25.5.26

Nortis PSX

 


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.


Media 



Official Download Links

Github

Flappy Adventure X PSX

 


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.

 

Media

 

 

Download Links

Blog - Github

24.5.26

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  

 

 
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:

TheMightyQuin, TheRealJustSean and Yael Trejo!


 

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