In 1996, gamers were introduced to the legendary Pokémon franchise. A multimedia franchise that includes the all-important trading card game as well as several anime series and a best-selling video game franchise, the Pokémon fan base is still going strong over twenty years later with no sign of slowing.
Fans rejoice when a new game in the beloved franchise is announced, although, like most fandoms, they are impatient in between releases and take to creating their own entries. The practice of modding existing games or creating completely original games from scratch is nothing new. The homebrewing community is incredibly popular in the retro gaming community, and Pokémon fan games are some of the most popular homebrews fans can find.
Updated on November 2, 2021, by Jake Koran: As one of the most beloved video game franchises in the world, there is a plethora of Pokémon fan games and ROM hacks that have been made with adoration for the series. Some fan-made Pokémon games improve upon features from official games, while others create a new story entirely. In any case, many fans love to play these games, and it appears that they will continue to be popular for the indefinite future.
Pokémon Uranium
One thing that makes Pokémon so celebrated is the world the games offer. Fans enjoy exploring the various regions, as well as training their favorite Pokémon. Pokémon Uranium adds to this experience by allowing players to explore an all-new, original world.
Following a nuclear explosion, the player travels to discover the truth behind it and must take on eight gym leaders along the way. Nintendo is infamous for ordering cease and desist on anything using their intellectual properties, and this game suffered a heavy blow in 2016. Because of this, the game officially stopped production, although fans are still making updates to this day, showing just how dedicated the fanbase is.
Pokémon Radical Red
As a ROM hack of Pokémon: FireRed, which itself is a remake of Red, one of the best Pokémon video games, Radical Red is a great experience for any fan of the Kanto games. Though the story is essentially the same as its official counterpart, Radical Red's gameplay is much more difficult.
In addition, an extensive number of Pokémon from other regions appear in the game. For fans seeking a challenge on a familiar title, Pokémon Radical Red is an excellent choice.
Pokémon Zeta & Omicron
The unique Pokémon Zeta & Omicron features a fascinating new story and interesting gameplay. Players can find every Pokémon introduced in the first five generations, as well as certain ones that debuted later. The games also allow players to choose challenge runs from the beginning, which adds another enjoyable element to gameplay.
With Mega Evolutions and interesting ways to obtain Legendary and Mythical Pokémon, Zeta & Omicron offer fans many of the features they want from the official games.
Pokémon Infinite Fusion
When playing Pokémon games, some fans worry that gameplay will become stale. However, they do not have to worry about this with Infinite Fusion. This Pokémon fan game's major gimmick is that players can fuse two Pocket Monsters together, creating a new, sometimes monstrous-looking creature.
With the number of possible combinations, it is unlikely that fans will run out of Pokémon in their time playing the game. The other features of the title are also fun, making playing Infinite Fusion a consistently enjoyable experience. The most hilarious Pokémon fusions alone make the game worth the time investment.
Pokémon Ash Gray
The television series is what introduced many fans to the Pokémon franchise. The show follows Ash Ketchum on his way to become a Pokémon master, and many fans were disappointed when they finally played the game, only to find Ash absent. While unofficially in the game, his name is never spoken in these early entries.
That is what Pokémon Ash Gray is here to retcon. A ROM hack of Fire Red, the game follows Ash on his journey from the show. This game gave fans a chance to play the game they dreamt about as children. Ash Gray has developed a loyal fan base and continues to gain more popularity with each passing year.
Pokémon Reborn
The best kinds of ROM hacks are the ones that stand out in terms of creativity. As entertaining as it is to play a modded version of an already existing game, the experience of playing a fan game that was created from the ground up offers something truly special.
Pokémon Reborn was created from scratch in RPG Maker. The game is fully original, even going so far as to have its own original Pokémon. The game has a dark and foreboding atmosphere that fits perfectly with the world. The player truly feels like a hero and a Pokémon master at the same time, which is a dream many fans have had since they were young.
Pokémon Insurgence
There has been a debate for years regarding "Pokémon abuse." Many fans think that capturing and training these creatures for battle is immoral, while others believe that it is what they exist for and that, as long as they are taken care of, there is no problem.
Every player will agree, however, that experimenting on Pokémon to create new species probably isn't the most humane thing to do. That is exactly what happens in Pokémon Insurgence. The game is darker than most in terms of narrative, going so far as to involve cults. As interesting as the story is, it is also a tad disturbing at times, but this is why it has gained such a loyal following.
Pokémon Sage
With interesting graphics and fun gameplay, Pokémon Sage offers a new and exciting experience for fans of the franchise. One feature is the introduction of many new Fakemon, which are unofficial Pokémon created by fans. Many Fakemon even look like real Pokémon, which helps to keep players invested.
Not only does this game feature fantastic creatures to capture, but it also has an excellent story. Sage is a great game to play, and it is clear why so many fans of Pokémon have flocked to it.
Pokémon Gaia
Another ROM hack of Pokémon: FireRed, Gaia improves upon the original game with new features. These features include an updated Pokédex up to Generation VI, as well as Mega Evolutions, updated move pools, etc. In addition, slight visual improvements have been made to keep the game up to date.
As a ROM hack, Gaia has a familiar feel for players who enjoy FireRed, but it still offers a fresh experience that lets fans know that they are playing an entirely different game.
Pokémon Dark Rising
The Pokémon games are typically fair in their difficulty. The games start simple and ramp up the difficulty as the player progresses, requiring them to level up their team. Pokémon Dark Rising, on the other hand, puts you right into the action with the hardest battles these games have ever seen.
Dark Rising is most definitely for gamers who are more than familiar with the gameplay of the franchise, as there isn't much time to get used to the mechanics. From gym leaders to random encounters, players are constantly kept on their toes in this original, incredibly difficult entry.
Pokémon 3D
When famous Nintendo games began making the jump to 3D, many fans were expecting Pokémon to join the ranks, as well. While this would be realized years later, fans took it upon themselves to create a genuine 3D Pokémon experience in the meantime.
Pokémon 3D is a modified version of the ARK: Survival Evolved. The game uses all-new sprites to bring the beloved characters into the third dimension. While there were 3D Pokémon games on the Nintendo 64, they weren't the traditional Pokémon experience fans were holding out for. This game is exactly what fans wanted and is still beloved by many, even though there are now official 3D counterparts.
Pokémon Creepy Black
Gaming urban legends have existed as long as the gaming industry itself; from Luigi being in Mario 64 to an NSFW code for Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, these myths have been passed around between gamers for years.
One of the most infamous is the legend of a cursed Pokémon cartridge with a solid black case and label. While the legend is nothing more than a creepypasta, fans loved the idea so much that a version of the game was actually created. The game isn't the scariest thing in the world—or even the scariest Pokémon ROM Hack—but it serves as an entertaining companion to an entertaining story.
Pokémon Showdown
For many fans, the heart of the Pokémon series is the battles. While exploring the world around the player is important, the battles are arguably the most important.
Pokémon Showdown caters to these fans by cutting out all of the fluff of traveling, and just featuring battles. Players are able to play with other people from around the world. The game allows players to upgrade and tweak their Pokémon to best suit their play style and battle methods. While a fun casual experience, many fans spend a large amount of time perfecting their team, making them a force to be reckoned with.
Pokémon Light Platinum
Every fan has their preferred generation Pokémon. From the original 151 to the astounding number available in the most recent generation, there are certainly plenty to choose from.
Pokémon Light Platinum takes Pokémon from each generation and puts them together. The game offers a traditional experience for players to enjoy while also allowing them to play with Pokémon they may not see together in an official capacity. The game is based on Pokémon Ruby, so the gameplay is familiar. Because of this, players can use some of the strongest Pokémon from the Hoenn region along with those from some other regions as well. Like many ROM hacks, this game draws in many loyal fans who continue to play year after year.
Pokémon Godra
The Pokémon games do not typically focus a lot of time on the trainer themselves. The player may have a parent, a friend, and a rival, and that is usually all they get. Pokémon Godra changes this by making the trainer the main focus.
The player can choose from a variety of professions they want their trainer to be. The game map is also split into two regions, with each one offering a different experience. This game is one of the more engaging fan games because it allows the player to go on an adventure that makes their trainer grow along with their Pokémon.