Most Underrated Pokemon ROM Hacks You Need To Play

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The world of Pokémon is an expansive and ever-evolving one. From our first adventure through Kanto in the shoes of Red to capturing Pokémon in modern open-world outings like Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, we have witnessed a great deal of variety over the years.

But, despite the seemingly endless string of mainline games and spinoffs, I still reckon that fan-made games are the best way to find a Pokémon game that feels truly unique.

That said, if you’re a ROM hack fan, you may feel like you have exhausted the fan-made catalog, as the same games tend to be brought up ad-nauseum within the community.

So, to help you find some new and interesting ROM Hacks to play, we want to shine a spotlight on some hidden gems that deserve your time and attention.

10 Pokémon Fire Red: Backwards Edition

Put My Thang Down, Flip it and Reverse it

Sometimes, all you need is a simple gimmick done well to tweak one of the Pokémon base games and create a ROM hack experience that feels like a breath of fresh air. Backwards edition does exactly that by taking the Kanto framework and ripping up the script.

This ROM hack changes the order in which you explore the world, having you head from Pallet Town straight to Cinnabar Island, effectively reversing the order of GYM challenges and forcing you to prioritise a new team of Pokémon as a result.

But not only that, the game also switches up some of the routes, the Pokémon available, and their stats, usually leading to you leaning on Pokémon you would otherwise have considered.

It’s a familiar experience in one way, but a completely new adventure in another. So, if you need an excuse to return to Kanto, you have one now.

9 Pokémon: Orange Islands

An Anime-Fueled Adventure

Within the Pokémon ROM community, pretty much everyone is aware of Pokémon Ash Grey, a hack that allows you to follow the sequence of events that take place within the Indigo Plateau anime season. However, not quite as many fans are aware of an equally exceptional hack that allows you to play out the events when Ash heads to the Orange Islands.

Offering visuals that mirror the tropical vibe the anime shoots for, the game taps into pretty much every single plot and subplot that features in the anime, leaving now stone unturned when it comes to detail and authenticity.

The gameplay is pretty straightforward as the game wants to maintain a steady pace and grinding your Pokémon simply wouldn’t allow for that.

So, anyone looking for a challenge should swerve this one. However, if you’re an anime fan looking for an interactive hit of nostalgia, this is the one for you.

8 Pokémon: Flora Sky

The Sky's The Limit

I’ll say right off the bat that I’m not a huge fan of this ROM hack’s storyline, as it feels a little half-baked and convoluted at the best of times. But if you can overlook this lackluster Shaymin-fueled tale, there’s a lot to love about Flora Sky.

Firstly, you have a game that actually feels like a difficulty curve not tailored to a five-year-old child. It starts easy but ramps up steadily to offer a truly challenging Elite Four and endgame experience.

Then you also have the revamped battle animations, the new cities and gym puzzles, and you even have a day/night cycle to cater to all you Gen 2 lovers.

It’s a hack that gets better the longer you play. So, if you have the time to invest in a new Pokémon adventure, you could do a lot worse than Flora Sky.

7 Pokémon Kanto Black

Kanto Is The New Black

Heading back to Kanto now, we have a Gen 1 meets Gen 5 hack that deserves a lot more love than it gets.

The gimmick of Pokémon Kanto Black, as you might have guessed from the name, is that the experience takes place in the region of Kanto, but all the Pokémon you encounter will be from the fifth-generation lineup, albeit with a few Gen 6 exceptions.

But that’s not all there is to love about this hack, as you have altered gym challenges, a revamped Trick House, and Battle Frontier. Not to mention custom difficulty settings and a brand new island to explore in the end-game.

It’s the perfect game for anyone who can’t quite decide whether Unova or Kanto is best. Kanto Black gives you the best of both worlds and is well worth checking out.

6 Pokémon Crown

Pokémon Goes Medieval

When making these lists, I tend to try to avoid mentioning incomplete experiences, mainly because in the ROM community, you just never know if something will actually get finished. But, I’m going to get your hopes up just this once, as I need to talk about Pokémon Crown.

This is easily one of the most out-of-the-box Pokémon ROM hacks, as it completely abandons the typical top-down Pokémon framework and instead offers an auto-chess battling system where Pokémon placement and synergy reigns supreme.

Then, alongside this new and intriguing battle system, you have a gripping medieval storyline to enjoy, a new Pokémon capture method, and RPG elements that extend beyond the usual Game Freak offerings. It’s outstanding, and even in its current state, it’s worth hopping into for a sneak peek.

5 Pokémon Saiph

A Diamond in the Rough

Seeing as Pokémon Saiph is a game openly inspired by yet another game that could have easily ended up on this list, Pokémon Light Platinum, you have to accept that what you’re getting here is a little rough around the edges.

However, unlike Light Platinum, Saiph is a game that takes bigger swings, feels less bloated, and feels a lot more put together, hence why I’m happy to recommend this one as a hidden gem.

This title offers an aesthetically Gen-5 feel with a unique storyline, solid gym themes, and a shorter runtime for anyone who is looking for a more bite-sized ROM that still crams in all the traditional staples of a mainline Pokémon game.

That said, ‘crammed-in’ is an accurate way to put it, and it’s a game with some highlights, but some glaring low points, too. It’s far from perfect, but it does have a diamond-in-the-rough quality to it. So, give it a try, as it just might surprise you.

4 Pokémon Halcyon

Wholesome Indie Vibes

Maybe it’s just me, but when I’m on the hunt for a new Pokémon ROM to play, I sometimes go out of my way to find one that doesn’t follow the usual Gym badges and Elite Four flow, which is why I stumbled upon Pokémon Halcyon.

This game is a much shorter experience than most, with almost no difficult moments at all as you take control of Octavia. A young psychic trainer who tags along with her parents while they handle her deceased grandmother’s estate.

Honestly, the Pokémon aspect of this game is almost a sideshow to the story, as this game plays out more like an RPG maker game with Pokémon as the story, characters, and rudimentary RPG systems take center stage.

In short, it’s a light-hearted, low-stress Pokémon ROM hack that stands out from the crowd. So if you’re tired of collecting badges, this might be worth a look.

3 Pokémon Soulstones

Thanos' Guide To Pokémon Training

Speaking of ROM hacks that avoid the typical gym battle flow, allow me to introduce you to Pokémon Soulstones, a game that proudly puts itself out there as a narrative-driven Pokémon game with a difference. A label that it definitely earns thanks to the quality of the tale it weaves.

But, alongside this time-hopping, mystical storyline, the game also offers a lot of modern features, such as regional variants to the Epoch region, new mega evolution options, and a wealth of side contents encouraging you to go off the beaten track.

The only caveat I would add is that the game is definitely tougher than your standard Pokémon game and does cater to more experienced players that know typings, stat variations, and movesets like the back of their hand. However, if you’re a longtime Pokémon fan, this game is a must-play.

2 Pokémon Nimbus

Worthy of Thundurus Applause

If you’re on the hunt for a Pokémon ROM hack with a cozy vibe that still offers a reasonable challenge, then Pokémon Nimbus should be a game you add to your ever-growing pile of must-play hacks.

This one takes place in the completely unique region of Aryde, a region obsessed with the legendary Pokémon Thundurus, but also a region that is pretty new to the whole competitive Pokémon scene. But, playing as a fresh-faced teen, you’ll be one of the first to take on the newly formed Gym challenge and take on the newly formed Elite Four.

The game is light-hearted and comical in tone, but thanks to level caps, each encounter is a worthy challenge for your party of acquired pals. Not to mention, this game also boasts a quest system that makes exploration worthwhile.

I don’t quite understand why this one has remained under the radar for all this time, but hopefully this will get a few keen Pokéfans interested in this gem.

1 Pokémon Bushido

The Way of the Samurai

Seeing as every game developer in existence right now seems to be cashing in on the feudal Japan setting, it seems only right that we finish up by talking about Pokémon Bushido, a game that sees you step into the shoes of a genuine samurai warrior.

Using a chapter system to pace the run rather than standard gyms, Bushido tells a complex, ever-evolving, and riveting story worth its weight in gold. But, to support this, you also have a Pokémon gameplay experience that feels much more traditional and grounded.

Truthfully, it’s a game that succeeds thanks to its story, theme, and impeccable graphics and music rather than the gameplay. But that’s not to say that it’s a poor gameplay experience, just not groundbreaking.

That said, the presentation, score, and storybeats more than justify you hopping into this game. So grab a katana and bring honor to your clan.