The Best Fan-Made Pokemon Games

Key Takeaways

• Pokemon fan games offer a creative and refreshing spin on the traditional Pokemon gaming experience.
• Popular fan games like Emerald Seaglass, Pokemon Run and Bun, and Pokemon Eternal X And Wilting Y provide unique challenges and new mechanics for players.
• From difficulty hacks like Pokemon Emerald Kaizo to unique concepts like (Not) Pokemon Misty Orange, the variety of fan games caters to different player preferences.

It just so happens that a lot of Pokemon fans are aspiring game designers, and Pokemon is just as much of a creative outlet as much as it is a game series. The proof of that is in the endless pool of fan-made games out there. Of course, some Pokemon fan games float to the surface more than others, but the ones that do are true gems.

Also, you know this to be true: the official games can get boring sometimes. So if you’re looking to spice it up and see the Pokemon franchise in a whole new light, one of these Pokemon fan games might just scratch that itch.

Updated on October 25, 2024, by Emily McElroy: It’s been a great time for Rom Hacks. Updates have come out for older works while a brand-new version of Pokemon Emerald has been taking the Pokemon community by storm. If you’re dying to try out something new, here are some old classics and some new arrivals that will be sure to impress. These are some of the very best (like nobody ever was) Pokemon fan games.

28

Pokemon Emerald Seaglass

The Beauty Of The Sea

If there’s a cozier ROMhack out there, Emerald Seaglass may have dethroned it. This 2024 ROMhack hasn’t been out for very long, but it is already a darling of the Pokemon community. Emerald Seaglass is a remake of Pokemon Emerald using modern mechanics and a Gen 2 art style. Add in follower Pokemon and you have a recipe for success.

Emerald Seaglass isn’t a difficulty ROMhack, but it does give fleshed-out teams to bosses for a little bit of a challenge. It also features things such as the Fairy Type and newer moves, which are fun to play with in the Gen 3 setting. The art style is incredible and it gives a layer of charm to the whole game. Check out Emerald Seaglass and prepare to be wowed.

27

Pokemon Run And Bun

The Notorious RAB

If you take the difficulty of Emerald Kaizo, add the entire Pokedex up to Gen 8, and mix it all around with even more complicated battles- you’d get Pokemon Run and Bun. Designd by dekzeh, this edition of Emerald is an excellent addition to difficulty ROMhacks.

Run and Bun is notorious for being nearly impossible to beat. While it can be done, half the fun of Run and Bun is failing- and you probably will fail (especially if you’re playing a Nuzlocke). You fail again and again, all in the name of finally finding a way to beat a particularly hard trainer. With every Pokemon up to Gen 8 to chose from, you’ll have a lot of options open. Check out Run and Bun if you’d really like a challenge- it’s worth the insanity.

26

Pokemon Eternal X And Wilting Y

Kick It In Kalos

Kalos is one of the most beautiful regions in Pokemon. It’s beautiful, which is why Gen VI ROMhacks are so popular. Buffel Saft’s Pokemon Wilting Y and Eternal X is a hack that aims to make the Kalos experience even better. With Pokemon Wilting Y and Eternal X, you have access to every kind of Pokemon available in Generation VI.

These Pokemon are scattered throughout the world, allowing for teams to be diverse early on. While this isn’t a difficulty hack per se, some versions of this hack have boosted teams for NPCs. These versions range from a rebalanced version to an insanity version, so feel free to choose your own difficulty.

25

Pokemon Damask

Taking Down The Clowns!

Sometimes we seek out community games not because we want to see how people have twisted a formula in unexpected ways, but just because we want a different kind of mainline entry. This is what a certain creator has done in putting together Pokemon Damask.

Although Scorbunny has claimed that the game is still in its early stages, it’s currently shaping up to be a full-fledged Pokemon game. It has the same aesthetics and feel of a traditional game but introduces over 260 Fakemon (AKA alternative Pokemon), eight Gym Leaders, four Elite Four, three Rivals, and a criminal organization known as Team Clown. These clowns are trying to steal all the fun, and it’s up to you to stop them!

24

(Not) Pokemon Misty Orange

Pokemon Meme: The Dating Game!

Pokemon dominates a large portion of the internet with all the discussions and memes surrounding its various mechanics and lore. A lot of focus is placed on the characters, both in the games and other media, with a lot of people playing around with the social aspect. One creator took this to the parody extreme with (Not) Pokemon Misty Orange.

The title says it all: This is not a Pokemon game, which is true. It may look and feel like a Pokemon game, but it’s actually a dating sim, following a socially inept Ash as he somehow gets the overwhelming attention of many girls in the Pokemon universe. Yes, it’s a ridiculous dating sim complete with close-up discussion screens, dialogue-heavy gameplay, and lots of tasks to keep you running around. Nothing about this game is serious and it’s just peachy.

23

Pokemon Sisyphus Unchained

Another Dark Side To Pokemon

There are many dark theories surrounding the world of Pokemon, with evidence even pointing to a much more sinister story in the Pokemon manga. This colorful series is supposed to follow a young child’s journey as they travel the world, catch and train amazing creatures, meet new people, and become the champion. However, one fan won’t make it easy for you.

This creator has spawned Pokemon Sisyphus Unchained, which will challenge you as a Pokemon player, both in gameplay and story. The game is a much more harsh experience with RNG being able to throw high-leveled Pokemon at you when you least expect it so you’ll always need to be prepared. The story will take some dark turns as you try to stay true, much like a Cubone does after choosing to wear its mother’s skull.

22

Pokemon Unbound

An Expansion With An All-New Story And Extras

People have been pitching ideas for Pokemon since the very first game, but it’s unknown how often the developers listen. This is why you’ve got creators redesigning classic games to suit the needs and desires of casual and professional players, which is why you’ve got Pokemon Unbound.

One of the older fan games out there; the sheer amount of effort and execution in this game is staggering. Even though the game is based on Fire Red, it has you experiencing things up until Generation 8. There’s a whole new main story to carry you through, followed by a ton of post-game content to keep you busy. You also play around with plenty of customization elements and ways to experience the game, which has a strong puzzle focus to keep your brain engaged.

21

Pokemon Garbage Green

Relive An Older Game With A Whole New Difficulty Level

Pokemon LeafGreen was a nice return to the original games and finally gave the often-overlooked Venusaur to serve as the face of it. Well, prepare to have your memories of it ruined as you journey into Garbage Green, which is designed to show you the absolute worst that this game has to offer.

Referred to as a ‘Trashlocke,’ this game is meant to test just how good of a trainer you can be. While all the trainers are the same, everything else has been nerfed in extreme ways. You only have access to Pokemon that are generally considered weak. Healing items have been removed, and entering an encounter-heavy area locks you in until all the trainers are defeated. Some of the biggest Pokemon players have given up on winning with garbage, but can you do better?

20

Pokemon Vintage White

Challenge A Newer Generation With An Older Generation

Generation 5 is a polarizing entry in the Pokemon series, with many touting as many good things as there are bad ones. Even so, it proved to be a successful Gen with a lot of interesting new Pokemon to catch and a pretty solid challenge. Some say this and make Vintage White, which will make you reflect on the past.

Like other Pokemon fan games, this one has been designed with increased difficulty, namely stronger trainers with smarter AI. The defining feature is that even though the game is set in the Generation 5 universe, you only get to catch and encounter Pokemon from the first three Gens. The creator spent a lot of time adjusting the Pokemon’s stats, typing, and move-sets to make them fit at home in an increased Gen 5 challenge, opening up way more interesting strategies for you to discover.

19

Pokemon Crystal Clear

Revisit A Classic World That Becomes Bigger And More Open

Much like Yellow, Emerald, and Platinum, Pokemon Crystal was the Gen 2 game that ended up stealing the spotlight from Gold and Silver. It has a stronger focus on the legendary dog Suicune and the mysterious rune-like Pokemon Unown. It has since faded among its peers but has been revived as Crystal Clear.

It’ll feel weird at first to go back to the lower resolution but still colorful and animated sprites, but it’s well worth the effort. Fire up whatever you have to play Game Boy Color games and return to a world that is far more different than you remember. You have many more options, like where you begin your adventure, a bunch of starters to choose from, trainers that grow alongside you, customization options, and more ways to interact with the world. The joy of Pokemon Crystal has never been so clear.

18

Pokemon Emerald Rogue

Because Pokemon Doesn’t Have Enough RNG

If you love the roguelike formula, it’s time to fire up that old GBA emulator you haven’t used in months. As the name suggests, Pokemon Emerald Rogue by Pokabbie turns the typical game loop into a largely randomized, highly replayable roguelike experience.

Once you’ve got everything in order and boot up the game, you’ll hop out of that nostalgic moving truck, but things are going to look a lot different. Head south and find the Professor, where you’ll choose one of three completely random starters. After that, you’ll eventually be directed to a world map; this is where the run begins. Good luck, and may RNG be forever on your side.

17

Pokemon Infinite Fusion

Mix And Match Your Monsters Together

Pokemon Infinite Fusion by Schrroms was made on RPG Maker XP, built around a simple question: what if you could combine any two Pokemon to make a new one? If you get excited by the idea of trial and error, and making your own little ‘Franken-mon’ until a really cool one is born, this game is a must-try.

The Pokemon Infinite Fusion website offers many different download options, allowing you to play on PC, Mac, Android, and IOS. While the game feels very Kanto-inspired, graphically, it has DS-era aesthetics and a full, Johto-inspired post-game you can explore.

16

Pokemon Daybreak

Explore A Whole New Region In An Older Generation

Pokemon Daybreak by mizzypd is a Gen 3-inspired game with beautiful graphics taking place in a custom region called Armira. Interestingly enough, the Pokedex isn’t restricted to just Gen 3 Pokemon; it picks and chooses from every generation up to Gen 9.

In total, you can catch up to 400 Pokemon, with some having new regional variants and the ability to mega evolve. While there are around 20 hours of content and a lot to explore, if all of this still isn’t catching your eye, you might be interested in the Eevee evolution changes, which allow for multi-types of Eeveelutions.

15

Pokemon Ash Gray

Pokemon Ash Gray is a rom hack, which, like many other Pokemon rom hacks, is built around Pokemon FireRed. The game allows you to control Ash Ketchum and follow the events of the Pokemon anime rather than the ones from the original Gen 1 and Gen 3 games.

Though there are quite a few Pokemon fan games centered around Ash, many consider Ash Gray to be the very best. A lot of hard work went into making it, as well as a few excellent ideas. HMs are replaced with items like rafts and hatchets, and many of the sprites and tiles have been redesigned and improved.

14

Pokemon Godra: Remastered Version

Mix In Some Sim Elements To Choose Your Pokemon

Pokemon Godra’s roster features Pokemon from the first six generations of Pokemon games and offers you an unprecedented amount of freedom. You can choose to get a job, start the game from two different locations, and be assigned a starter Pokemon based on your answers to a series of questions.

The remastered version, which was released in mid-2020, brings the graphics more in line with the Gen 4 games and also offers a few additional quality-of-life updates. The locations you visit will vary depending on whether you decide to start your journey in East or West Godra, and your choices will ensure an adventure that’s unique to you.

13

Pokemon Creepy Black

Be Haunted By The Dark Side Of Pokemon

Pokemon Creepy Black started life as a Creepypasta, which detailed a player’s experiences with a haunted gen 1 Pokemon game. Since then, numerous versions of the title have been created, but the best of these fan-made games is undoubtedly the one that’s based on Pokemon FireRed.

Many of the elements talked about in the original Creepypasta can be found in the game, and the creator does an excellent job emulating a spooky vibe through both the visuals and the dialogue. In that respect, it’s very different from some of the other fan-made Pokemon games that are out there, but it is incredibly enjoyable nonetheless.

12

Pokemon Dark Rising

A Huge Adventure Spanning Multiple Regions With New Mechanics

Pokemon Dark Rising is one of the more ambitious Pokemon fan games created over the years and introduces many new features, items, and skills. It includes 386 Pokemon in total and allows you to visit the first five regions from the mainline Pokemon games.

The game proved to be so popular that it spawned two direct sequels as well as a Kaizo version for those looking for a real challenge. With that in mind, if you’re looking for a series to hold you over until the next mainline Pokemon game releases, you could do a lot worse than the Dark Rising trilogy.

11

PokeMMO

Enter The Pokemon World With Other Online Trainers

As the name might suggest, PokeMMO is an online version of Pokemon that allows you to share your Pokemon journey with other players from all over the world. It boasts four different regions, hundreds of Pokemon, and an incredibly helpful and welcoming community that’s more than happy to offer tips and advice to new players.

The game has come a long way since it was first released back in 2012, with its developers constantly making improvements. At this point, it’s difficult to say which is more impressive: the ridiculous amount of work that has gone into developing the game or the fact that it has existed for almost a decade without Nintendo shutting it down. Either way, it’s a must-play for fans of the series.

10

Pokemon Emerald Kaizo

Just In Case Nuzlockes Aren’t Hard Enough

Most of the games on this list will be wholly original, but there’s another angle that some fan-game developers chose: simply making the official games more difficult. If that’s what you’re looking for, Pokemon Emerald Kaizo is for you.

Its PokeCommunity post describes it best: Pokemon Emerald in “super hard mode.” The enhancements this ROM hack gives to Pokemon Emerald are pretty straightforward. More Pokemon to catch, a few more boss battles, and most importantly, much, much more difficult AI. It’s become infamous in the Pokemon community, especially among Twitch streamers, for being one of the hardest games to Nuzlocke. That AI will willingly pounce on every mistake you make.

9

Pokemon Light Platinum

An Older Game With Some New Flair

This is one of the OGs of the Pokemon community’s ROM hack craze, and it still holds up pretty well in the face of the newer fan games popping up and even the official games’ new mechanics. Pokemon Light Platinum takes place in the Zhery region, where you have access to Pokemon from Kanto to Unova.

There’s nothing particularly special about Pokemon Light Platinum other than it being an original ROM hack done right. The game comes with shiny new tilesets with just the right amount of pop and a tight plot that’s just enough to get your attention. It even comes with a decent postgame that brings you to a new region.