A Guide to Pokemon Rom Hacks & Fan Games (2024)

• Fixes bugs present in the original release. Alongside adding a slew of new features for a better experience. Some of which include Gender selection, faster running, surfing and biking. Updated graphics, the Physical/Special split…and more

• Enhancement mod aims to fix bugs and oversights from the original release. A what if Virtual Console release.
• New English builds of R/G/B, restoring original PokeDex entries and more. AI Trainer Enhancements
• Hard Mode
• A wide variety of toggle-able changes that can be enabled through NPCs in-game…and more

• Reimagining of Gen 1 with the Gen 5 Pokedex. Attempts to still Emulate the Gen 1 experience, with the main difference being the PokeDex. Some changes include:
• Addition of Steel and Dark types
• New Moves from later Generations for Dark and Steel coverage, and to assist certain Pokemon
• An optional Challenge Mode patch
• …And more

• An improved, polished version of Pokemon Crystal, fixing bugs, restoring features removed from Gen 1, and adding in convenient improvements from HG/SS. Some other
• Features include: Fairy Type, Natures, Continuous Repels, New areas from HG/SS, and more
• Polished Crystal makes changes to the BST of Pokemon, alongside some move redistribution. It offers a 'Faithful' patch for those who would rather play without those changes.

• Crystal Clear is an Open World version of Pokemon Crystal. Allowing you to choose any Town/City as your home and starting point. From there you can tackle every trainer or gym, with the game scaling as you proceed.
• Crystal Clear has a slew of changes. From complete character customization, to a very informative Pokedex, allowing you to pinpoint information and the location of Pokemon you've seen in the wild or in battle.

• Pokemon Fool's Gold is an April Fool's Day hack that redesigns all 251 Pokemon available visually and mechanically into 'regional variants.' All Pokemon are obtainable without Trading. New areas were also added as new content and to assist with the wild redistribution.

• Pokemon Prism is a beast of a Rom Hack taking place in a new unknown region. After being separated from your mother due to a cave in, you set off on a journey with a Larvitar. Prism contains several regions, a plethora of content, the ability to control your own Pokemon at several points, and alot more.

• Re-imagining of Pokemon Gold and Silver based off of the 1997 Demo. You explore the Nihon Region, with a brand new story, cast and beta Pokemon, remastered in the Crystal GBC style.

• Sequel to Black and White 2 that takes place in the Unova Region several years later. Features a demade Unova Region, demade music, Physical/Special Split, Fairy Type,…and much more.

• Allows you to play as and switch between Red and Green. You basically have two parties. They share inventory, money, can trade between eah other, talk to each other and battle as well.

• Quality of Life Emerald Hack what aims to flesh out the base game. No Pokemon beyond Gen 3 (with the exception of evolutions of Gen 3 Pokemon introduced in later Generations), redesigned routes, abilities, the Physical/Special Split…and more

• Open World Hoenn Region, with a plethora of different options on how to customize your adventure before the game even begins. You have 9 different Pokemon to choose from as a starter, with an extra Surprise Me! Option. As you can start in any town, no HM's are needed at all, which allows you to begin your adventure in island towns such as Pacifidlog Town. Has Pokemon up to Gen 8, Mega Evolution, Z-Powers, Brand new UI, following Pokemon and much more.
  • An expansion including the Kanto Region and Sevii Islands is in progress.

• A roguelike Pokemon game. It has plenty of content, alongside a Quest system for optional goals and to unlock new features. Emerald Rogue is an incredible game and a must play. Don't want to say too much here. A lot to discover on your own.

• Every possible trainer battle is a Double Battle. The standout feature is the new leveling system. Level does not determine a Pokemon's stat, with the exception of HP. Instead, stats are set to a set value based on their BST, and will change depending on the EV's gained through your journey.
  • Damage does not scale by level due to this change.

View: https://youtu.be/PDZzx-Y-JeA

• Glazed is set in the Tunod region four years after the events of HG/SS, where a force is trying to merge the real world and Pokemon World. Also a scarfed Pikachu is attempting to kill you. Glazed contains the Physical/Special split, Fairy type, 2 extra regions, …and more.

• Difficulty focused hack based on Drayano's balancing. Includes most non-legendary Pokemon up to Gen 7, ability to choose any of the regional starters, New areas to help spread the new Pokemon, ..and much more. Inclement also includes 3 different difficulty modes that the player can choose.

View: https://youtu.be/lJB9fsFjjaI

• There's a lot going on in this game. Adds the Seasons Mechanic, you can start a farm, own property, romance, etc. Game also has a barrage of side quests. It's a bit of a weird one, recommending taking a look at the review in Media.

• A simple Quality of Life hack that is a complete version of FireRed and LeafGreen. Adding more post game content, Master Trainers similar to Let's Go, and much more.

• Aims to create the most refined version of Kanto possible. Incorporating new features from later Generations and bug fixes.

View: https://youtu.be/eo7YriyUgow

• A notorious Difficulty Hack with a bunch of new features that really push how flexible Gen 3 hacking has become. Contains hard level caps, customizable difficulty modes, 8th Gen Pokemon and 8th Gen mechanics, DexNav, Mega Evolution, Z-Moves, Raids, and a lot more.

View: https://youtu.be/lMj7YOh7BiI

• A Difficulty and Story focused rom hack that pushed FireRed to it's full potential. Including a new story set in the Barrius Region.
• Pokemon up to Gen 7, with some 8th gen variants are available. Battle system changes up to the 8th gen were also added. Includes a lot of QoL and features such as the DexNav, Raid Battles, Auto-Run, a quest system, daily events, puzzles, etc.

• I refer to it as an offline Pokemon Showdown. As it's sort of basically just that, with rule sets based on the 8th Gen, and a safari zone. No exploration, just a lot of fun endgame battling you can participate in, with battle system changes based off of Pokemon Unbound

• Known as the closest a rom hack has come to feeling like an official Pokemon game. Takes place in a brand new region, with new story, characters, music and Pokemon up to Gen 6 + Mega Evolution.

• Story and Worldbuilding focused rom hack, taking place in a new region called Solda. Has a wide array of customization similar to Pokemon Unbound and Radical Red. Also contains some Fakemon.

• You step into the shoes of a Team Rocket grunt during the events of FireRed/LeafGreen, with the ability to steal the Pokemon of other trainers, climb the ranks, and just cause chaos all around the Kanto Region.

• Pokemon Adventures: Red Chapter is an adaptation of the Pokemon Adventures Manga in the eyes of Red.
• Do note that this hack only works on emulator or on the EZFlash Omega DE due to rom size