Key Takeaways

• ROM hacks add new stories and features to old-school Pokémon games, such as new regions and additional Pokémon.
• Some ROM hacks, like Pokémon SORS, provide a unique and personal storyline for players seeking a different experience.
• Pokémon Unbound sets a high standard in ROM hacks with unique features, quality design, and customizable gameplay options.

Old-school Pokémon games are nostalgic trips for many fans with a charming simplicity that’s been long-lost in the mainline games.

Fortunately, ROM hacks exist, and talented community members use them to spin their own stories in the Pokémon universe. Sadly, many of these games are never finished or have major bugs.

If you want to ensure the ROM hack you choose is a certified banger, here’s a selection of the best ones to try in 2024.

There are far more ROM hacks than I could realistically test and play. I have experience with every game on this list, but don’t be offended if I’ve missed your favorites, as I’ve probably not given them a go yet!

10 Pokémon Pinball Generations

Rumble Pack Sounds Intensify

Pokémon Pinball is a game many have fond memories of, and the Generations ROM hack is an easy way to inject some life into the title.

Generations adds two tables to the original Pokémon Pinball and the entire Gen II Pokédex. The regular tables and dex are untouched, so the ROM hack feels like an expansion.

Pokémon Pinball Generations does have limitations. The new tables are basically recolours, and the Gen II Pokémon don’t have the correct cries.

That said, the robust modding tools for the mainline Pokémon games simply don’t exist for Pinball, so this makes sense.

While not the flashiest ROM hack on the list, Pokémon Pinball Generations offers a great reason to revisit the title.

9 Pokémon Sienna

A Great Introduction To Fakemon

Fakemon are custom Pokémon and are a surprisingly divisive addition to any ROM hack. Pokémon Sienna is full of them, but most are well-made and creative, making the region of Voultan feel fresh and new.

Sienna offers a wonderful spin on the typical Pokémon story. You’ve just had your application to join the Kanto Pokémon Academy rejected, so you head out into the world to become stronger.

You may feel overwhelmed by all the unique Fakemon, but Sienna’s difficulty isn’t too far removed from the mainline entries. Team Rocket makes an appearance, and the story feels new but familiar.

Voultan also has plenty of unique traits, like PokeMarts each having a unique inventory. There’s also an expansive endgame that offers a satisfying conclusion to the academy storyline.

8 Pokémon SORS

You’ve Never Seen A ROM hack Like This

Pokémon SORS is the second game in the Vytroverse series and looks so different from Fire Red that it’s hard to believe it’s just a mod.

SORS tells a very different story from what you’re used to in Pokémon. You play as a Trainer called Asher, whose mom commands a powerful criminal group.

Asher’s relationship with his mom is a huge part of the tale, and you’re not simply going through the motions of becoming a Pokémon master.

Gyms are replaced with a region-wide tournament, and you must frequently show up for qualifiers during your journey. I adore this spin on the old formula, and that’s not all SORS brings to the table.

There are new Pokémon types, an epilogue-style campaign, and a respectable list of optional side quests.

If you want to take part in a more personal story than your average Pokémon game, this is a great title to do it with.

7 Pokémon Orange Islands

How Well Do You Know The Anime?

Many Pokémon ROM hacks try to follow the TV show with various levels of success. Admittedly, I’ve played a few stinkers over the years and Orange Islands is the best to do it so far.

Pokémon Orange Islands is a story-driven game that follows the show to the letter. Every main plot is beautifully reimagined, and many subplots and episode-specifics are included.

As you may expect, Orange Islands is an easy ROM hack, but that’s the intention. The low difficulty makes this a superb title to try if you’re new to custom Pokémon content or don’t want to get spanked by the tougher mods.

My knowledge of the show is admittedly lacking compared to die-hard fans, but I’m happy to report that there’s something for everyone, even if you don’t possess encyclopedic Pokémon knowledge.

6 Pokémon Blazed Glazed

A Dimension-Bending Combat-Centric Adventure

Pokémon Blazed Glazed is a tough Rom hack, and your battle skills will be tested. It’s also a gigantic game with three regions and a Pokédex featuring Pokémon from Gen I all the way to Gen V.

Compared to other entries on this list, Blazed Glazed is a little light on the story, focusing on intense Pokémon battles. Fortunately, you can still grind, and there are handy lighthouses with repeatable trainer battles dotted all over the region.

While the story takes a backseat, that doesn’t mean overworld activities are lazy. Team Fusion are formidable villains, and there are even unique items that replace HMs.

Blazed Glazed is challenging, especially during the start when your options are pretty limited. However, it never feels too unfair and is worth slogging through.

5 Pokémon Saiph 2

Let’s Return To The Vytroverse

We already looked at Pokémon SORS, but if you’re hungry for another entry in the Vytroverse, check out the sequel, Pokémon Saiph 2.

Like SORS, Saiph 2 boasts such deep customization that it’s easy to forget you’re even playing a ROM hack. The bold move was made to remove gyms altogether, so Saiph 2 strongly emphasizes storytelling.

You crash-land on the Regris region at the start of the game and set out to rescue your lost Pokémon. Regris is an intricate map, and no two POIs feel the same.

Even without gyms, battles are still intense, and there are plenty of crucial encounters to ensure your team doesn’t fall behind in levels.

Saiph 2 doesn’t skimp on optional content, either. There’s even a “Vigilante” mode, which basically gives the game Nuzlocke settings.

Saiph 2 is arguably the strongest entry in the Vytroverse, and while previous events are referenced, you’re fine to start your journey here. There’s also a ton of post-game content to sift through, including a bonus region and Battle Frontier.

4 Pokémon FireRed: Rocket Edition

Bad Guys Have All The Fun

Even the most creative ROM hacks tend to follow the same formula, and you’re usually destined to beat the Pokémon league sooner or later. Pokémon FireRed: Rocket Edition flips this idea on its head.

You play as a member of Team Rocket in Rocket Edition and follow Red’s story from a completely different perspective. The dialogue is genuinely funny at times, but the best part of this ROM hack is that you can steal Pokémon.

No Pokémon is sacred; you can even rob Professor Oak!

Rocket Edition has no real post-game content, which is a shame, as the main game is so enjoyable. Still, the title doesn’t overstay its welcome and is a superb showcase of how creative ROM hacks can be.

3 Pokémon Gaia

A Legendary Rock Pokémon Stirs

Pokémon Gaia is an exceptional ROM hack set in the Orbtus region. The stakes are high. A group known as the New Elders wants to unleash a legendary force to return the world to a time when people and Pokémon were equals, and it’s up to you to stop them.

Gaia plays like a typical Pokémon game despite the dramatic premise, but on a fresh new map. Orbtus is a superb region with everything from icy caves to seaside towns, and there’s a massive Pokédex spanning multiple generations. I won’t spoil it here, but the threat to Orbtus is built up well, and the villains are well-written.

Combat is a little tougher than the mainline games, and many trainers have movesets with decent synergy. There are plenty of modern additions, like Mega Evolutions and a story that ends nicely at the Pokémon League.

2 Pokémon Dreams

A Personal Favorite

I’m not a massive fan of difficulty hacks and prefer my Pokémon games with minimal grind. If you’re in the same boat as me, you will enjoy Pokémon Dreams.

Dreams drops you into the new region of Solda, which boasts over 800 Pokémon from Gen I to VII. The story is nothing new, but Team Coil is a decent group of antagonists whose motives are surprisingly fleshed out.

There’s a generous serving of puzzles along the way, and you’re always rewarded for wandering off the beaten track. You get EXP Share right at the start of the game and can spice up future playthroughs with a selection of modifiers.

Dreams is hands down my favorite Pokémon ROM hack. It’s the only game on the list I’ve finished multiple times, and I recommend it to anyone looking to dip their toes into custom Pokémon content.

What could top the almighty Pokémon Dreams? If you know your ROM hacks, you probably know what’s coming next.

1 Pokémon Unbound

The Gold Standard

Pokémon Unbound may not be the newest ROM hack, but it’s a shining example of the quality that these titles can achieve.

Unbound occurs in the Borrius region, and everything is built from the ground up. The map and towns are unique, as is the fantastic soundtrack.

I would believe you if you told me Unbound was a Nintendo Licensed product. It simply looks and feels like a jam-packed mainline entry.

Gyms have clever gimmicks, like a dense fog, which incentivizes accuracy buffs or specific Pokémon abilities. There’s even a vast list of optional quests outside the main story.

There are dozens of options to tailor gameplay to your preference. Easy difficulty is akin to regular games, but you can make it much harder.

Honestly, the story is a little involved for my taste, but this is a ROM hack you can get lost in, and there’s never a dull moment.

If you’ve never dipped your toes into ROM hacks or had a bad experience in the past, give Unbound a shot. You won’t be disappointed.