Deltarune SNES-Style Hack: EarthBound ROM Community Recreates Chapter 1 for the '90s Era

Fans of classic role-playing games have a unique reason to celebrate as a dedicated group of EarthBound enthusiasts has unveiled ‘Bound to the Dark World,’ a faithful recreation of Deltarune Chapter 1 reimagined as if it were an original Super Nintendo RPG from the 1990s.

This remarkable ROM hack gives players a new way to experience Toby Fox’s acclaimed indie title within the iconic framework of EarthBound, recognized as one of Nintendo’s most beloved SNES offerings. Over the course of two years, renowned members of the EarthBound ROM hacking community poured their talents into the project in total secrecy, only revealing their work to the public on October 29th—just two days before Halloween.

The announcement, made by lead creator Chromadeline via social media, included the project’s debut trailer and gave fans their first look at the technical and artistic craftsmanship behind the adaptation.

Chromadeline introduced the hack by inviting players to explore Deltarune “as if it were made in the ‘90s,” underlining both the retro aesthetic and authenticity at the heart of the project. Following the trailer’s reveal, ‘Bound to the Dark World’ officially launched for free download on Halloween through itch.io, joining a growing catalog of community-driven retro projects.

The hack requires players to use their own EarthBound ROM file—respecting legal guidelines—while the patch itself is available without cost. For many in the gaming community, the project is especially meaningful.

Toby Fox, the creator of both Undertale and Deltarune, originally honed his talents as an EarthBound ROM hacker.

Nearly 15 years ago, Fox developed his own Halloween-themed hack of EarthBound, a milestone that foreshadowed his later success in the indie RPG scene.

The homage embedded in ‘Bound to the Dark World’ is unmistakable, warping Deltarune's narrative and systems into the SNES era and celebrating the shared heritage between Fox and the EarthBound modding community. The project credits an array of contributors, including Chromadeline, Isaiah_Mark, CoolMikeHaha, Nes_Cade, felix.rodent, Atlantixa, NOLI_KISSES, as well as the broader PK Hack community—highlighting a true collaborative spirit that defines fan development on classic Nintendo platforms such as the SNES. ‘Bound to the Dark World’ not only serves as a tribute to the creativity and dedication of ROM hackers but also strengthens the enduring legacy of both Deltarune and EarthBound.

As passion projects like this continue to flourish, they shine a spotlight on the vibrant culture surrounding Nintendo titles, accessible today through platforms like the eShop, Nintendo Switch Online, and fan-driven initiatives worldwide.

Deltarune SNES EarthBound Toby Fox Xbox Series X|S ROM Fox Xbox X|S Nintendo Bound to the Dark World Chromadeline Undertale itch.io PK Hack community