Play This Set March 2026 - RetroAchievements/RANews GitHub Wiki

Play This Set is a showcase for our passionate community members to write about the games and achievement sets they love. Our inbox is always open, whether you're an achievement developer looking to promote your work or a player wanting to spread the word about your favorite hidden gem. If interested, submit your write-up as a private message to {% rauserpic RANews %}.

Game	Console	Genre
BS The Legend of Zelda: Ancient Stone Tablets	SNES/Super Famicom	Action-Adventure

• Set by: {% rauserpic SporyTike %}, {% rauserpic zeldamaniak %}
• Write-up by: {% rauserpic authorblues %}

Let me start by saying that the set for this game is perfectly servicable. It really mines the game for all of its content, and the content is cool and worth exploring. I am leading with that because -- and my apologies to Spory and zeldamaniak -- I am not here on behalf of BS Zelda Ancient Stone Tablets because of the set.

This game is incredible. If you take the time to patch the MSU-1 version in correctly, what you will experience is an incredible time capsule of bygone technology. So let's go over it from the top down: the Satellaview was a satellite modem peripheral for the Super Famicom that would allow you to download games onto a rewritable flash cartridge in the mid-to-late 90s. At its peak, more than 100,000 players were using the system to enjoy unique games. Some of them were simple twists on games you already know, like additional maps for F-Zero, or Super Mario All-Stars challenges. Some of them were bespoke games, only available through the Satellaview broadcasts.

BS Legend of Zelda: Ancient Stone Tablets was, to borrow our modern terminology, a "romhack" of A Link to the Past. Same engine you already know and love, with new maps (though mostly an unchanged overworld) and a few QOL tweaks. But that isn't why you should play this. The thing that makes this really special is that the game was originally accompanied by a live broadcast, in real time, where events in the game were narrated by voice actors and an orchestral soundtrack. Most evidence of these broadcasts only exist now as VHS recordings, but, thankfully, fans have recreated these broadcasts as an English dub that you can experience through the power of MSU-1. Getting the MSU-1 version set up with the correct files needed to get the accompanying voiceover isn't trivial, but the experience is unrivaled.

For the set, a few things you might want to know: each "episode" came out on a specific week, and the broadcast lasted for about 50 minutes. For that reason, you are on a time constraint. The week's episode ends when the clock hits the 55 minute mark. But fortunately, you can replay a week without losing any progress as many times as you want, so there is pretty much no way to miss any of the achievements. A few of them are challenging to get, but you can usually just repeat a given week as many times as you need to succeed. So don't stress about not keeping up with the broadcast. You don't have to be a speedrunner (but it does help).

Play this game. I know this is a "Play This Set", but honestly, just play the game. The set is good. But I'm not trying to sell you on the set. You just need to experience this game.

Game	Console	Genre
Option Tuning Car Battle Spec R	PlayStation	Racing

• Set and write-up by: {% rauserpic RyCuLe %}

What do you get when you cross Gran Turismo and Tokyo Xtreme Racer? You get Option Tuning Car Battle Spec R, a simcade racer which celebrates the golden era of JDM cars from before the millennium!

Forget BMW. Forget Chevrolet. Here you can tune and push Japanese legends like the R34, Supra, and RX-7 to their limits in head-to-head races via Challenge mode, where you will have to race your way to the top whilst unlocking new parts and cars along the way. Alternatively, you can take on a more traditional racing experience in Arcade mode.

Despite being a Japan exclusive, with the majority of text being in Japanese, the game's menus are simple enough to navigate without the need of a translation patch. Truly a hidden gem and one of the PS1’s most authentic love letters to Japan’s street and circuit racing culture.

Game	Console	Genre
Sonic Drift	Game Gear	Kart Racing

• Set by: {% rauserpic YuriRod50248 %}
• Write-up by: {% rauserpic Labuff %}

I honestly never knew about this game before starting this set, and now it's one of my favourite racing games ever, including Mario Kart. This game is deceptively deep for how simple it is. One button accelerates, and the other does the titular drifting. You also have the up button, which triggers effects different for each character at the cost of 2 rings, something I have seldom seen people talk about. Finally, the set itself is quite complete: win all the cups with each character, challenges included, and go through each and every map in time trial. If you struggle with the latter, I suggest you try out Amy; she is a master at drifting.

Game	Console	Genre
~Hack~ An Ordinary Sonic ROM Hack	Genesis/Mega Drive	2D Platforming

• Set by: {% rauserpic KillingDead6 %}
• Write-up by: {% rauserpic ABCDEFGHI %}

This might be one of the most original ideas I’ve come across for a Sonic hack, so I’m writing this because not a lot of users have tried it.

At first glance I thought it would be an easy meme creepypasta game, but it turned out to be a hardcore experience that tests how good you actually are in Sonic 1. Basically, this hack isn't for the people who never touched Sonic before; you need to know the game, or else you won't survive. If you are a Sonic player who looks for a challenge, this might be an option.

The basic idea is that the act starts normally until the 15th second, after which it switches to the EXE world. Here the Badniks are invincible, the rings decrease your total when collected, and you have 20 seconds or so to escape, because otherwise EXE will kill you. To escape, you need to hit a monitor to reset the timer and return to the normal world. After that, the game constantly switches in time intervals between the normal and EXE world, so you need to know where the monitors are located in order to escape. The act can only be cleared in the normal world, so you need to manage your time and monitors to not reach the end of an act while in the EXE world.

In terms of the set, outside of the progression achievements, you have challenges like speedrunning the acts, beating each zone deathless, and beating the entire game without dying. This will test your endurance; while it isn't the hardest achievement in RA by far, you need to have the map memorized, because in the later stages you basically have to follow a predetermined path or else you won't make it (that, and the fact that in SYZ some parts of the floor lack collision - and that's not counting the fact that the floor in the boss arena doesn't have collision for the falling monitors, so if you lose a monitor while fighting Eggman: game over). There are users who have uploaded their playthroughs, so new players don't have to go blindly. Currently, the game only reaches Labyrinth, although SLZ and SBZ are accessible via level select. Maybe the set will later get a revision for those levels - although as it is, SBZ2 is impossible to beat - so that's the only unbeatable act (SLZ3 is barely doable, but you need every second possible to reach the boss and make it drop a monitor, so that would make beating SLZ deathless almost as hard as SYZ).

Game	Console	Genre
~Hack~ Mario in the Multiverse	Nintendo 64	3D Platforming, Collect-a-thon

• Set by: {% rauserpic Layton %}
• Write-up by: {% rauserpic Johan %}

In this hack, Mario gets trapped into a dimension where he needs to collect stars from different universes like Doom, Bioshock, Pokemon, Kirby, etc. However, there are not only themed levels, but also power-ups! You will be able to use stuff like the bubble hat from SpongeBob BFBB, inkling from Splatoon, Shock Rocket from Rayman and even a damn shotgun™.

The set is pretty simple - collect everything, a couple of hamsterball challenges, and easter eggs. The biggest challenge is Mighty and Brutal, which will put your power-up technique to the test. The 2D environment is kinda janky, so that's something you gotta look out for.

Overall, a great hack with good levels and a simple set. You will have a good time, especially if you're able to recognize all of the franchises.

Game	Console	Genre
~Hack~ BAZR	Nintendo 64	3D Platforming, Roguelike

• Set by: {% rauserpic Layton %}, {% rauserpic authorblues %}
• Write-up by: {% rauserpic Timzy88 %}

It's so hard to pick just one favorite SM64 romhack, but if I had to, BAZR is hands down that. Not only is it Super Mario 64, but it's also Baltro! This hack delivers well on so many things. It gives you the difficulty of a roguelike mixed with the old school platforming of Mario 64. Every playthrough is different, and having themed decks for each character was super fun. It forces the player to think outside of the box of playing Super Mario 64 normally, and into the thinking of how to perform the task with what’s given.

I learned so many new things about a game I’ve played for years, not to mention the new powerups that were added/created just for this game. The battle bus from Fortnite was one of my favorites; it just drops you in from the sky, allowing you to get places you shouldn’t. Overall, I think this is a must play for everyone even if you’re not going for the beat. It is a very difficult hack to get the beat in, but it was so rewarding getting that final star!

Game	Console	Genre
~Hack~ Lug's Delightful Dioramas	Nintendo 64	3D Platforming, Collect-a-thon

• Set by: {% rauserpic Darky %}
• Write-up by: {% rauserpic SolidPilson %}

Coming from a person that is extremely strict with hacks, this is a superb hack. It's so good it could be a standalone game. The fact that I never beat Super Mario 64 and could beat the game almost on hardcore mode (the second part of the last level had me going softcore) says a lot about this piece of art. At every moment the game teaches you how to play it properly and ensures that all challenges scale appropriately.

The graphics are extremely beautiful; the dioramas are really delightful and a joy to play. The colors used by the creator are extremely pleasing on the eyes, and the sculptures are just amazing. Everything looks professional and polished, and the themes of the levels are varied.

The music is great, relaxing tunes coming straight from heaven. At no point did they feel out of place, noisy, or repetitive, and all music felt extremely comfortable to listen to and were placed very well.

The gameplay is pure excellency, 10/10. It teaches you to be good without telling you. Take my example: I struggled to play in the beginning, but the more I played, the more I mastered the movements, and by the end I was zooming through the stages, doing many wall jumps, triple jumps, and even the kick tech to stabilize Mario. I really felt that I was improving at the game and nothing was thrown at me that I couldn't handle (save for the last little part of the game, and that's because I'm no Mario 64 player).

The story is funny and lighthearted, and there's a little surprise at the end.

You should definitely play this even if you're not into hacks. I loved it, and I know everyone will enjoy this game. It definitely has a place in my heart now.

Game	Console	Genre
Choro Q Advance 2	Game Boy Advance	Arcade Racing

• Set by: {% rauserpic LordAndrew %}
• Write-up by: {% rauserpic Labuff %}

Anyone who has known me for a while now may know me for being so insistent on recommending this game to just about anyone who asks for games to play. But what exactly IS this game? Well, Choro Q Advance 2(also known as "Gadget Racers" or "Road Trip: Shifting Gears" for the Americans/Europeans that may have had this game in their GBA back in the day) is a racing game that uses Mode 7, not unlike Mario Kart: Super Circuit. What makes that game different and unique compared to everything else on the console is multifold:

First, there is the matter that this game is actually an incremental racing game. What I mean by that is that, as you progress through the game, you will gain money and unlock upgrades in the shop, and buying those upgrades will allow you to progressively increase different stats of your vehicle, and you WILL feel the difference those many upgrades will do to your driving experience. You even get cosmetics to install on your car, such as different speedometers and even changing your entire car into other cars and non-cars, such as trucks, ambulances and... A tank?!

Secondly, just driving is not all that you will do. There are three main modes (at first) to play through: there's regular driving as you might expect, but there is also a more Mario Kart-y experience with racing using items, and finally, one mode sees you doing missions like punting yourself through the air to reach a target far away, or playing curling with your own car!

Thirdly, you won't be just on the road! There are three different modes of transportation: on road through wheels, on water through sea motors, and finally, through the air, using helicopter and jet parts! Each type has its quirks too: on water, you may be driving through waves, launching you in the air momentarily, and in the air, you don't get slowed by the terrain and many obstacles that were once blocking tight turns are now passable!

All in all, it's a decently long game, with an achievement set that leads you through 100%ing the game. Mastery will take you about 8 hours on average. So get in your car/truck/ANYTHING, and start driving/seafaring/flying!

Game	Console	Genre
Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime	Nintendo DS	Action-Adventure

• Set by: {% rauserpic Gollawiz %}
• Write-up by: {% rauserpic heytallman %}

I am not a fan of Dragon Quest. To date I have played a single mainline title, and it was fine. It didn't do enough to inspire me to play more of the series, and that's ok. Not every series is for everyone. Fast forward to late last year, when a community I'm in did a little Secret Santa RA game exchange, and I get gifted Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime, a spinoff title for a series I'm woefully uneducated on. I get assured that this plays more like a Zelda title than a Dragon Quest, and I'm off to the races.

I'm pleased to report that I enjoyed this game a whole heck of a lot.

One of the things I enjoyed most from my limited time Dragon Questing is the overall vibe I got from the series. Not too serious, puns everywhere, silly monster designs, etc. This comes through in spades here in this game, as you're not a hero destined to save the world, you're just a slime working to rebuild their village. After an attack that destroys your town and the rest of your fellow villagers kidnapped, you set out to free them and stop the Plob who carried out the attack. Gameplay features two main modes, the standard world exploration and fighting, similar to Zelda as pitched to me, and tank battles, which play kind of like an RTS mixed with the giant Bowser fights from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Much of your time will be spent collecting ammo and crewmates for these battles, and they do overshadow the main game at times.

I did master the RA set for this game, but be warned that there is a good amount of grinding required for mastery. You can capture enemies and integrate them into your town, but to max out everything in your town you'll need to capture a significant number of each. For some of the rarer spawns this can lead to a long time looping the same rooms to attempt to get them to spawn, capture them, rinse, and repeat. So unless you're down for a bit of a grindy experience, mastery might be a bit out of reach for some. I found myself grinding captures as I went through the main game, so the post-game grind wasn't TOO overwhelming.

Overall, this was a really charming experience that I'd recommend to most, regardless of your opinion on Dragon Quest as a whole. I'm glad that I played it, as it's a title I never would have given a second look normally.

Game	Console	Genre
~Hack~ Super Mario 64: Peach's Memory	Nintendo 64	3D Platforming, Collect-a-thon

• Set by: {% rauserpic stfN1337 %}
• Write-up by: {% rauserpic Kecleon352 %}

There exists a wide variety of hacks for Super Mario 64, from simple joke hacks such as Quest For Milk 64 to difficult kaizo hacks like Super Mario Treasure World. So, it often becomes a struggle for players to decide on which one they should seek out. And personally, I believe Peach's Memory to hit that perfect balance between accessible and challenging while maintaining the core SM64 movement and experience without adding any extra bells and whistles (such as Mario in the Multiverse, for example).

With six full levels, three cap stages, and a Bowser level, you have 55 stars to collect throughout the entire hack. The levels are creative, and the stars are certainly tough but fair, doubly so with the challenges attached to them through the set's achievements. And all of this culminates with a final platforming gauntlet that will test your platforming capabilities to their fullest for one last Power Star. This was one of my favorite hacks to have gone through for RA, and I can in full confidence recommend this to anyone who has experience playing the game, but doesn't want to deal with any kaizo shenanigans. (Of course, if you are that kind of individual, you can always look at Stars of the Beast 2.5: Beast's Memory, which takes that final gauntlet of Peach's Memory and runs it through the kaizo mill for the heck of it.)