The Best Pokémon Rom Hacks and Fan Made Games
For over twenty years, Pokemon has persisted as one of the largest, most well-known franchises in the gaming industry. It provides fans with endless characters, possibilities, storylines, and games.
Fans have even found a way to create their own versions of some of the most classic games. These games carry on the essence of the main Pokemon games while taking paths that haven’t been explored by the franchise’s designers.
But that’s not all that Pokemon fans do with their gaming experience. Some very clever players have found ways to modify the existing Pokemon games. That’s beyond my technical knowledge, but you better believe I’ll happily take advantage of their Pokemon ROM hacks.
In this article, you'll find an extensive list of the best Pokemon ROM hacks available and games created by fans.
Grab your Pokeballs because it’s time to catch them all and become a Pokemon master!
Pokemon Mega Power
If you're a fan of the video game Pokemon Emerald, then you'll want to check out Mega Power. This Pokemon ROM hack takes the characters on a quest to make the strongest Pokemon through lots and lots of experimentation. But all of that experimentation comes at a hefty cost. Just as funds start to run out, a mysterious fancier turns up and sends you on a new adventure.
Could it be that your fancier is not on a quest for knowledge but rather a quest to manipulate your strongest Pokemon creations? You'll have to play the game to find out more.
Pokemon Mega Power contains three new areas (or regions), and it builds on the available Pokemon found in the original game. It even features all of the Mega Evos and Generations IV, V, VI, and VII.
Pokemon Light Platinum
Pokemon Light Platinum builds on the popular Pokemon Ruby game, allowing you to explore the Zhery Region while meeting and battling brand new rivals. You can put your skills against the region's awesome Gym Leaders, Elite Four, and of course, the Champion. You can even capture and train new Pokemon from the Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh Regions.
Don't forget to check out all of the neat moves and items you can collect while playing the game. You can even participate in special events and the Pokemon World Championship! This game boasts over twenty hours of gameplay, building on an already incredible Pokemon game.
Pokemon Flora Sky
Pokemon Emerald is a game that keeps giving thanks to all of the talented gamers who create Pokemon ROM hacks, and Pokemon Flora Sky is another great addition to the world. In this brand new story, you can catch over 360 Pokemon, encounter animated sprites, and find new moves and items.
Pokemon Flora Sky may not be perfect, but Nintendo liked it enough to borrow some of the story elements for their new releases. The progression system in Pokemon Flora Sky is next level because it doesn't require grinding. This means to complete the story and progress through the areas; you get to go on a treasure hunt!
If you're familiar with Pokemon Emerald, you'll be pleased to know that Rotom is much easier to catch in the ROM hack, but Ralts proves to be a bit more challenging. This happens to be a reversal of how the original game allowed Pokemon to be caught.
Pokemon Blazed Glazed
Pokemon Blazed Glazed is another ROM hack of Pokemon Emerald adapted from an older version of Pokemon Glazed(another ROM hack). Once your characters reach the age of maturity, you're given a Pokemon of your choice to start on your brand new quest. Of course, to further the storyline along, you'll quickly find that the world has dissolved into chaos, and you'll have to become the savior of both the real and Pokemon world.
In a shocking turn of events, Pikachu is stalking you for revenge (uh-oh!), and you'll have to deal with them throughout the game.
If you played the previous ROM hack, you'd be pleased to know that Pokemon Blazed Glazed has been loaded with many improvements. The biggest one is that you're able to choose five starters, explore new regions, and play with Dream World Pokemon. They also added Pokemon from Generation IV through VI, included new moves, and changed the spawn locations of the Pokemon.
Pokemon Glazed
If the last Pokemon ROM hack caught your interest, you might want to try out the original Pokemon Glazes. While Pokemon Blazed Glazed is an improved version of this hack, it's undeniable that Pokemon Glazed is a fantastic ROM hack.
It's a coming-of-age story set to the world's backdrop falling apart the main character as he works to become a full-fledged Pokemon trainer. Fortunately, part of his journey is saving the world. When it comes to gameplay, it's similar to its predecessor. You can choose from five different starters, explore three regions (Tunod, Johto, and Rankor), and you get to catch Dream World and Legendary Pokemon.
This game features some fun opportunities to gain experience and money as you battle trainers and Gym Leaders. This Pokemon ROM hack is a lot of fun, even if there is a better update available.
Pokemon Theta Emerald Ex
It should come as no surprise that Pokémon Emerald, one of the franchise's most popular games, is also one of the most popular games to create ROM hacks from. Pokemon Theta Emerald EX is another one of these hacks that improves something that is already beloved.
There are over 700 Pokemon to catch in the game, compared to the 600 that you can catch in previous game versions. This includes new abilities, TMs, HMs, and Mega Evos, as well as Primal Revisions. You can even find new Fairy-types in the game, with the new Repel mechanic.
Another fun and purely aesthetic element are that you can run inside of buildings!
Pokemon Mega Emerald X and Y Edition
After waiting and waiting, Pokemon Mega Emerald X and Y Edition are finally complete. This Pokemon ROM hack is a bit mundane, but it follows the typical Pokemon adventure game route with a few fun twists and turns along the way.
Overall, this game is similar to Pokemon Emerald, but you'll be pleased to discover that the new Pokemon have sprites edited into the game! Pokemon Mega Emerald X and Y also prides itself on having Generation I to VI (though not all of them) available throughout the game. You can, however, find all of the Legendary Pokemon, which is a fun treat!
If you are looking to spend a bunch of hours into a variation of Emerald, then this is the one to go for!
Pokemon Liquid Crystal
If you're anything like most fans who played Pokemon Dark Rising, you're probably still traumatized. Fortunately, Pokemon Liquid Crystal is here to soothe your wounds. The game is bright, colorful, and lends itself to leisurely gameplay.
You can revisit the Kanto and Johto regions, embracing that sense of adventure that Pokemon games do so well.
While the game doesn't bring a lot of new content to the table, it serves as an apology to fans who were disappointed that they couldn't keep their Pokemon when the game progressed from Gameboy Advance Nintendo DS.
Pokemon Gaia
Pokemon Gaia is a ROM hack that uses Pokemon FireRed as its base, spawning a far more intricate story than the original. In other words, it's a glorified version of a firered ROM. Thousands of years ago, the old civilization worshiped gods until an earthquake consumed the upper areas — now you are tasked to prevent another cataclysmic calamity.
Travel through the regions of Kanto, Johto, Sinnoh, Unova, and Kalos while you fight against time to save the Region of Orbetus and complete the task Professor Redwood has set you out on. The mechanics are new, allowing players to use Mega Evolutions, Fairy-types, and explore underwater locations.
This game is truly a fantastic ROM hack and could easily feel like a spin-off game created by the developers themselves.
Pokemon Ultra Shiny Gold Sigma
While this ROM hack is another game based on Pokemon FireRed, Pokemon Ultra Shiny Gold Sigma is based on the classic Gold, Silver, and Crystal games. But there are new and exciting plot points and elements that are well worth the playthrough.
When you start, you have a roster of over 800 Pokemon (from Generation I to VII) to choose from. You also have Mega Evolutions, Miracle Exchange, and many other cool trading evolutions. EVs and IVs are shown on the menu so that you can avoid complicated calculations during your trades.
Pokemon Adventures Red Chapter
This ROM hack emerged as a front runner in the Poke Community Hack of the Year contest from 2013 and 2015, which makes it no surprise that we're still talking about it five years later. This hack is based on Pokemon FireRed and is part of the official Pokemon Adventure Collections.
The story follows along with the Pokemon Adventure Manga and contains most of the events, with a few events expanded upon for longer gameplay. Since it follows a canonical story so closely, you can't pick your own starter Pokemon. Don't worry; you will be able to choose your own later in the game.
This Best Pokemon ROM hack features many cool details; a full catalog of catchable Pokemon, root fossils, and so much more.
Pokemon Dark Cry
Pokemon Dark Cry has one of the most intricate stories on this list. At the start of the game, you wake up and realize you're in a mysterious cavern. As you explore the cavern, you find a man with an “R” on his shirt and attempt to stop him without success. From there, a giant earthquake occurs, and a shadow approaches you… just in time for you to wake up a second time and discover you had been dreaming.
Only… your dream slowly becomes a reality.
Pokemon Dark Cry features a brand new region called Trion, and you can read the PokéPaper to get your daily news while you attempt side quests, mini-games, and so many other neat features. Don't miss out on this Pokemon ROM hack.
Pokemon Ash Gray
Pokemon Ash Gray is another Pokemon FireRed hack that you won't want to miss out on. You play as Ash Ketchum, including through the events of the first episode of the beloved Pokemon series. So yes, you get to play with Pikachu, just like Ash himself.
The game embarks on a quest that parallels events from the series and some of the movies. Which we happen to think is a nice little bonus to an already awesome game. As you play, you can catch Pokemon Ash finds during the series, but don't worry; you don't have to play with them.
Pokemon Ash Gray lacks a few features, like Mega Evolution, that some of the previous ROM hacks boast, but it captures all of your favorite Pokemon games' standard gameplay. Who can say “no” to that?
Now onto some of our favorite entirely fan-made Pokemon games. Seriously, it's not fair that these gamers are so talented that they can… create entire Pokemon games.
Pokemon Prism
Pokemon Prism is an insanely fun ROM hack based on Pokemon Crystal for Game Boy Color. You'll need to ensure that you have an emulator or cartridge to play Pokemon Prism, but it's worth the effort to set it up.
The game begins with the Dragon Trainer's child, Lance, playing in a minecart that suddenly loses control and flies down an old track in the region of Naljo. From there, the player adopts a Lavitar and sets off through Naljo to collect gym badges, play mini-games, and encounter over 200 different Pokemon species.
Pokemon 3D
Pokemon 3D is a truly remarkable fan-made game that simulates classic Pokemon in a 3D pop-up style. Players take direct control of their Pokemon's movements and attack sequences, allowing you to choose to retreat while they have their cool-off periods. You can explore the 3D environment and interact with other trainers and Pokemon throughout the game.
This game came out in 2015, and players are still playing the game today. There's a vibrant and active community on the Pokemon 3D site, discussing past and future updates. It's a fun one to try out!
Pokemon Reborn
If you're looking for a lengthy Pokemon game to try out, Pokemon Reborn provides players with over 55 hours of gameplay! This fan-made game was designed in an RPG Maker rather than in ROM, so it's not quite a ROM hack.
The game is set in Reborn City, a polluted mess of a metropolis plagued with crime. You are tasked with collaborating with the other Pokemon trainers to stop the evil organization that has taken control of the city!
Sounds fun, right? Pokemon Reborn features 18 different gyms to battle in and introduces the concept of Field Effects into the game. These effects can be used to change up the battlefield to favor different types of Pokemon.
Pokemon Godra
Out of all of the other fan-made Pokemon games, Pokemon Godra focuses on the trainer rather than the Pokemon. This popular ROM hack allows you to choose your career path: Trainer Coalition Leader, Military General, Safari Zone Warden, and many other fun careers. From there, you can find Pokemon from various versions of the classic games, delve into new quests, storylines, and explore the Western and Eastern portions of the map.
Pokemon Dark Rising
Often described as the Dark Souls of Pokemon games, you'll want to download Pokemon Dark Rising if you love complex and difficult games. You play as a young trainer from the Core Region who wakes up from a strange dream to find a peculiar Pokemon you've never seen before. Once Pokemon choose you as its trainer, you'll have to work together to save the world!
This game has a similar premise to a few mentioned above, but the perk to Pokemon Dark Rising is that you can start with all Dragon-types and discover Pokemon from the first five generations.
Pokemon Phoenix Rising
Set in the region Hawthorne, a war-torn region under the mercy of a tyrannical king, Pokemon Phoenix Rising is a fan-made game developed using RPG Maker XP. Trainers are tasked with finding and resurrecting the legendary Ho-oh to restore peace and harmony throughout the region of Hawthorne.
Pokemon Phoenix Rising features so many impressive features that you'll never find in a mainstream Pokemon game. You control the game's outcome by making choice-based decisions that will affect the quests and in-game events you encounter. You can even customize your skill trees to design different players with different play-styes.
Pokemon Uranium
Following the events of a nuclear explosion in the Tandor region, a young Pokemon trainer sets off on a discovery journey as they face strange occurrences and irradiated Pokemon. Pokemon Uranium took nine years to develop before its release in 2016, and this fan-made Pokemon game is one of the most popular ones available to download.
The game features 150 original Pokemon and features some new irradiated Pokemon you've never seen before. Trainers can obtain eight badges, defeat the Tandor league, and work to stop nuclear meltdowns through the region.
Pokemon Insurgence
If you've ever played with RPG Maker XP, you'll be familiar with how this fan-made Pokemon game was created.Pokemon Insurgence takes a turn towards the dark side, taking players through the region of Torren where war has broken out between those who seek to obtain world domination. The game allows you to customize your trainer, use Mega Evolutions, access secret bases, and create delta species.
What's a delta species? You mix two species of Pokemon to create a brand-new Pokemon! Pokemon Insurgence gives players limitless options and opportunities to explore the world of Pokemon through a new world. There are over 720 Pokemon to play with as you venture through the region of Torren!
Pokemon Brown
Pokemon Brown is a modified version of Pokemon Red. It was initially released in 2004 and received updates for several years. It introduces new content, including a new region, story, gym leaders, and more. Pokemon Brown was a significant mod when it was released because it changed how everything worked. You could use the Pokemon engine to create your own game for the first time and it served as inspiration for many hacks over the years.
Pokemon Omega Red
Pokemon Omega Red introduced some new features and included Pokemon from generations four through eight. You can expect improved outdoor graphics, a day and night system, every Pokemon available at the time of release, and more. It takes place in the Kanto region. It also features increased difficulty compared to Pokemon Fire Red, so if you want a nice challenge, you will want to check this out.
Pokemon Tre: Team Rocket Edition
This one is a little different as you get to be part of Team Rocket. The premise is that Giovanni, the leader of Team Rocket, is looking for his successor. To prove yourself worthy, you must pass a test, which includes defeating the “elite four” as well as all of the Pokemon gyms.
Other modifications to this game include the map, new text, and sprites being changed as well. This is a chance to play as one of the villains in the Pokemon universe, so give it a shot if you have ever wanted to be a part of Team Rocket.
Pokemon Unbound
Set in Borrius, this takes place in a land engulfed in a conflict with a foreign power. Things don't go as planned, and what was used to try and win the war now must be sealed away to prevent evil forces from using it.
Pokemon Unbound features a custom battle engine. There are also some updates that fans will appreciate, such as autorun and unlimited bag space. There are four difficulty modes for you to choose from, and once you do get past the main story, there is still a lot to do with all of the post-game content.
Pokemon Saffron
Azira is the locale for this game. This is where many Pokemon call home as they migrate across the world. Once every ten years, an event takes place that causes the population to explode in numbers, something known as the Great Migration. You will explore Azira as you try to learn about why this happens while also looking into what Team Rocket has planned.
This fan-made game features every Pokemon from generations one through eight. You also have Mega Evolution, Dynamax/Gigantamax, and Z-Move mechanics available. The graphical fidelity has been updated. There are also brand new mechanics, such as Bait Fishing which you can use during your adventure.
Pokemon Revolution Online
This online game features over 10,000 active members a day. You can create your own guild or join one of the many established ones already in the game.
The game has four regions with Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh. You can compete in competitive online gameplay in an environment built off of the generation seven format. You also have player vs. environment areas as well if you are someone that wants to avoid playing with other people.
Pokemon Rejuvenation
This fan-made game has content that goes through the eighth generation. It takes place in the Aevium region, and it is your job to try and keep everything from descending into chaos.
This one features all 898 Pokemon. It is a work in progress, but the developers claim over 80+ hours of gameplay, and 15 gyms are currently available, with more to come.
Pokemon Crystal Clear
This title features an open world you can explore with legendary starters. You will get to explore Johto, a place considered to be the origin of Pokemon. There is also Kanto, where you will find some gym leaders. This is also where you can battle with all of the available classes.
Some of the new features in this one include new tiles and sprites. You will also have access to infinite “technical machines” that will make your battles easier if used correctly. There are also some new animations and graphics that make everything look more realistic than before. It's definitely worth a download.
Pokemon Volt White
You will explore the Unova region full of new items and creatures to discover. There are 649 Pokemon available here for you to try and capture. Some new pokémon are also introduced here, such as Zebstrika and Vanilish.
Some of the differences you will notice here are that there is an entirely white forest and a legendary focus for you to explore. Opelucid City has changed its appearance a bit as well. You will also learn details about the Black City, a common difference between the original White and Black versions of the game.
Pokemon Radical Red
