A new fan-made game, Temple Maker 64, is in development for Steam, offering players the ability to create and share their own 3D dungeons in a style reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. The project is the work of Akela-morse, a solo developer who left his full-time software engineering job to pursue the idea.
Inspired by existing 2D dungeon creation tools like Super Dungeon Maker and Quest Master, Akela-morse decided to pursue a N64 aesthetic for his project. Temple Maker 64 will feature classic weapons, items, and enemies found in early 3D Zelda titles, though it will avoid using any direct Nintendo intellectual property. The protagonist also draws inspiration from Link without replicating his design exactly.
This approach to IP is a deliberate choice, as Akela-morse expressed confidence in his project's legal standing. "Nintendo is aggressive about people using IPs, assets, or code they don't own," he stated on Reddit. "They also try to patent game mechanics, but the patent is either refused or gets accepted because it's extremely specific (and therefore barely enforced). I'm doing none of that. Legally speaking, there's nothing they can do but watch in fear."
The developer aims to include social features such as comments, tagging, and lists in the full release. Akela-morse is also considering a single-player campaign and potentially collaborating with other developers of Zelda-like games to create maps. A Steam demo was released in May, and playtesters have already demonstrated advanced techniques, including Kaizo-style challenges that require precise movement and environmental interaction.
Akela-morse remains realistic about the project's prospects, stating he is prepared to return to traditional employment if Temple Maker 64 does not succeed. As a contingency, he is also developing another game, Seed of Life, which is inspired by The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Regardless of the outcome for Temple Maker 64, Akela-morse plans to release the framework he created as an open-source project to aid other aspiring game developers.