10 Best Pokémon ROM Hacks, Ranked (2024)

Long-time Pokémon players likely know that there are a lot of unofficial Pokémon titles that are just as good as their official counterparts. These fan-made games are referred to as ROM hacks and are created by players accessing the Read-Only Memory (ROM) of an original game and making changes to it. Some ROM hacks are as simple as quality-of-life updates to improve on annoying aspects of an existing game, while others completely redesign the game’s story and style of play.

ROM hacks for Pokémon games have been around for ages at this point, meaning there is an overwhelming number of them to choose from. Some will likely appeal to certain players' niche interests but fail to gain widespread popularity. However, some of the better ROM hacks have become widely accepted as the best of their kind, with some players even preferring them to even the best Pokémon games.

10 Pokémon Fool's Gold Completely Reimagines One Of The Series’ Best Games

Created By celadonk & Supporting Dev Team

Pokémon Fool’s Gold is a unique take on Pokémon’s second-generation games by PokéCommunity user celadonk and a team of devs. Despite what the name suggests, this isn’t a hack of Pokémon Gold, but Crystal. What sets this ROM hack apart from the original games is that every Pokémon has been fully redesigned. They all have new Pokémon types and unique new sprites to match. It is similar to how Pokémon SunandMoon introduced special Alolan versions of Pokémon, only this time it is every Pokémon in the game.

Pokémon’s second-generation games already hold a special place in players’ hearts, as they were the first games in the series that allowed players to play through multiple regions. With Pokémon Fool’s Gold,players can rediscover some of their favorite games from the series with brand-new Pokémon to keep them fresh. It’s always exciting to discover a new version of a Pokémon in this ROM hack and see how it has been changed from its original form. This ROM’s perfect balance of nostalgia and exciting new additions make it an excellent choice for veteran players.

9 Pokémon Brown Was The First Hack To Make Big Changes

Created By Koolboyman, Now Overseen By RainbowDevs

Pokémon Brown is one of the most revolutionary Pokémon ROM hacks. It was created by a ROM hacker going by Koolboyman with future development being taken over by RainbowDevs. While hacks existed before Brown, it is credited as being the first one to make a completely new game using a Pokémon ROM. This means it isn’t just a slightly altered version of an existing game, but instead includes a unique region - named Rijon - and a new story. This hack even spawned sequels, Pokémon Prism and Pokémon Rijon Adventures.

Though the initial ROM hack from 2004 is a bit dated, Pokémon Brown was remade in 2009 and 2014, adding new Pokémon each time. Pokémon Brown also introduced some unique Pokémon types, which changes how existing Pokémon interact. For instance, Ditto is given the new Abnormal type, replacing its traditional Normal type. Though many ROM hacks have built on and improved upon what Pokémon Brown did, it is still worth playing. It is also just a unique bit of Pokémon history that any die-hard fan should check out.

8 Pokémon Prism Builds On What Pokémon Brown Started

Created By Koolboyman, Now Overseen By RainbowDevs

Pokémon Prism is a ROM hack of Pokémon Crystal, and a direct sequel to Pokémon Brown. Also created by Koolboyman and taken over by RainbowDevs, Prism improves on the previous hack in a few ways. First, is its increased roster of Pokémon. Although the game is using a Generation 2 title, it includes a sampling of Pokémon from the first four generations as well as the unique elemental types that were introduced in Pokémon Brown. It also includes some unique gameplay elements, like sections of the game where players play as their Pokémon independent of a trainer.

Just like the Gen 2 Pokémon games, Pokémon Prism takes place across two regions. It includes a new unique region, Naljo, as well as the original region from Pokémon Brown, Rijon. Players who enjoyed the first game will likely want to continue on with this sequel, and enjoy the updates made to the gameplay, and the updated base ROM used for the hack.

7 Pokémon Adventures - Red Chapter Is A Game Version Of A Popular Manga

Created By Aethestode

Players looking for a Pokémon experience that is heavier on narrative than usual should check out Pokémon Adventures - Red Chapter by PokéCommunity user Aethestode. This ROM is a faithful adaptation of the Pokémon Adventures manga, specifically following Red’s story from the books. The game includes multiple regions and Pokémon from across seven generations. The game also adds elements to help spice up the narrative aspect of the game, like character pictures that accompany text with a variety of expressions similar to other narrative-driven games.

Pokémon Adventures - Red Chapter is a perfect ROM hack for players who want more of a narrative tied to their Pokémon game, or who are interested in the Pokémon Adventures manga. At one point, the project was meant to incorporate spin-offs like Pokémon Adventures - Blue Chapter, but these have sadly been abandoned. Still, Pokémon Adventures - Red Chapter still stands strong on its own and presents a unique Pokémon experience.

6 Pokémon Radical Red Is For Experienced Players Who Want A Challenge

Created By soupercell

Pokémon Radical Red is a re-imagined version of Pokémon FireRed, by PokéCommunity user soupercell, with one goal in mind: make the game harder. This is a mission it accomplishes in a variety of ways. For instance, many of the game’s gym leaders and other bosses have Pokémon with max IV stats, meaning they are more powerful than average. Gym leaders can also mega-evolve their Pokémon and have improved AI from the base game. As if that wasn’t challenging enough, harder difficulties don’t allow players to access their bag during trainer battles, which means not using potions or other healing items.

Pokémon Radical Red does offset its difficulty in a few ways, like eventually allowing the player access to mega-evolution, and increasing stats for certain Pokémon. However, the game is still much more challenging than a typical Pokémon game. This makes Radical Red the perfect ROM hack for players who may have felt like they’ve outgrown the series, due to its lack of challenging gameplay. Players will really have to be Pokémon masters to take on this ROM hack.

5 Pokémon Gaia Offers A New Story & An Interesting World

Created By Spherical Ice

Similar to Pokémon Brown, Pokémon Gaia is a unique Pokémon game built from the ground up with its own region and story by PokéCommunity user Spherical Ice. Although the game is built in Pokémon FireRed, it includes a lot of modern features like mega-evolutions, as well as Pokémon from more recent regions like Unova and Kalos. The game also includes some nice quality-of-life updates, like being able to run inside and reuse TMs.

Unlike some of the other best Pokémon ROM hacks, Pokémon Gaia doesn’t really specialize in one area but, instead, is a very well-rounded experience. While not as intense of a difficulty spike as Radical Red, Gaia is still a challenging playthrough. Its story is also well-done, and has higher stakes than the average Pokémon game, as players are tasked with saving their home region from mysterious earthquakes. This is a nice contrast from typical Pokémon stories where the major world-ending dangers aren’t always integrated too well into the plot from the start, and can sometimes come out of nowhere.

4 Pokémon Emerald Rogue Transforms Pokémon Into A Roguelike

Created By Pokabbie

Pokémon Emerald Rogue, created by PokéCommunity user Pokabbie, may be the most novel Pokémon ROM hack, as it completely changes the genre of Pokémon games. Instead of the typical straightforward quest, Pokémon Emerald Rogue is a roguelike. Players will be sent on randomly determined paths, meeting up with procedurally generated gym leaders and bosses along the way. If players lose a battle, they are sent back to the beginning of the game. Once players complete a run, they are given a chance to catch a more powerful starter Pokémon and get some permanent items to help with future runs.

Players who enjoy Pokémon battles, but are looking for a new type of game to experience them will be excited to try Pokémon Emerald Rogue. It’s the kind of fresh take that the franchise really needs, as many of the mainline games have essentially had the same setup since Pokémon Red andBlue. Players have the option of playing an extended version of Emerald Rogue that contains modern battle elements, or they can stick with the original engine from Pokémon Emerald.

3 Pokémon Crystal Clear Gives Players Unprecedented Freedom

Created By ShockSlayer

If there’s one thing Pokémon Crystal Clear values over anything else, it’s player choice. Players are given a huge amount of freedom as to how they approach the game, and there really isn’t a wrong answer. Pokémon Crystal Clear, developed by ROM hacker ShockSlayer, allows players to start their journey in one of 20 locations from either Johto or Kanto. There are also 30 starting Pokémon to choose from, instead of the typical three. Players are also able to customize their character, something that was never available in older Pokémon games like Crystal, which is the basis for this hack.

Instead of trainers and gym leaders having a set roster of Pokémon, Pokémon Crystal Clear scales each encounter based on the number of gym badges the player has. The game also removes the typical obstacles preventing players from moving around the map freely, meaning players can complete the game in any order they see fit. It is a wonderfully freeing experience compared to the typically very linear Pokémon games, and one that is worth trying at least once.

2 Pokémon FireRed: Rocket Edition Lets Players Play As A Villain

Created By -Dragonsden-

Pokémon FireRed: Rocket Edition is one of the more popular ROM hacks. The version discussed here is the one created by PokéCommunity user -Dragonsden-. It allows players the unique ability to experience the Pokémon games from the perspective of an antagonist – more specifically, a member of Team Rocket. Instead of catching Pokémon, players start out by stealing them from opposing trainers to build up their roster.

One of the coolest bits of Pokémon FireRed: Rocket Edition is the way it runs parallel to the original game. Players experience the same events from Pokémon FireRed, just from a completely different experience. The game is also still being worked on and intends to include events from Pokémon Gold andSilver, adding the Johto region to the mix. Rocket Edition’s unique narrative and gameplay elements help it stand out from other Pokémon games and even other ROM hacks, and its continued updates offer players a smooth experience and the promise of more to come.

1 Pokémon Unbound Is An Extensive Experience In A Custom World

Created By Skeli

Pokémon Unbound is a Pokémon FireRed hack by PokéCommunity user Skeli with its own original region and story. While the game is built in FireRed, it has updated graphics, making it a little nicer to look at than the original game, or other hacks using it as a base. One of the biggest selling points of Pokémon Unbound is the huge amount of content available in the game. Not only does it have a main quest, but it also has a series of well-developed side quests, and a lot of post-game content.

Pokémon Unbound is still being updated and adding newer Pokémon features like Z moves and mega-evolution. One of the most impressive aspects of Unbound is its original soundtrack, which contains nearly 200 songs composed just for the game. Pokémon ROM hacking is still alive and well, meaning great new hacks are coming out all the time. Any players who find fun new hacks should be sure to share them so more players can enjoy the creativity of the Pokémon community.

Sources: celadonk/PokéCommunity, Rainbow Devs (1, 2), Aethestode/PokéCommunity, soupercell/PokéCommunity, Spherical Ice/PokéCommunity, Pokabbie/PokéCommunity, ShockSlayer, -Dragonsden-/PokéCommunity, Skeli/PokéCommunity

Pokemon

Created by

Satoshi Taijiri , Ken Sugimori , Junichi Masuda

First Film

Pokemon: The First Movie

Latest Film

Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle

First TV Show

Pokémon (1997)

First Episode Air Date

April 1, 1997

Current Series

Pokémon (1997)

TV Show(s)

Pokémon (1997)

Video Game(s)

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet , Pokémon Legends: Arceus , Pokemon Snap , Pokémon GO

Summary

Spanning over twenty-five years, Pokemon, known as Pocket Monsters in Japan, is the multimedia franchise created jointly by Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures. Conceptualized by Satoshi Tajiri in association with Ken Sugimori and Junichi Masuda, Pokemon is set in fictional worlds where people live together with tamable creatures known as Pokemon. Humans who catch, raise, and battle the creatures are known as Pokemon Trainers. They head out on extensive journeys across their continents to raise their Pokemon with the ultimate goal of competing in tournaments to become the champion. Pokemon spans several massive properties, from a long-running animated series to a successful trading card game, to the medium that started it all, video games. In addition, Pokemon began the "two-game" trend where two versions of a game would release and include different Pokemon/features between the versions, encouraging players to meet up with others and trade so they could "catch 'em all."