Games are among the only media that allow us to return to a particular title without necessarily returning to and enjoying the original game exactly as we did before.
Of course, films, series, and books have what are known as alternate endings, but games have an additional ingredient that lets us interact further with a title that captivated us so much and that we want to savor a little longer: level editors and the famous hacks, which allow us to alter and modify the structure of an original game, often making a game eternal thanks to the creativity of its fans.
In this special, we will list 10 (out of thousands) that rank among the most impressive, with some even surpassing the games that originated them in certain respects (note: in no particular order):
Harvest Doom (Doom - Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC)
In Harvest Doom, the player's objective is literally to plant crops, collect souls, and build towers, all to set up a defense against the monsters coming to attack. Despite being a SnapMap (a very small map), there are so many objectives and such varied results that it can be played for hours on end. Check it out here.
LoveGLaDOS (Portal 1 - PS3, Xbox 360, PC)
Portal is already a more modern game with many fan-made levels, and there are websites created specifically to store their work, such as the one at this link. One of the most highly praised and widely played is LoveGLaDOS, with simple (but functional and effective) level design, medium-to-high difficulty, good lighting, and even a reference to the film Dr. Strangelove.
Clone Wars (Elecman stage) (Mega Man Powered Up)
The PSP remake of the first game in the blue robot's series has so many levels that it is difficult to list them all, let alone play every one! Available at this link, one of those that best demonstrates the creativity of aspiring level designers is called FireChute and is based on the theme of the robot master Fireman. With multiple paths and a high level of challenge, this is a must-have for fans of one of this classic's best features!
Newer Super Mario Bros. Wii (New Super Mario Bros. Wii)
Featuring 128 new levels, remixed and original music, graphics, and textures, as well as new bosses and countless other features, it is so well produced that many people even say it could have been made by the original team. With a difficulty level that is challenging yet accessible to more casual players, this is a fangame that will certainly take a long time to complete at 100%. Visit the creators' website here.
CS Rio de Janeiro (Counter Strike - PC)
Released in 2001, this map made by Joca Prado and Roger Sodré (which includes funk music in the background, an interactive ball, and new textures) became famous in Brazil and sparked controversy by causing the sale of the game to be banned in the country in 2008, a ban that was only lifted in 2011. Download it here.
Movie Duels 2 (Star Wars - Jedi Knight - PC, Mac)
A major work built on the Jedi Knight game engine, it features new levels and characters that let players reenact the lightsaber duels from Episodes 1, 2, and 3, with all the scenes taken directly from the films. Best of all, it can be played online and from both sides of the Force (the dark side and the light side). Check it out here.
Warcelona (Left 4 Dead 2 - Xbox 360, Windows, Mac OS Classic, Linux)
Featuring four new maps and having taken a year and a half to develop, Warcelona takes place 30 weeks after the original game and has us play as the original game's characters, who are inside a church in Barcelona and looking for a way to get out alive. Filled with action and tension, and even featuring new zombies, Warcelona received top scores in reviews. Check it out here.
Quiet Rehabilitation (Half-Life 2 - Android, PC, Xbox, Xbox 360, PS3, Linux, Mac OS Classic)
Although it is a light and short map, Quiet Rehabilitation offers appealing difficulty, intelligent puzzles (with the door at the beginning being the most implicit of them), and highly tense combat within cleverly designed levels. It is also another map with a sequel. Check it out here.
Five Nights in the Dark (Minecraft - PC, MAC)
In this level for the famous Minecraft, your mission is to survive five nights (from 12:00 to 18:00), which become increasingly complicated as playtime passes and can last anywhere from hours to a few days. Use your tools wisely here. Check it out at this link.
Track #14 by SergioChileno (Trackmania Turbo - PS4, Xbox One, PC)
Released in 2016 by Ubisoft, this excellent game already has a wide range of custom tracks. One of the most famous categories is stunt, which is the basis for this track by user Sergiochileno, set in a city near an industrial facility. With beautiful visuals, many detours, slopes, chasms, and jumps, this track is an enormous challenge! Check it out here.
Extra Mention: Luminous Forest Revamped (Sonic Forces - PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC)
Another game that lets fans make multiple changes to virtually everything, Sonic Forces has developed a solid base of fan-made levels that have even improved certain aspects of the game's original stages, making them better and more challenging, and Luminous Forest is a great example. Featuring additional enemies and areas, along with reworked sections that remove elements which got in the way in some stages, this is just one of the great works by user Brandon Jones, who already has a YouTube channel; see his result in the video. Download it here.
