Nintendo’s NES Classic Edition didn’t release until November 2016, but that didn’t stop it from being one of the hottest devices of the year. It sold out everywhere–even Amazon–in the blink of an eye and was subsequently very difficult to find.
The default 30-game mini NES library includes titles like Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, Donkey Kong, Kirby’s Adventure, Ice Climber, PAC-MAN, Galaga, and other such classics. These nostalgic 8-bit games are incredibly exciting but also limited.
Fortunately for us, modders succeeded in finding a method that adds another 30 games to the console’s library. Doing so requires you to connect the NES to a computer using a micro-USB cable and adding the ROM files for the additional games. You also need to add image files for the added games so you’ll have box art for them when running the NES.
Full instructions for modding your mini NES can be found on the NES Classic Mods subreddit. As always with hacks, be aware that this can brick the device if something goes wrong, so read all possible information and BE CAREFUL.
See a modified NES Classic in the video below.
Games in this expansion include the Mega Man series, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II, Battletoads, and Metal Gear, among others.
While Russian hacker Madmonkey is the mind behind this USB hack, Japan’s Honeylabs recently succeeded in getting the mini NES to recognize an SD card reader. This could lead to a much broader range of mods in the future.
The modding scene for the NES Classic is still in its early days, so amateurs should use extreme caution when hacking this console. If you aren’t 100% sure about what you’re doing, it’s probably just safer to not do it and wait for more concrete information on the safety of the mods.
