Homebrew games are independently developed games created by enthusiasts and hobbyists for classic consoles like the Game Boy and Game Boy Color, often years after these systems were discontinued. Crafted without official licensing, homebrew games can range from entirely original creations to modern takes on beloved genres, offering unique gameplay, fresh stories, and inventive mechanics. This vibrant community-driven genre keeps retro gaming alive, delivering new experiences for nostalgic players and introducing classic platforms to new audiences.
- The Mayor of Sanctuary
Developer: Nara Makes Games
Year Released: 2023
Price: Free
Description: In this interactive fiction RPG, you assume the role of the mayor in a post-apocalyptic town. You’ll manage resources, form alliances, and make tough choices to help Sanctuary survive in a brutal world. - Unearthed
Developer: Ben Jelter
Year Released: 2022
Price: $5
Description: Explore an abandoned planet as a robot in this 8-bit adventure. Unearth secrets, solve puzzles, and discover what happened to the human civilization that once thrived here. - Eternal Memory
Developer: Developer0
Year Released: 2022 (Demo)
Price: Free (demo)
Description: This RPG adventure blends haunting storytelling with pixel art, delving into themes of loss and memory. Explore a memory-laden realm as you uncover hidden truths and complete strategic challenges. - Wicked Plague
Developer: Locus Motion
Year Released: 2023
Price: $6
Description: A dark survival horror game in which you navigate through medieval settings filled with a plague and undead horrors. Players will use limited resources to survive, crafting and fighting their way to freedom. - Deadeus
Developer: IZMA
Year Released: 2019
Price: $8.50
Description: This horror game for Game Boy tasks you with preventing an impending tragedy in your town. Featuring 11 endings, it’s a pixel art experience where your decisions deeply influence the outcome. - Chantey
Developer: Gortyn Code
Year Released: 2022 (Prologue)
Price: Free (prologue)
Description: Embark on a musical adventure in this prologue of an RPG set in a fantasy world. The game combines sea shanties and strategic turn-based combat, offering a unique narrative-driven experience. - Hermano
Developer: Pat Morita
Year Released: 2021
Price: Free
Description: A short narrative game for Game Boy, featuring Hermano, a character in a surreal and personal story set in a quirky pixelated world. It explores themes of family and identity. - Glory Hunters
Developer: 2think
Year Released: 2022
Price: $10
Description: In this action RPG, achievements dictate your progression. Gather glory by completing challenges and upgrade your character, impacting how you interact with the game world. - Candy Quest
Developer: MaxBeforeTheOne
Year Released: 2023 (Demo)
Price: Free (demo)
Description: Candy Quest is a colorful adventure where players battle candy-themed enemies and gather loot. Its vibrant visuals and unique setting make for a whimsical, entertaining journey. - Pokettohiro
Developer: David Marín
Year Released: 2022
Price: Free
Description: This tactical RPG with turn-based combat is inspired by classic Japanese RPGs, allowing players to build characters and conquer foes in a retro 8-bit universe. - Annihilator
Developer: Salt and Pixel
Year Released: 2022
Price: Free
Description: A fast-paced retro-inspired shooter for Game Boy. Players control a ship facing endless waves of enemy ships and bosses. A true test of reflexes and skill, this game captures classic arcade gameplay with modern polish, requiring precision and timing to survive each increasingly difficult stage. - Black Castle
Developer: User0x7f
Year Released: 2021
Price: Pay-what-you-want
Description: Set in a medieval kingdom plagued by a dark warlock, “Black Castle” follows a brave knight journeying to defeat the warlock and free the land. The game features four action-packed levels, secret passages, and collectible items, offering a nostalgic and challenging adventure reminiscent of classic platformers. - Tales of Monsterland DX
Developer: Joel J.
Year Released: 2021
Price: $4.99
Description: A lighthearted action platformer inspired by classic Game Boy adventures. Players take on the role of a monster tasked with saving their world from invaders. With vibrant pixel art and simple, intuitive gameplay, this game offers both charm and challenge across multiple stages and battles. - Lunar Lancer
Developer: Jonas Fischbach
Year Released: 2022
Price: $3.00
Description: An action-packed lunar-themed game where players assume the role of a heroic lancer fighting through challenging levels. With smooth mechanics, detailed pixel art, and a thrilling storyline, “Lunar Lancer” delivers both an immersive adventure and a nostalgic retro feel. - Mai Nurse
Developer: Lunoka
Year Released: 2021
Price: Pay-what-you-want
Description: A quirky, comedic game where players must keep up with the demands of a busy hospital. Tasked with caring for patients under chaotic conditions, this game offers humor and a unique take on time management, combined with simple yet engaging gameplay. - The Fallen Crown
Developer: Atavist Games
Year Released: 2023
Price: Free
Description: This fantasy RPG invites players into a richly detailed medieval world, where they must reclaim a fallen crown. With strategic turn-based combat, engaging characters, and a story-driven quest, “The Fallen Crown” offers depth and exploration in a captivating retro setting. - AF+ER
Developer: Horatiu NYC
Year Released: 2023
Price: Free
Description: A dark, atmospheric exploration game set in a post-apocalyptic world. Players must navigate through treacherous terrain, uncover hidden lore, and manage scarce resources. “AF+ER” combines eerie visuals with a gripping storyline, perfect for fans of survival and exploration. - Unlinked Mask
Developer: Klonoz
Year Released: 2022
Price: Free
Description: A mystical adventure where players wield a mask with unique powers. Featuring intricate puzzles and a rich, fantasy-inspired world, “Unlinked Mask” challenges players to solve mysteries and explore a beautiful pixel-art landscape inspired by classic Zelda games. - Dog’s Muck Island
Developer: Soully
Year Released: 2022
Price: Free
Description: A humorous and lighthearted adventure set on a quirky island filled with amusing characters and unusual tasks. Players embark on a quest to solve mysteries and uncover secrets, with a focus on exploration and interaction in a whimsical pixelated world. - Entomophobia
Developer: Dr.GD Retro
Year Released: 2022
Price: $3.00
Description: A creepy-crawly horror game where players must survive in a world overrun by insects. “Entomophobia” combines a tense atmosphere with puzzle elements and survival mechanics, creating a challenging experience that tests players’ endurance against waves of grotesque enemies. - Repugnant Bounty
Developer: Skittlesfiddles
Year Released: 2024
Price: Free
Description: In a unique fusion of bounty hunting and roguelike elements, players journey across alien landscapes to capture exotic creatures. Tactical gameplay and vibrant pixel art make each encounter both challenging and rewarding. - Powerball
Developer: Rubenretro
Year Released: 2024
Price: Name Your Price
Description: This charming RPG-meets-brick-breaker adventure follows a young hero cursed by a king. Through multiple levels and worlds, he must break his curse and rescue the princess using various power-ups and battling bosses. - Big2Small
Developer: Mdsteele
Year Released: 2024
Price: Name Your Price
Description: A whimsical puzzle game focused on transformation. Players shift objects’ sizes to solve environmental challenges and progress through engaging levels filled with charm and clever mechanics. - In The Dark
Developer: Pearacidic
Year Released: 2024
Price: Name Your Price
Description: A suspense-filled adventure through dark, atmospheric environments. Players solve puzzles and uncover secrets hidden in shadows, adding layers of depth to this haunting journey. - DiveBlob
Developer: Maithonis
Year Released: 2024
Price: Name Your Price
Description: A vibrant underwater action game where players control a small blob character navigating through submerged caverns, dodging obstacles, and collecting treasures in a visually rich aquatic world.
