JonBound - Dark Future is one of those Earthbound ROM hacks that actually nails the creepy, unsettling vibe it’s going for. At first glance, it looks like the SNES classic you remember—until you realize Ness’s sprite is all wrong, the music’s just slightly off-key, and every NPC has this eerie, dead-eyed stare. It’s like someone took your childhood game and ran it through a nightmare filter.

Combat’s still turn-based, but enemies hit harder, status effects actually matter, and some battles feel downright unfair (in a good way). The writing’s the real star, though—dark humor, weird fourth-wall breaks, and dialogue that makes you pause mid-conversation. I won’t spoil it, but there’s a moment early on with a "friendly" neighbor that still haunts me.

If you’ve played Earthbound to death and want something that twists the nostalgia into something new, this is worth booting up. Just maybe not at 2 AM.