Windows 95 in Hytale (Image credit: Sadat Sahib (AKA iamcxv7))

Modders have already showcased some stunning achievements in Hytale, the hot new sandbox RPG that hit Early Access last Tuesday. Our headline singles out engineer Sadat Sahib (AKA iamcxv7), who has managed to get Windows 95 to run inside the new game. The Hytale experience and extensive creator toolset have led to some pundits describing it as Minecraft 2.0.

COMMUNITY SHOWCASE: A community member ran Windows95 in Hytale! This was made by @iamcxv711 pic.twitter.com/mon88oDFnsJanuary 18, 2026

The above video shows Windows 95 seemingly running without any major hiccups. Interaction seems laborious, but we feel that’s because of a joypad being used as a controller. If a PC mouse and keyboard could be used instead, we’d see greater potential.

Sahib’s social media feed reveals that he’s been busy doing more than just shoehorning Microsoft’s legendary OS into this sandbox RPG. Earlier today, this pioneering Hytale modder managed the inception-worthy feat of running Hytale in Hytale…

Hytale in Hytale, we did it boys. #HytaleModding @Simon_Hypixel by @iamcxv711 pic.twitter.com/iNM93dQZ6mJanuary 18, 2026

The same modder has also managed to get Minecraft running in Hytale, delivering a fatal wound to its spiritual predecessor, perhaps.

Doomed before it was released

What about Doom, we hear you ask? It seems like emulating Doom is such a pushover nowadays that a modder managed to get it to run inside this sandbox RPG even before it was released.

With all of these amazing modding achievements under its belt, within one week of Early Access launch, there are surely many great things to come.

Introducing Hytale

Hytale is one of the hottest games of 2026, with obvious parallels between the sandbox RPG experience and Minecraft. It came about from efforts of the Hypixel Minecraft team, with roots stretching back to 2015. The development has been through some peaks and troughs, with the project even being cancelled in June 2025, but its subsequent revival by the original creator was clearly a canny move.

Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox.

There is already a thriving Hytale modding community, and this is not by accident. Hytale has been built from the ground up for modding, with “creator‑first tools for making your own content, crafting minigames, and running community servers.” That’s in addition to the more traditional fun of “exploration, responsive combat, and robust building.” The game developer’s modding strategy was outlined last November.

Hytale made an almighty splash when it entered Early Access last week. Reports say there were 2.8 million Hytale players on launch day, and 420,000+ Twitch viewers made it the global No.1 watched game, too. The aforementioned cancellation/revival drama helped kindle the hype on the way.

FollowTom’s Hardware on Google News, oradd us as a preferred source, to get our latest news, analysis, & reviews in your feeds.

Mark Tyson is a news editor at Tom’s Hardware. He enjoys covering the full breadth of PC tech; from business and semiconductor design to products approaching the edge of reason.