Nortis

 

Developer: Jimmy Breck-McKye

Release Date: August, 2024

Graphics: 2D

Version: 1.0 

Genre: Puzzle

Players: 1

 

 

Description

Nortis (formerly Notris) is a Tetris-inspired homebrew game developed for the original PlayStation using PSNoobSDK by Jimmy Breck-McKye. In this game, players must stack falling pieces correctly to clear lines and avoid filling up the playfield.

 

Extra Info 

Nortis follows the core idea of classic block-stacking puzzle games, where the player must position falling pieces to complete full horizontal lines and clear them from the board. Unlike traditional Tetris games, Nortis does not feature a progressive difficulty curve. Instead, the challenge emerges naturally from player mistakes: as the board fills up, planning becomes more constrained and every decision matters more.

In this game, the next piece is always selected completely at random. There is no way to preview or know which piece will appear next at any point during the game, not even while placing the current one. Because of this, the game fully relies on unpredictability. The same piece can also appear multiple times in a row, sometimes even 3 or more times consecutively, in a completely capricious way.

The game does not include any soundtrack or sound effects, focusing entirely on gameplay and mechanics.

One of the most interesting aspects of the project is its extensive technical documentation. The GitHub repository not only includes the game’s source code, but also detailed explanations about PS1 rendering techniques, VRAM management, ordering tables, double buffering, primitive drawing, and the overall workflow behind PlayStation homebrew development. Because of this, Nortis also works as an educational resource for developers interested in low-level PS1 programming.

Nortis was originally created as both a game project and a personal challenge for the developer to learn low-level C programming and understand how PlayStation games were made during the 1990s. Before reaching the PS1, the game was first prototyped in JavaScript and later rewritten in C before finally being ported to real PlayStation hardware using PSNoobSDK. 

Nortis was featured during the Flappy Week event alongside the celebration of the developer’s birthday on 25th May.

Official Download Links

Github

Flappy Adventure X

 

Developer: Juanmv94

Release Date: March, 2021

Graphics: 3D

Version: 1.0  

Genre: Platformer

Players: 1

 

 

Description 

Flappy Adventure X is the first of several homebrew projects by Juanmv94 developed for the PS1, based on the iconic Flappy Bird. It is a 2D platforming game that is as challenging as it is addictive.

  

Extra Info

Flappy Adventure X puts you in control of Flappy, a small bird based on the viral mobile character that took the internet by storm back in 2012. The story of the game follows Flappy’s idea of becoming friends with the Angry Birds. In the intro, the red bird tells Flappy that if he wants to be their friend, he must reach the end of the “Pipe Forest”. This simple goal quickly turns into an obsession, leading Flappy to push himself too far, ultimately ending up in the hospital and even losing his girlfriend due to his fixation.

Although the game presents itself with a 2D gameplay perspective, it is actually built entirely within a 3D environment. Most objects in the world are fully three-dimensional, with only Flappy, the HUD, coins, and certain enemies rendered as 2D elements.

The game is structured across a total of 6 levels, each increasing in difficulty and complexity. In addition to the main platforming gameplay, some levels also include  minigames such as Tetris and Space Invaders, adding variety and unexpected gameplay shifts.

The game is built around a simple but highly demanding jumping mechanic. You can jump freely as many times as you want, but movement comes with strict limitations:

• You cannot change direction mid-air until you land.
• You can only fall or jump again while airborne.
• Any collision during a jump (walls, ceiling, corners, etc.) results in instant death.

Only a safe landing allows you to continue without penalty. This system makes precision absolutely essential, turning every jump into a high-risk decision.

In addition to this, there are environmental hazards that can also kill the player, such as burning zones or floating floor tiles that crush Flappy. The game also features enemies, including Chuck, the yellow bird of Angry Birds. 

To help balance the difficulty, the game includes flags placed throughout each level. However, they are not frequent, and reaching them often requires taking risky paths. Coins are strategically placed to encourage risky movement, which often leads to failure.

This game also includes a light sense of humor throughout the experience, both in its animated intro and in various in-game text messages and situations. 

Flappy Adventure X is an extremely challenging game. It is designed to test patience, timing, and precision. There is also a secret area hidden within the game where players can obtain advantages that make progression easier.

We recommend playing it slowly, carefully… and maybe with a cup of tea nearby.

 

Download Links

Blog - Github

Flappy Week Begins - PS1 Homebrew Guess Challenge Winner Announced

On 17th May, we announced that a special event would take place, as well as the start of  a challenge to guess the two game titles featured in the online event on May 25th. This challenge was designed as a small community activity leading up to the event, encouraging players to carefully analyse the hints provided and attempt to discover the projects that would be revealed during the special event.

As promised, on 24th May we are announcing a couple of things. The first is to reveal the winner of the PS1 Homebrew Guess Challenge. The second is to explain what this event is about and what will happen each day.

Before continuing, we would like to sincerely thank everyone who participated in the challenge, whether by submitting guesses, sending support messages, voting, or sharing their opinions. This is a community-driven project, and every contribution helps make this scene stronger and more active.

So, without further ado, let’s get started! 

 

Winner of the PS1 Homebrew Guess Challenge  

 

Venom_Snakeee 

 

Congratulations for correctly identifying both games using the hints provided. It was not an easy task at all, but after several attempts, you managed to get it right. Well done! Therefore, we are pleased to grant you the title of PSX Homebrew Detective Award 2026!

 

We would also like to make a special mention to Ivan Kuzmenko, who on Twitter correctly guessed “Flappy Adventure” even before Venom_Snakeee. While the saga was correct, one of the requirements of the challenge was to provide the full names of both games. For this reason, he could not be selected as the official winner. However, we still want to highlight this effort, as it was one of the closest answers to the final result.

 

We also want to congratulate all the other participants who submitted a wide variety of guesses, from completely different titles to surprisingly close attempts. It has been great to see the community actively trying to solve the challenge. A special thank you as well to everyone who sent support messages and encouragement throughout the event. Special mentions to:

 Andrew Clark, Future_Redd, ggiodddtyii, Girotin, 

Hensemderilwan, Golden Age Turbo, luksamuk, 

Medium-Shopping3037, Phlanix, PorongaBionica0069, 

TheMightyQuin, TheRealJustSean and Yael Trejo!

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Flappy Week Begins!

With this announcement, we officially kick off Flappy Week!

This online event will run from 25th May to 31st May, showcasing two homebrew titles developed by Juanmv94: Flappy Adventure X and Flappy Adventure 3. Throughout the week, you can expect articles, gameplay showcases, challenges, interviews, and more. Every day will bring something new.

We have also included a schedule image so you can easily see what will be happening each day during the event.

Thank you again to everyone who participated. And now… let’s begin Flappy Week properly. See you tomorrow with the first major content drop!

Remember that you can follow the event on our Twitter/X (where all updates will be posted) or on our subreddit (where the most important announcements will be shared).

— The PSX Homebrew Games Team

Tetrade

Developer: Logan Campbell

Release Date: March, 2024

Graphics: 2D

Version: 1.0 

Genre: Puzzle

Players: 1 or 2

 

 

Description

The PS1 homebrew scene continues to revisit and reinterpret some of the most iconic games in history, and Tetrade is a perfect example of that. This project aims to bring the timeless gameplay of Tetris to the original PlayStation, adapting its simple yet addictive formula to Sony’s 32-bit hardware.

The result is a familiar experience that remains true to the original while introducing a few modern touches that enhance gameplay without breaking its core identity. 

 

Extra Info 

Just like in the original Tetris, the objective is to place falling pieces in a way that completes horizontal lines. Each completed line clears space and rewards the player with points, allowing the game to continue for longer.

As the game progresses, the difficulty gradually increases. Players level up over time, and with each new level, the falling speed of the pieces becomes faster. This creates increasing pressure, forcing players to react more quickly and plan ahead. Mistakes accumulate over time, and as the stack grows higher, the risk of reaching the top of the screen becomes inevitable, which results in a game over.

One of the notable additions in this version is the Hold mechanic. This allows players to store the currently falling piece and swap it for later use. It adds a layer of strategy, enabling better planning and recovery from difficult situations, especially when an unwanted piece appears at the wrong time.

 

Media

Official Download Links

Github

PSX Homebrew Games Announces Its First Community Event!

We are excited to officially announce the organization of our very first online event focused on celebrating and promoting two PS1 homebrew projects!

The event will officially begin on 25 May, and over the coming days we’ll be running a special community activity across our social media platforms. The idea behind this event is simple: bring the community together, celebrate the creativity behind modern PS1 homebrew development, and make everyone part of the experience.

The two featured projects were specifically selected because we believe they represent some of the most interesting and ambitious directions currently emerging within the PS1 homebrew scene, showcasing both 2D and 3D experiences. We’re genuinely looking forward to finally sharing them with everyone.

 

A Small Challenge Before the Main Reveal

To warm things up before the main reveal, we’ve prepared a special challenge for the community.

Starting today, followers will have the chance to actively participate by trying to guess the two homebrew titles that will be featured during the event. To help you get closer to the correct answers, we’ll be publishing a series of clues over the next few days through our social media channels to help everyone get closer to the correct answers .

Some clues will be straightforward, others much more cryptic… so paying attention will definitely help. 

If you want to participate, we strongly recommend following us on our Twitter (X) account and joining the PSX Homebrew subreddit, since that’s where all clues, hints, and updates will be posted.

 

Rules

• Both are already released PS1 homebrew games.

• Both games were created by the same developer.

• You must correctly guess the full names of BOTH games.

• Guesses can be posted on Reddit or Twitter(X)

• Edited comments will not count.

• The first correct guess will be selected as the winner.

• The challenge closes on 24 May.  

 

Award

The first person to correctly guess both games will be permanently featured in the Awards section as “PSX Homebrew Detective Award 2026”.

This recognition is meant to celebrate members of the community who actively explore and discover hidden gems within the PS1 homebrew scene, helping bring attention to creative projects that might otherwise go unnoticed.

 

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More Than Just a Reveal

The main purpose of this event is not simply to reveal two games, but to celebrate the creativity, passion, and technical ambition that continue to keep the PS1 homebrew scene alive today. We also hope this event helps more people realize just how active and creative the community has become in recent years.

Beyond the challenge itself, our goal is to continue highlighting the incredible work being done by developers within the scene. We hope this event encourages more people to experience these projects, discover new developers, and help bring the community even closer together.

If the reception is positive, we would love to continue organizing similar events in the future focused on new homebrew releases, technical showcases, community discoveries, and other special activities.

Thank you all for the support you’ve shown us so far. We truly hope you enjoy what’s coming next.

— The PSX Homebrew Games Team