PC version, with both sharing the same levels, enemies, bosses and scoring, while the Amiga release uses art converted for the AGA chipset and new music composed for Paula audio. Downloads are available for CD32, floppy and hard drive installations. via itch.io

Taito’s Kick and Run Ported to Amiga 1200 via Recompilation

Taito's Kick and Run Ported to Amiga 1200 via Recompilation

Developer Caius Arcade Repairs & Engineering has released a free, name-your-own-price Amiga 1200 AGA port of Taito's 1986 arcade football game Kick and Run. The conversion uses static recompilation, translating the arcade original's three CPUs (a main Z80, a 6801 MCU and a sound Z80) into native 68k code rather than emulating them. The port does not include the original arcade ROMs and was made with AI-assisted code, graphics, sound and text. via itch.io

Street Fighter II Gets Improved Amiga Port by Str1der

Street Fighter II Gets Improved Amiga Port by Str1der

Developer Str1der is working on an improved version of Street Fighter II for the Commodore Amiga, using AI assistance in the process. Street Fighter II originally launched in arcades before being ported to numerous home systems, including earlier Amiga, Atari ST and ZX Spectrum versions. This new effort aims to enhance on those existing Amiga conversions of the fighting game. via indieretronews.com

Bloqtrix Released as Free ZX Spectrum Puzzle Game

Bloqtrix Released as Free ZX Spectrum Puzzle Game

Developer gabicuesta has released Bloqtrix, a free puzzle game for the ZX Spectrum. The game is an 8x8 block puzzle programmed in C using z88dk with some Z80 assembler routines, where each round presents three pieces that can be used to complete rows or columns and chain lines for combo multipliers up to x8. It includes a 48K version with beeper sound effects and a 128K version featuring AY chip music and effects, along with bombs as a gameplay element. via itch.io

Developer Şayan Discusses Homebrew PS1 Port of The Exit 8

Developer Şayan has been interviewed about The Exit 8 PS1, a homebrew port of the unsettling PC indie horror game for the original PlayStation. The interview covers how the project started and what it was like developing homebrew software for the console. The Exit 8 originally gained attention as a PC title built around repeatedly navigating a looping underground passage while spotting anomalies. via psxhomebrewgames.com