5 Best Pokémon ROM Hacks to Play In 2026

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Pokémon games often stick to familiar patterns, repeating elements from previous installments. This has led to a vibrant community of fans creating their own unofficial versions, called ROM hacks. These fan-made projects frequently experiment with the classic Pokémon formula, offering things like expansive open worlds or more complex storylines. If you’re looking for something fresh in 2026, some of these completed ROM hacks are definitely worth checking out.

Most unofficial Pokémon game modifications, often called ROM hacks, need an emulator – software that lets you play older Game Boy or Nintendo DS games on your computer or device. These hacks often use graphics and other content from the original games, like Pokémon FireRed or LeafGreen, so you’ll need to be able to play those games first. While there are many guides available for setting up emulators, most ROM hacks will also explain how to apply their changes to the emulator software.

5. Pokémon Pisces

Pokémon Pisces is a fan-made game built on Pokémon Emerald, offering a fresh take on the beloved Hoenn region from the third generation of Pokémon games. It’s not just a return to a familiar place – the entire map has been rebuilt and reimagined. The story takes place years after the events of Emerald, letting you encounter both old friends and a Hoenn region that has changed significantly over time.

This game features over 250 newly created Pokémon designed in the style of Pokémon Emerald, giving players plenty of new creatures to collect and train. The world of Pisces feels vibrant thanks to hundreds of new character designs, and the story builds on the foundation of the Gen 3 games with a familiar Gym challenge. It enhances the experience with updated battle features, redesigned menus, numerous side quests, and elements from later Pokémon games, making it feel like a seamless continuation of the Hoenn region adventures.

4. Super Mariomon

Ever imagined a Pokémon game starring characters from Super Mario Bros.? Super Mariomon delivers just that! It’s a fully developed Pokémonstyle game where you collect and train familiar faces – and foes – from the entire history of the Mushroom Kingdom. This fan-made game celebrates almost every Mario adventure, from the original platformers to beloved spin-offs like Super Mario Galaxy and Paper Mario*.

This game includes 151 unique creatures called “Mariomon” that battle in a turn-based style similar to Pokémon. It also features a popular challenge called Nuzlocke mode, where defeated creatures are permanently lost. Heavily inspired by Pokémon Emerald and Pokémon Pisces, the game updates the Generation 3 graphics to look more like Nintendo’s other major series, all within a beautifully detailed new world. With a complete postgame experience and several helpful features, this fan-made game is a loving tribute to two classic Nintendo franchises, offering a really enjoyable adventure.

3. Pokémon Lazarus

Most Pokémon ROM hacks don’t bother with the original Game Boy Color look, but Pokémon Lazarus goes above and beyond, even enhancing the classic Gen 2 style. Its detailed retro sprites are a significant upgrade over Pokémon Crystal, creating a wonderfully nostalgic experience that feels true to the early Pokémon games. The hack features over 400 Pokémon from all nine generations, and they’ve been carefully rebalanced to ensure every creature is a valuable team member.

Pokémon Lazarus is set in the newly created Ilios Region, which draws inspiration from Greece. Like Pokémon Scarlet & Violet (inspired by Spain) and Pokémon Sword & Shield (inspired by England), this ROM hack builds a believable world. The region is filled with detailed routes and cities, featuring marble ruins and charming villages, encouraging players to fully explore everything it has to offer.

This ROM hack includes a surprising number of features, even some from much later Pokémon games. You’ll find things like underground mining, which first appeared in Generation 4, and character customization with outfits, similar to what’s in Legends: Z-A or Pokémon Sun & Moon. Beyond the standard Pokémon experience, Pokémon Lazarus offers expanded fishing, engaging pinball minigames, and the ability to customize your Ship Cabin, giving you plenty to do.

2. Pokémon Odyssey

Most Pokémon fan-made games, or ‘ROM hacks,’ add new things while keeping the original gameplay mostly the same. But Pokémon Odyssey is different – it drastically changes the experience. This hack of Pokémon FireRed throws out many familiar elements, like Gym Leaders, villainous teams, and the Elite Four. It doesn’t have a set path to follow either. Instead, it’s a truly open-world game that emphasizes exploring and uncovering the story, rather than just completing objectives.

In this game, you’ll journey through the Yggdrasil Labyrinth, a huge and seemingly endless maze teeming with Pokémon from the first three generations. Along the way, you’ll encounter and battle other players, and discover over 100 unique variations of classic Pokémon – similar to regional forms seen in other Pokémon games. The RPG offers a lot of freedom, letting you explore at your own pace and choose from several difficulty levels to customize the challenge.

1. Pokémon Unbound

For serious fans of Pokémon ROM hacks, Pokémon Unbound is widely considered the best fan-made game available, thanks to its incredible detail and refined gameplay. It takes the classic Pokémon FireRed and enhances it with modern features like updated graphics, the battle system from Generation 8, and quality-of-life improvements such as Auto-Run and the DexNav. It even includes raid battles similar to those found in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

The Borrius region in Unbound is remarkably expansive, making it one of the largest worlds ever created in a Pokémon fan-made game. It’s full of original story ideas, like a surprising choice of starter Pokémon and battles against captured Legendary Pokémon, with plenty of unexpected events along the way. The game features Pokémon from every generation, giving you a huge selection to build your ideal team.

Many features that previous Pokémon games left behind—like Gigantamax Pokémon and Mega Evolutions—have been brought back in Unbound. But what really sets this fan-made game apart is how it adds depth and variety to the traditional Pokémon formula. It includes a main storyline plus hundreds of side quests, all with worthwhile rewards that encourage you to explore every corner of the map. The world also feels more alive with daily events, puzzles, and minigames that go beyond the central story.

Beyond the main story, Pokémon Unbound offers excellent replay value. You can choose from four difficulty levels when starting a new game, tailoring the experience to your liking. With 300 different customization options for your character and 180 original songs, the game feels uniquely personal. It’s so well-made that it almost feels like an official Pokémon game created by Game Freak, and it’s definitely worth a try for any Pokémon fan.

What Pokémon ROM hacks do you enjoy playing? Share your favorites in the comments or discuss them on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-01-22 02:41