There are plenty of great ROM hacks out there for Pokémon, creating custom projects within the framework of existing titles from the mainline franchise. A good portion of ROM hacks simply tweak what is already there, making more Pokémon available in the same structure of past games, or adding new features, story elements, or difficulty options within familiar settings. However, the best projects are ones that could almost be an entirely new Pokémon game on their own, combining past and present elements from the series into unique experiences.
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Some ROM hacks are built to enhance existing games or make them incredibly challenging, while others are dedicated to transforming a Pokémon title into something unrecognizable. Traditionally, ROM hacks build off the first few Generations of Pokémon, usually using games like Pokémon FireRed or Pokémon Emerald as a baseline to work from. Even though capturing the essence of a mainline Pokémon game inevitability makes it have similarities to past titles, ROM hack creators have often been capable of making games entirely separate from their source material.
5. Pokémon Rejuvenation
There are few ROM hacks as ambitious as Pokémon Rejuvenation, which takes the Gen 3 formula and knocks it out of the park in terms of content. This game takes place in the fully original Aevium region, an archipelago made up of four islands with Pokémon from across the series to catch and train. Unlike many other mainline titles, the story of Rejuvenation is far deeper than anything players of the series might be used to, with a sweeping narrative that is more akin to traditional RPGs rather than a bare bones “Pokémon” story.
There is over 100 hours of gameplay in Rejuvenation, with 18 different Gym Leaders to face across the region and a larger Elite Eight to face before becoming Champion. This alone outpaces anything Pokémon has managed to do in the past, but bigger doesn’t always equal better. Thankfully, Rejuvenation‘s competent storytelling and world design makes it a blast to explore, with 1025 different Pokémon to capture and all 27 starters from the series’ history available to find as you embark on your journey.
There are a variety of other RPG mechanics in this game too, especially tied to its characters. You can accept side quests to encounter rare Pokémon to diversify your team, or gain elusive items to make your squad stronger. At the same time, each NPC has a friendship tracker based on the dialogue options or actions you do with them, making each relationship feel dynamic based on your choices. Depending on what you do, you’re even able to influence multiple endings to the game’s story, making Pokémon Rejuvenation a far deeper experience than you would think.
4. Pokémon Prism
Pokémon Prism is a ROM hack based off Gen 2’s Pokémon Crystal, but the two games couldn’t be more different. Prism is a fully customized game with its own region and story, introducing players to the Naljo region that has its own collection of Pokémon. This game refines the series gameplay in ways that not even the last titles in the franchise have done, introducing so many quality-of-life features that some players might believe it to be the definitive way to play any Pokémon game based on its older iterations.
Players can customize their Trainer in here long before they could in mainline Pokémon games, and catch 251 different Pokémon from across the early Generations. However, players also get a chance to directly control their Pokémon throughout the game too, similar to the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon spin-off games from Nintendo. 20 different Gym badges expand this game even further, but it’s how Pokémon Prism handles its map that makes it one of the most expansive Pokémon games out there.
Pokémon Prism includes not one, not two, but six different regions for players to visit. Although the amount of Pokémon across these places are limited, this is a far cry from even Pokémon HeartGold or SoulSilver, which only include the Kanto and Johto regions. The experience of this title is completely fresh, especially with later Generation Pokemon in the older GameBoy Color art style to give the game more artistic appeal than the smooth or uncanny 3D style of newer series titles.
3. Pokémon Unbound
ROM hacks for Pokémon can struggle to express an identity separate of the game they’re based on, but with Pokémon Unbound, you could hardly tell it was a skin of Pokemon FireRed at one point. This might be the best Pokémon game out there period, even compared to juggernauts like Pokémon Emerald and Platinum from nostalgic Generations. Much like other ROM hacks on this list, Unbound takes place in a custom region called Borrius, an area rich in its own history through an extensive story.
Everything about Unbound is a Pokémon game designed with complete hindsight to correct the series’ biggest faults, all while making a familiar experience worth exploring. Some of the best features of this ROM hack include:
- Unlimited Bag Space
- DexNav access from the game start
- 300 Different Character Customization options
- Refined HM System where Pokemon no longer have to learn HM moves
- Gen 4 graphics and Gen 5 UI/UX within Gen 3 gameplay
- Multiple Difficulty modes
- Daily Events and Raids
- 80+ Side Quests and Missions
- 180+ Original Songs for a custom soundtrack
- Rich Postgame Features
Pokémon Unbound is all about refinements to the Pokémon formula, even combining later series mechanics that were exclusive to singular games. For example, there is Mega Evolution and Gigantamax in this game at the same time, along with other gameplay systems from the series that have never gotten the chance to interact before. A battle engine on par with Gen 8 Pokémon games also helps make this ROM hack a definitive experience for anyone who’s ever been a Pokémon fan.
2. Pokémon Lazarus
One of the consistent elements of the Pokémon series is how its games are meant to reflect real world locations, such as Pokémon Scarlet and Violet were inspired partly by Spain. By this logic, Pokémon Lazarus might as well be a mainline game itself, as it pays homage to Greece through its art and world structure. This ROM hack is made from Pokémon Emerald, but with an almost “devolved” design that intentionally makes it look like Pokémon Gold, Silver, or Crystal. The GameBoy Color look does the game plenty of favors, making it look like a forgotten franchise entry.
Lazarus is impressive not only for how it offers the usual Pokémon experience, but also how it expands upon it. Almost like Stardew Valley, Pokémon Lazarus includes many different side tasks players can complete during their journey, such as mining, farming, playing pinball, fishing, etc. Players can even customize their own ship cabin, adding to the cozy or survival game feel of the ROM hack. With 400 Pokémon in the game from Gens 1-9, the Ilios Region is one worth exploring if you want a title closer to a hybrid between a mainline Pokémon game and something like Pokémon Pokopia.
1. Pokémon Odyssey
Pokémon Odyssey is likely the best Pokémon ROM hack to come out in the last 10 years next to Unbound, as it does something Pokémon is likely to do with Winds and Waves — turn its map into an open world. Made from the now Switch 2 available Pokémon FireRed, Odyssey is more of a dungeon crawler than a “become the Pokémon Champion” type of game, not featuring Gym Leaders or Elite Four members. This game emphasizes exploration and story over anything else, in ways that I doubt Winds or Waves will be able to do.
The game revolves around a massive maze called the Yggdrasil Labyrinth, which has attracted adventurers from all over the world to explore its layers. The promise of treasure and lost civilizations doesn’t need an evil team or Champion, only well-written characters that drive detailed RPG-like interactions. This game also divulges from traditional Pokémon by making every battle a double battle, challenging how players form teams for 2v2 strategies. New regional forms come with a diverse roster of Gen 1-3 Pokémon, almost turning this ROM hack into a high-quality spin-off from the Pokémon series.
Modern features like Wonder Trading combine with new systems in Odyssey, such as Mining and Gathering features, Naval Exploration, ways to upgrade the game’s Shop, and other side quests on top of your main mission. With difficulty rebalancing and other balance changes to familiar Pokémon, you’ll feel like you’re playing something familiar, yet different. That alone is what makes this Pokémon ROM hack stand out beyond what mainline games have done, as it introduces new content while keeping what makes Pokémon special present.
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