The NES homebrew scene continues to surprise in 2025 with The Trial of Kharzoid, a new cartridge release that blends genres in a way that feels both weirdly familiar and genuinely innovative. At a glance it might seem like yet another retro passion project, but its “arkanoidvania” identity makes it stand out from the crowd.
This physical NES release — part of Broke Studio’s Homebrew Factory line — puts a fresh spin on classic 8-bit gameplay by fusing brick-breaking mechanics with elements you’d expect from sprawling action titles like Castlevania.
It really does look quite remarkable. But there is a question we need to answer…
What on earth is an “arkanoidvania”?
It’s an awkward label, don’t you think? I think that is perhaps intentional.
At its core, The Trial of Kharzoid lets you bounce a skull around the screen like a paddle game (think Arkanoid) while navigating interconnected labyrinths, chatting with NPCs, finding upgrades, and slugging it out with massive bosses as you push deeper into the world of Xyleria. The narrative premise is gloriously strange: a wicked wizard named Kharzoid has turned the realm into a deadly trial, imprisoning souls in magical skulls and subjecting them to ceaseless torment. You play one such hero, determined to survive, overcome the maze, and face the villain in his tower.
The mash-up of brick-breaking and exploration is central to how the game plays. You break blocks and move like you’re in an old paddle game, but you also backtrack through levels, find items, and confront bosses in a way that feels more like a classic adventure title.
For a NES homebrew title, The Trial of Kharzoid is remarkably ambitious:
- Over 80 levels with varied environments
- Multiple areas that connect together rather than being strictly linear
- Bigger bosses and smaller enemies alike
- New abilities and upgrades to unlock
- A 2-player battle mode for local competitive fun
Whether you’re grinding through traps or dodging pattern-heavy hazards, there’s a surprising amount of variety here — and that’s before you consider the oddity of its core design.
How can you get The Trial of Kharzoid?
The game started life in the indie world as a downloadable ROM on itch.io, where the developer, Pascal Bélisle, iterated on demos and updates before the physical cart became a reality. The homebrew community has been buzzing about this one for months, with players sharing impressions, praising its controls and genre mash-up, and celebrating how vibrant the NES scene still is more than 40 years after the console’s launch.
The physical cartridge works on both PAL and NTSC systems thanks to a multi-region chip, and has been tested on authentic hardware and popular clones like the (out of stock) AVS from retroUSB. Broke Studio’s edition ships in full colour with a box, manual, and sleeve — a true collector-grade feel for those who want real NES hardware play.
If you want the physical cartridge and box, it’s a reasonable £50 (or thereabouts in euros) from Homebrew Factory. Or you can get the digital version from Itch.io, where you’ll also find the demo if you want to try before you buy. Remember, this is a NES-designed game, so you will need a NES emulator for the digital version.
Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through those links. This comes at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!
Christian Cawley is the founder and editor of GamingRetro.co.uk, a website dedicated to classic and retro gaming. With over 20 years of experience writing for technology and gaming publications, he brings considerable expertise and a lifelong passion for interactive entertainment, particularly games from the 8-bit and 16-bit eras.
Christian has written for leading outlets including TechRadar, Computer Weekly, Linux Format, and MakeUseOf, where he also served as Deputy Editor.
When he’s not exploring vintage consoles or retro PCs, Christian enjoys building with LEGO, playing cigar box guitar, and experimenting in the kitchen.
