23 Best SNES ROM Hacks Worth Attempting

Super Nintendo Entertainment System or SNES is a gaming console, adored by many. Anyone who has ever played Super Mario World or The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past knows how charming the visuals, the sounds, and the feel of basic controls can be. Even after 30 years since its initial release, ardent fans and retro gamers continue to declare their support for this console. While debating on the best games and modding tools for their devices, Nintendo gamers continue to find exciting reasons to revisit the old franchise. As far as its ROM hacks are concerned, randomized dungeons, revamped sprites, and updated plots are just the tip of the iceberg. If you too are a curious gamer and want to try it out, here are the best SNES ROM hacks worth attempting.

23 Best SNES ROM Hacks Worth Attempting

What are some of the most famous SNES ROM Hacks? Read below to find out!

1. Mega Man X3 Zero Project

Many people believe that Mega Man X3 is the franchise’s last great game. However, Mega Man X4 and the following versions excel in one area: Zero as a playable character. The MMX3 Zero Project clearly allows you to play as Zero in the game. It even goes to change the dialogue for his inclusion, in order to keep the plot intact. During boss battles, the damage of his Z-Saber is often scaled to keep things fair, since hitting certain opponents with a melee assault is much better. You won’t be disappointed if you choose to check out this polished new twist on the all-time best jump-and-shoot game.

2. A Link to the Past Randomizer (ALTTP)

Link to the Past Randomizer is one of the most famous SNES ROM hacks, allowing you to run the classic TLoZ through a program. It also shuffles key object positions such as Master Sword. You can find items like Boomerang in the very first chest you open this way. Or, you can wait until you’re about to exit the last dungeon. That’s half the fun, right? The goal of the game goal shifts from beating Ganon to clearing each dungeon with the items you find, thus ensuring a unique experience each time.

Also Read: How to Hack the Chrome Dinosaur Game

3. Hyper Street Kart

There isn’t a single person who hasn’t played Mario Kart on the SNES and felt meh. It is fun-filled with thrilling tracks and the best racing game, without a doubt. Hyper Street Kart is based on this fantastic game, but it has substituted all original characters with warriors from Street Fighter franchise. It doesn’t end there; the aesthetic of the game has also been substituted by that of Capcom’s classic fighter. It also has several brand-new tracks developed by the franchise.

4. SMW2

Yoshi’s Island is undoubtedly one of the most famous games today. If you’re one of those who prefer SMW2 to the original, SMW2+ is for you. It introduces 54 additional stages to the game. Since the developer is familiar with the original game, they were able to recreate the same level of quality and sophistication as original Yoshi’s Island. Not just that, the difficulty curve is proportionate too. This is something that only a handful of hackers have been able to achieve thus far.

5. Yoshi’s Strange Quest (SMW)

Yoshi’s Strange Quest is for those who liked Yoshi in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island but, couldn’t bear the little Italian boy. Being one of the best SNES ROM Hacks, it allows you to play the lovable green dinosaur without needing to babysit. Instead, you can attempt to reclaim your lost chickens. The story is conveyed by a series of custom-cut scenes and narration that weaves together this experience in a surreal, yet humorous way. It can be a difficult game to beat. But, with patience and Yoshi’s egg-throwing skills, you are bound to enjoy the difficulty that these polished levels provide.

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6. Metroid Super Zero Mission (Super Metroid)

If you enjoyed both Super Metroid and Metroid on the SNES and GBA, this mash-up would be perfect for you. It morphs the stylistic changes that make both of these games so successful into a new highly refined experience. This hack, like any good Metroid game, encourages experimentation and offers difficult yet, fair puzzles. If you’re a seasoned player who enjoys retro games, you will get the opportunity to demonstrate your abilities every now and then. Since, it has been designed for an average person to enjoy, there’s no need to be concerned about its difficulty or technicality.

7. Return to Dinosaur Land (SMW)

SMW: Return to Dinosaur Land is a SNES ROM hack that serves as a worthy successor to SMW. You will completely forget it’s an unofficial release because of its focus on level design, rather than on altering the plot or adding fancy graphics. Ice & Water levels are among the most creative additions to the game. They change during gameplay as you progress through each level. All of these improvements have been expertly executed. It is moderately difficult, but not to the point that you have to replay each level 20 times or give up. This game is actually beatable, so it is also fair to someone who hasn’t touched a SNES controller in a long time.

8. Chrono Trigger: Prophet’s Guile

Prophet’s Guile, an expansion of the RPG classic Chrono Trigger, is one of the best available SNES ROM hacks. It follows Magus as he seizes power in the Kingdom of Zeal. After being sent back in time to 12.000 B.C., it picks up just after the first battle in the original Chrono Trigger. You’ll be able to play through events such as when he seduces the Queen or when he silences his opponents to become the great Prophet. It’s just two chapters long, but it’s a fantastic add-on to the original series. It not only significantly expands the plot but also, makes you feel better about the dark mage.

Also Read: 20+ Hidden Google Games You Need to Play

9. Secret of Mana

Back in the day, the method of delocalizing Japanese games for international release was always haphazard. Western listeners were often treated as useless and incapable of comprehending complicated narratives. The secret of Mana was one of the casualties of censorship and lack of respect for the original content. This resulted in a poor translation, on the SNES, at least. It thus became an example of bad practices prevalent at the time. Hence, one of the best SNES ROM hacks will help resolve this issue. It improves the quality of translation and corrects flaws in the American release, including the title screen background.

We genuinely believe that no one should ever play the original game, without this fix, as a token of respect for the developers of the game.

10. Super Metroid Redesign

Super Metroid Redesign is without a doubt, one of the most iconic and well-received hacks for the retro platform. It showcases a much larger world of Zebes, filled with new secrets to discover and new obstacles to solve. With increased difficulty as its key feature, the range of this hack goes much deeper. It has introduced new objects and powers, as well as tweaked the physics of the game. Thereby, resulting in an engaging, seamless gaming environment. Give it a shot and let us know what you think!

11. Flames of Eternity

Flames of Eternity is considered to be the community’s most innovative Chrono Trigger hack to date. It attempts to reduce the distance between Chrono Trigger & Chrono Cross. It has more than enough content to fill a whole new game. The time and effort that went into its development, is mind-boggling. Fresh sprites, new scenarios, there’s a lot to explore in this amazing hack. It directly places you in the command of Magus shortly after the Kingdom of Zeal falls apart. The game hasn’t been completed yet. As it is quite common in online communities, the leading developer may have disappeared.

12. FFVI: Return of the Dark Sorcerer

FFVI: Return of the Dark Sorcerer follows in the footsteps of our previous entry. This is a whole new game based on the FFVI engine and utilizes most of its resources. It has an original plot, new characters, and foes. It also introduces cameos from other franchises, such as Disgaea’s explosive penguin Prinnys. The inclusion of a new difficulty range and the ability to jog on the world map are a few noteworthy graphical improvements over the original FFVI.

Also Read: How to use MAME to Play Arcade Games on Windows PC

13. Ted Woolsey Uncensored Edition

If you want something less radical for Final Fantasy VI, Ted Woolsey Uncensored Edition is made for you. This is, without a doubt, one of the best-modified SNES ROM hacks of the game. Its initial Western release, like many other SNES games, was extensively censored and modified to appeal to a younger generation. This presumption was based on the idea that video games are just for kids. This hack blends the efforts of a number of fan translators to produce a version that is more authentic than the original translation, without any censorship. There is no need to play the original game anymore because this version addresses a lot of glitches as well.

14. Super Mario World 2

Princess Toadstool has been abducted by Bowser and is being held captive on a spaceship. Bowser plans to conquer the planet from there. Of course, Mario must go through a vast array of brand-new stages, beat Koopa King’s minions, and finally, rescue his beloved emperor. The polished nature of the title and improved graphics help set the new gameplay including wall-jumping, and multiple secrets. Get a copy to see what all the hype is about.

15. Hyper Metroid

The term Hyper signifies a higher level of intensity than Super. This is the guiding principle behind this incredible ROM hack by Samus SNES adventure. It completely changes the game, not only by adding several new obstacles to Planet Zebes but also by giving the game a much deeper plot. Hyper Metroid also has a complex weapon system that is unlike anything else used in other hacks. This works exceptionally well for fast-paced gameplay. It is a lot more difficult than the original version. Since it was created keeping a reasonable learning curve in mind, so you can try it, even if you are just a beginner.

16. Earthbound Halloween Hack

Toby Fox tried creating a hack for the iconic classic Earthbound before moving on to create the worldwide phenomenon that is Undertale. The outcome was Halloween Hack, which is widely regarded as one of the most unsettling and traumatizing SNES ROM hacks. Believe me, when I say that this is not an exaggeration. This game is twisted to the level of Silent Hill. It offers a well-crafted plot and features the first introduction of Song Megalovania.

Also Read: 13 Best PS2 Emulator for Android

17. Oh No! More Zombies Ate My Neighbors

Oh No! More Zombies Ate My Neighbors is a ROM hack that introduces 55 new stages to the zombie-killing classic while retaining the charm of the original. It functions as an unofficial sequel with excellent quality. More objects, new monsters, and expanded multiplayer options help breathe new life into this game. It’s a real blast, especially if you liked the first one.

18. Parallel Remodel

This is another of the best SNES ROM hacks built on Parallel realms. The gameplay was completely overhauled in the original Parallel Worlds. It had modern graphics, a new plot, and effectively a new game. Parallel Remodel is a re-balanced version of Parallel Worlds that reduces some of it’s notorious complexity.

19. Super Ghouls n Ghosts 

The original Classic is notorious for its crazy difficulty levels; often appears on the lists of the hardest games ever. By incorporating some new gameplay features, this ROM hack implicitly tackles it. Weapon collection and swapping with the L/R controls, degraded armor instead of disappearing armor, and other improvements make the game a little simpler & easier to beat.

20. Final Fantasy III – Final Fantasy IV Enhanced Edition

It is essentially a ROM hack of Final Fantasy III for gamers in USA. It’s basically a massive compilation of gameplay patches and fixes a number of glitches in the original version. There are too many modifications to mention, but if anything was broken in Final Fantasy III, this ROM hack most likely repaired it.

Also Read: 4 Ways to Check FPS (Frames Per Second) In Games

21. Earthbound – The Giftman Chronicles

While this 1994 J-RPG was largely unknown among casual gamers, it quickly developed a cult following among J-RPG fans. The original game was given a sweet Christmas theme with improved graphics. This ROM hack won the 2003 Hexmas Hackfest.

22. Secret of Evermore: 2 Player Edition

The secret of Evermore was a poorly developed successor of Square Enix- Secret of Mana series, which was one of the most successful J-RPG series back in the day. It did not live up to the expectations set by the Secret of Mana series. Also, the absence of two-player support contributed to the general dissatisfaction. This ROM hack tried to fix that by allowing two players to play at the same time.

23. Super Mario Kart

This ROM hack introduces new stages & textures to the classic go-kart racing title. With Kirby as the featured player, the actual gameplay remains practically unaffected due to this ROM hack. It is majorly concerned with graphical improvements. Alternative routes have been applied to the majority of the original courses, thereby adding a whole new dimension to the game.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. How does ROM hack work?

ROM hacking is the practice of altering the graphics, dialogue, stages, gameplay, and/or other features of a computer game by editing the game ROM image or ROM disc. Once such coding is completed, it is normally posted on the Internet for anyone to download to be used on an emulator or a console.

Q2. Can I play ROM hacks on 3DS?

Yes, in most cases, you can. Since not all types of ROMs are supported, you’ll need either a flashcard or a hacked 3DS before you can play ROMs on it.

Q3. What are some of the best Super Mario World ROM hacks?

• SMW 2 Player Co-Op Quest
• Banzai Mario World
• Brutal Mario
• Item Abuse 3

Q3. What is a Mario hack?

The Super Mario World ROM hacks use most of the same mechanics as the original game, while also adding and forcing the use of bugs to advance through a level. Their hackers are known for stretching the boundaries of human skills and for utilizing several frame-perfect tricks that would otherwise involve the trial and error methods of gameplay.

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SNES ROM hacks are great ways to explore the full potential of gamers and put their skills to the test. We hope you like these 23 best SNES ROM hacks worth attempting that we have compiled for our readers. Keep dropping your suggestions and opinions in the comment box so that we are encouraged to improve and cater to your requirements.