«Previous post | Next post»

Press release:
ATIONAL HARBOR, MD — Nov. 12, 2025.
MAGFest and Indie Retro, in partnership with creative-first indie video game publisher and developer Mega Cat Studios, are excited to reveal the finalists for the eighth annual MAGFest Indie Retro Homebrew Showcase, celebrating more than 20 of the most ambitious games currently in development for your favorite classic consoles.

The Indie Retro Homebrew Showcase, which previously featured indie standouts such as Vengeance Hunters, Cronela’s Mansion, and Former Dawn, among many others, showcases the awe-inspiring creativity and passion of the homebrew community and their commitment to bringing unforgettable new experiences to retro hardware.

MAGFest 2026’s Indie Retro Homebrew Showcase Finalists:

Light From Within (Atarath Games, NES)

Razing Core (Badcomputer, Master System)

Gb BBS 95 (Beatscribe, Game Boy)

Halcyon (Bite the Chili Productions, NES)

The Mariana Sequence (CrazyGroupTrio, NES)

Chibi Monster Brawl (Dale Coop Studio, NES)

Wicked Plague (LocusMotion, Game Boy Color)

Kero Kero Cowboy (MetagameMike, Game Boy Color)

Batty Zabella 2 XOXO XMAS (Ice Cold Blood, Game Boy)

Metal Canary (Luiz Nai, Dreamcast)

Diggy Diggy Mole (Novasplore Games, NES)

Black Tower Enigma (Ogre Pixel, Game Boy Color)

Tactus (Phonorail LLC, NES)

The Adventures of Panzer: Frontiers (Pixel Craft Games, NES)

NightVein (Retro Hammer, Genesis)

The Nyanja! (SaruPro, PC Engine)

The Halls of Talamh Domhain (Sleepy Bits Games, NES)

Trasmoz Legends (Volcano Bytes, NES)

Gas Station Story (enzi, Game Boy Color)

Sword of the Apocalypse (Versão LTDA, Genesis)

Friday at Ours (Kleiner Bubak, Game Boy Color)

To celebrate the announcement, MAGFest, Indie Retro, and Mega Cat Studios have released a new video offering a glimpse of each of these homebrew hits, which you can find below.

These ambitious titles will be available to play on the show floor at MAGFest’s Indie Retro Homebrew Showcase in National Harbor, Maryland.

Celebrating its eighth year, MAGFest’s Indie Retro Homebrew Showcase embraces the dedication and creativity of the homebrew community. The event features a CRT-filled gaming area where players can go hands-on with a massive assortment of new and exciting experiences for their favorite retro consoles.

MAGFest invites all homebrew enthusiasts, developers, and fans of retro gaming to join us at the MAGFest Indie Retro Homebrew Showcase from January 8 through 11, 2026. For more information about the showcase and to register for Super MAGFest 2026, please visit www.magfest.org.

More details on the Indie Retro Homebrew Showcase can be found on its official page.

About MAGFest:
The Music and Gaming Festival (MAGFest) is a four-day celebration of video games and video game music, featuring concerts, panels, a 24-hour arcade, and countless gaming experiences. Since its inception, MAGFest has grown into a vibrant community hub for gamers and musicians alike.