Fans can’t get enough of Pokémon, whether it’s made by Nintendo or someone else. This ravenous hunger to see new regions and Pokémon has spawned a community of video game modders that specialize in making highly customized unofficial versions of the Pokémon games, called ROM Hacks for the fans who aren’t satisfied with Pokémon’s new TCG board game.

ROM Hacks can be found all over the internet because fans have made dozens of them. Some of these unofficial Pokémon games add completely new Pokémon, some bring all 807 official Pokémon to a region they don’t naturally appear in, and some go out of their way to create a whole new story for players to enjoy.

SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY

With so many different options out there, it’s hard to know which ROM Hacks are worth playing before after beating the Isle of Armor but before The Crown Tundra comes out, but as a start, here are the three best ones.

Pokémon Omega Red

Like most ROM Hacks, Pokémon Omega Red is a hack of the original Pokémon Fire Red, but the ROM Hack brings tons of new features to the game that are missing from the original. For a start, all 807 Pokémon, including the Pokémon from newer regions, are in the Kanto region of Pokémon Omega Red. Combine that with mega-evolutions, Alolan forms, Fairy type and new moves, and Omega Red is a completely transformed experience of the original game.

The main selling point of Omega Red is that it’s harder than the original game, and offers a proper challenge for Pokémon players who want it. All of the gym leaders are tough fights against a full team of Pokémon, and every trainer has been buffed. For people looking for a classic Pokémon experience with a little more challenge, Pokémon Omega Red is the best option.

See also  Every Doctor Who Christmas Episode, Ranked

Pokemon Unbound

Probably the most famous ROM Hack on this list, Pokémon Unbound has two versions, the unfinished Alpha, which takes place in the entirely original Borrius region, and the Battle Frontier, which is the real Pokémon Unbound experience. The story of the Borrius region is incomplete, but for players looking to test their mettle in combat, the Pokémon Unbound: Battle Frontier is the best Pokémon combat experience, even better than the Isle of Armor’s new battle system.

With over 100 different types of Pokémon combat to master, and more getting added every month, there is going to be a unique league for everyone in Pokémon Unbound’s Battle Frontier. On top of that, they’ve added features that no other ROM Hack has, like a version of the Max Raid Battles from Pokémon Sword and Shield. If it involves Pokémon battles, it’s probably in Pokémon Unbound, so players looking to test their skills should start their adventure in the Borrius region’s Battle Frontier today.

Pokemon Gaia

More than the other options on this list, Pokémon Gaia is a completely original Pokémon game with a full story and region. Though it doesn’t have quite as many Pokémon as Omega Red or battle features as Pokemon Unbound, Gaia is the complete Pokémon experience for players looking for a new game to play before The Crown Tundra arrives.

Additionally, some of the extras added to the game are truly impressive. Though most of the music in the game is pulled from the original Fire Red or Ruby games, there are some original compositions that are fantastic. The battle theme for the evil team of the region, the Elder Knights, is better than most of the songs the Pokémon company made for the Third Generation. On top of the music, the game includes hundreds of completely original sprites for characters and the original story. It’s a fantastic amount of content for a fan game.

See also  Bachelorette: Jason Alabaster Praises Gabby Windey After Exit

Finally, the creator of Pokémon Gaia, Spherical Ice, has been teasing the upcoming 4.0 update on Twitter, which will include new features like defending player champion status from other trainers after beating the Pokémon League. Pokémon ROM Hacks are never going to completely replace the main series games in the hearts of Pokémon fans, but for players who have already found all the Digletts on the Isle of Armor, playing one of these ROM hacks is the next best thing until The Crown Tundra opens.

Every Mortal Kombat 11 Fatal Blow Worse Than A Fatality

About The Author


Jackson Haime
(28 Articles Published)

Jackson Haime is a writer, gamer and dungeon master based out of Ottawa, Canada. He’s played and obsessed over too many games to count and now writes about them to make sure his friends don’t need to hear all his opinions. A member of ScreenRant’s Feature Writers team, he gets the articles done between planning for DnD sessions and attempting to finally solve Magic: The Gathering.

More From Jackson Haime