The true ones pokemon fans have always demanded more daring games, with greater difficulty and, in general, that show that the saga has evolved towards a more adult aspect. Unfortunately, Pokémon is Pokémon and Game Freak does not seem to want to change the plans of its franchise. Luckily for us, there are people out there who have dared to create your own pokemon video games. Unofficial Roms, created by amateurs that sometimes have all that we look for and can't find in real titles. exist hundreds of unofficial Pokémon video games, but most of them are unfinished or full of bugs. Therefore, in this post we will compile some of the safe bets that every Pokémon player should try.
What are Hack Roms and why you should try them
In short, they are fan created video games, as occurs in literature and cinema with their respective fan fiction.
La pokemon community is one of the most grateful in this regard. And it is that there are many people who have the ability to create their own video games and make them available to everyone for free and for the love of art. Unfortunately, most of the projects end up on deaf ears, either because they are never finished being programmed, because they are plagued with bugs or even because they are not translated into other languages.
Despite this, many of these versions deserve to be played. Some focus on improving the story, others just add pokemon from other generations to classic games and others modify the difficulty, for example, adding game modes (nuzzlocke, randomlocke and so on). In the most extreme case, there games with regions designed from scratch, with totally original plots and even with their own characters and Pokédex.
Within this type of games, we can catalog the titles in two large groups: those that are made modifying an original rom and those who are completely designed from zero using an engine like RPG Maker or similar. In this post we will focus on the first group, highlighting some very well developed video games that you will be able to play on your android phone, or on your computer (either PC or Mac) using emulators.
Best Hack Roms based on original games
We leave you below with our selection.
Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu/Eevee for Game Boy Advance
Using the basis of pokemon fire red y Green leaf, this game is literally Pokémon Let's Go for Switch with Game Boy Advance graphics. A replica of the game with incredibly well-crafted gameplay.
Mainly, in this game we are not going to have random fights, but we will see the wild creatures and we will be able to choose whether or not to fight against certain Pokémon. There are also all kinds of Pokémon up to the seventh generation. Regarding the difficulty, it is almost as simple as the game on which it is based and is available in Spanish.
Pokemon Ash Gray
As you know, the first season of the Pokémon series is based on the video game. Subsequently, Pokémon Yellow is based on the animated series. Well then, Pokemon Ash Gray it is a rom based on Red fire y Green leaf that reproduce point by point everything that happens in the anime.
We will never be able to evolve Pikachu and Team Rocket will be especially interested in stealing our traveling companion. For the rest, he has Latin Spanish translation, and the difficulty of the game is to reproduce the events in the same conditions as Ash in the television series. Otherwise, we will not be able to advance.
pokemon light platinum
In addition to having a spectacular story, this ROM with Game Boy Advance graphics has Pokémon from the first to the fourth generation. Has two regions completely designed from the ground up: Zheri and Floasun. In addition, you can visit specific sites in Johto and Sinnoh, as well as access a postgame where you can face different league champions from other games.
Of all the games that we are going to see in this list, Light Platinum is one of the oldest. It was considered the best fan-made game of 2009. In fact, there are even guides to get you through this adventure. Come on, this ROM is a true legend.
Regarding this, there are two variants of this game: the traditional version, with Game Boy Advance graphics, and a more modern one with the graphic style of Nintendo DS that is still in beta phase. Choosing one or the other is up to you.
Pokémon Crystal Clear
Based on crystal pokemon for the Game Boy Color, Crystal Clear turns the second generation title into a open world experience, something that Game Freak has never dared to create. you can access all cities in Johto and Kanto from the beginning, since physical barriers do not exist in this version. Similarly, you can beat the game in the order you prefer.
And if you wonder, the game difficulty it scales based on the number of medals you have. You can jump from region to region and carry out your adventure completely to measure, as the game will adapt to your experience. The title also recovers parts of Kanto that disappeared in the second generation, and the story is very well spun, making it clear that it is a sequel to crystal pokemon. Finally, you will be able to choose between several unusual starting Pokémon if you want the adventure to become a real challenge for you.
Pokemon Renegade Platinum
This other rom seeks to be a definitive version of Platinum Pokémon for Nintendo DS. Retains the story and Pokémon from the original game, but have been added modern mechanics as the fairy type and the difficulty has been increased quite a bit to make it a true challenge for the player. It is also available in Spanish.
Pokemon Gaia
In this title we will travel through Orbtus, a region whose history has been marked by earthquakes. One day, Professor Redwood begins to detect a unusual seismic activity. You and your rival will be the ones in charge of discovering the origin and avoiding disaster. In the game you will be able to access Pokémon from six generations, metagame updated with mega stones and the return of mythical details such as the Pokémon Gold and Silver bug contest.
We are facing another very complete game. You will have the same experience as in Esmeralda. There are diving areas and the map structure is similar. But on the other hand, fourth generation mechanics such as 'rock climbing' are added, which give the game a point of complexity. In addition, its creators made a good story. There is no shortage of original songs and secret areas to explore. A game to dedicate hours to, but that you can enjoy with peace of mind.
Pokemon Mega Emerald X and Y
Many roma based on Pokemon Emerald, since it is one of the most beloved titles in the saga by far. On this occasion, its creator, jovefreak1993, brings us a modified version in which we will be able to capture Pokémon from the first to sixth generation. The metagame It is also updated and we can make use of the mega evolutions. There is a total of three regions and the difficulty of the game falls within the normal range. There are also modifications in certain areas and specific alterations to the plot. As a negative point, it is available only in english, but if you know the original game by heart, it will not be an obstacle for you.
Pokémon Brown
This game is based on the Pokémon Red original. We will visit the Rijon region, with cities full of factories. As a result of the industrialization process, this game reserves the luxury of telling you that five new types of Pokémon emerged: Wood, Wind, Sound, Gas, and Irregular. Along with the Kanto Pokémon, you can catch 73 new Fakemon that live in the said region.
As a curiosity, this game was one of the first Pokémon ROM hacks that were made. Therefore, playing it is interesting in order to see how this world has improved. This title had a sequel called Pokémon Prisma.
Pokémon Glazed
Basado en Pokemon Emerald, this game brings us a brand new region and a total of three maps different. You can choose between 5 starter Pokémon and all Pokémon from the first to the sixth generation appear, mega evolutions included. The graphic section is very successful and we have it in Spanish.
In this title, we receive our first Pokémon on our birthday. From that moment on, the creature will be our friend and will also protect us. The other part of the ritual is that you will have to go out and travel the world in search of adventure. However, not everything will be smooth sailing. On TV they do not stop talking about a strange phenomenon, a mysterious power that makes the Pokémon world tremble. On our way, we will find out what is happening and we will save the region of Tunod.
Glazed is a very well finished title, as it knows how to solve the requests of lifelong players very well. Can challenge gym leaders again, as well as many elements have been introduced for the postgame. Another strong point of the game is that you can visit the Rankor and Johto regions.
pokemon omega red
Use a base of pokemon fire red and is fully translated into Spanish. The main novelty is that it includes many graphics taken from the Nintendo DS versionsas well as new routes. He has the complete Pokédex from first to seventh generation, mega evolutions and regional forms of the Pokémon. In addition, it has a high difficulty, so do not miss this rom hack if you are looking for a real challenge playing a Pokémon of a lifetime.
Pokémon XG: Next Gen
This time we are not dealing with a normal game for laptops from the main line, but with a version of Pokémon XD: Dark Tempest It originally came out for the Nintendo GameCube.
At the story level, this title retains almost the entire script of the original game - which was already brilliant by itself, by the way. So what is interesting about this game? Well, basically, the work that the modders es update the game as the years have passed.
The original game of Pokémon XD It came out in 2005, coinciding with the third generation of Pokémon. This mod includes improvements that have been included in the Pokémon games up to the seventh generation. First of all, the separation between physical and special attacks has been programmed, something basic when playing current titles. It has also been added fairy type, current game mechanics and opponents with a higher level of artificial intelligence.
Also, the game has 100 more dark Pokémon than the original game and 75 wild creatures —remember that in Aura, wild Pokémon are conspicuous by their absence. There are also new dark and normal moves to make combat more interesting.
To play, you need to mod a standard ROM of the game and load it into an emulator like Dolphin. If you want a point of difficulty, you can also play in Nuzlocke mode.
Best Hack Roms created from scratch
There was a time when Pokémon games were created by modifying an existing ROM, but for a few years, many designers prefer to make their titles using independent engines. This gives them much more freedom when it comes to creating, as they can code as they please, while at the same time being able to satisfy the wishes of the gaming community. The best titles are the following:
pokemon opal
This title is the work of the Spanish creator Eric lostie, and is considered by the community to be one of the best Pokémon games ever made—don't tell Game Freak. Lostie took the development of this game very seriously, and created three different levels of difficulty so that any player can enjoy the experience.
Opal contains creatures from 8 generations different, regional forms and also mega evolutions. You can play both on a Windows PC and on a mobile phone using the JoiPlay app (no emulator required). If you play it and like it, don't forget to take a screenshot when you get to the Hall of Fame and share it along with your review of the game on Twitter. Eric often retweets reviews, and we assure you that this game will not disappoint you in the slightest.
Pokemon Realidea System
It is another Spanish development that you should try yes or yes It is a high quality fangame created by Elena and Maxewenx. On a visual level, Pokémon Realidea System already surprises, because graphically it looks spectacular with a style inspired by the fifth generation.
This title has a very interesting story that has its serious touches and also its moments of humor with breaks in the fourth wall. The events that occur in the Esoteria region have a lot of mystery, and we will be the ones who have to investigate to reveal everything that is happening around us. The creators of the game have put a lot of emphasis on the dialogues, which are very different from what we usually see in the original games. Regarding the structure of the game, Pokémon Realidea System maintains the classic structure of 8 gyms and a league. The Pokédex has creatures from first to last. seventh generation. We can have a Pokémon that follows us everywhere and the starter that we choose will be totally unique (what is known as a fakemon).
The Pokémon Realidea System also debuts some unique mechanics, such as the realidea system itself, which will make things easier for us as long as our Pokémon team has a good friendship with the trainer.
pokemon phoenix rising
Phoenix Rising is a fan-made Pokémon episodic RPG developed using RPG Maker XP and the Pokémon Essentials engine. The title is set in the Hawthorne region (totally designed from scratch). The interesting thing about this title is that many changes to the original Pokémon formula to maximize the RPG experience.
The time and effort that the creators have put into this game is admirable. At first glance, the design is so well cared for that it even looks like an official game.
The only downside to this game is that it is quite recent and far from finished. The team behind the development is working on more episodes. But, as is usual in this world, they don't receive money for doing this work, so since there aren't so many resources, the updates will come at their own pace.
The best Hack Roms that are yet to come
Let's end this section with some fan-made games that are currently in development:
Pokemon Burning Colosseum
Pokémon Colosseum It is one of the best Pokemon games ever made. Both that and its sequel showed us a different side of the franchise. In Aura there are no gyms, wild Pokémon are not even common. However, what there are are criminals who are dedicated to inducing darkness in Pokémon to carry out their misdeeds.
Much has been made about whether Nintendo should re-release the GameCube Pokémon titles for Switch, either as a remaster or as a remake. However, Junichi Masuda has once joked that he doesn't have the slightest interest in these games. Luckily, the Pokémon fan community has already decided to make their own tribute. Pokémon Burning Colosseum is nothing more than a game adaptation of the dark pokemon with Game Boy Advance 2D aesthetics.
Pokémon Burning Colosseum is in development, and we hope it won't be long before it comes out. Its developers have even asked for help in Twitter, so if you are interested in this ROM and you think you can lend a cable, do not hesitate to do so.
pokemon indigo
It is once again a project of Eric lostie. The creator of Spanish ROMs is currently embarking on a new title that would take us back to the first generation.
Pokémon Indigo will be a title in which we can return to the Kanto region, that is, the one we saw during Red, Blue and Yellow —and we revisited it again in the remakes for Game Boy Advance and Nintendo Switch—. the game has fifth-gen-inspired graphics, although with a higher level of detail.
The history of Pokémon Indigo is a extended version of the original, with a much more complex and deep plot. Something similar happens with the routes, towns and cities of the region. Eric has not limited himself to copying and pasting his maps, but he has reinterpreted each area of the original map to give him his vision and make it much more modern.
At the moment, Pokémon Indigo is under development, although its beta phase can already be played for both Android and Microsoft Windows. There are a total of 4 gyms already programmed and 3 different game modes to enjoy this title. According to the creator, you can start playing now, as the save data will be fully compatible with the final version of the game.