Best Pokémon ROM Hacks and Fan Games that Completely Change the Formula

The Pokémon formula is tried and tested, producing hit after hit and selling millions of copies. However, for those of us who have been playing since the very beginning, there’s a pretty strong chance that with that same formula by now.

Luckily for us, the community has come to the rescue, bringing brilliant ideas and a burning passion to create something truly unique. While most Pokémon rom hacks play it pretty safe, using that old formula while changing the creatures, story, or region, some developers choose to defy it, creating something unseen.

If you want something fresh, something that’s going to give you that feeling of wandering into unknown territory, then keep reading and let me shine some light on the future of Pokémon!

8 PokePath TD

Whatever the Cost, Don’t Let Them Through!

What would happen if Bloons Tower Defence and Pokémon had a child? Well, luckily for those who dig these 2 titans, me included, now we have PokePath TD.

Instead of the usual Pokémon Formula where you head out, take on 8 gyms and become the Champion, instead you’ll have to defend routes, with wild Pokémon streaming down, trying their hardest to take out your Hitpoints.

You still get to pick a starter, but you can also purchase random Pokémon from the shop and level them all up individually, increasing their powers. Of course, the position that you place them is going to matter massively here, with different Pokémon getting different powers in water or grass. It’s up to you to find out all these different terrain interactions and learn the potential of every tower… I mean, Pokémon!

7 Pokémon Crown

A Long Time Ago in a Region Far, Far Away…

Honestly, I want to put Pokémon Crown higher up on this list, simply because I know it’s going to be a truly phenomenal experience, but for now, I can’t, because the full game hasn’t been released yet.

Despite that, the demo is pretty stellar, and from the looks of it, progress is coming along steadily. But just what is Pokémon Crown, and what sets it apart?

Well, Pokémon Crown is an auto-battler, kinda like Auto-chess if you’ve heard of that before. Instead of the classic turn-based combat, you’ll set your Pokémon down on the field, and they’ll battle it out automatically. You have to carefully choose the placement of your Pokémon, as well as their class and their bonuses, which replace Pokémon types.

The art direction here is really stunning, as well as the medieval vibe. It’s going to rock our worlds. All we need is a little patience.

6 Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of the Spirit

No… Don’t Make Me Cry Again!

If you’ve never experienced the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon games before, then… honestly, you’re missing out on some of the greatest Pokémon games of all time.

However, what if I told you there was a way to make it better? Welcome to Pokémon Mystery Dungeon, Explorers of the Spirit!

This is a pretty special rom hack that enhances the original Explorers of Sky, fleshing out some characters, improving the dungeons, and even the story, which was already top-notch.

While you still have some of the flavour of the original Pokémon games, the Mystery Dungeon series takes on a whole new genre, while maintaining that familiar addictive structure and brilliant role-playing storytelling aspect. Anyone looking for a break from the formula needs to give this a shot.

5 Pokémon Recordkeepers

Swift Swapping Strategies for Pokémon Savants

Have you ever played a roguelike before? If you’re coming from Pokémon, well, you’re in for a very different experience!

Initially, what drew me to Recordkeepers was the visuals, which share a painterly vibe with games like Okami. However, I stayed for the game itself. Recordkeepers shares a lot of its genetics with the original Pokémon games; however, enough is changed for this to be a short but fascinating experience.

You can take part in simulations that see you enter another world to challenge bosses and uncover the hidden history behind the story. You can build your team around certain conditions and switch between Pokémon at will, with Pokémon being able to learn every single move!

It’s a wacky formula, but it really works. Honestly, I think this game has a lot more steam in it, if the devs ever decide to get back on board!

4 Pokémon Emerald Rogue

This Run! This Run will be the One!

This rom hack blew up a little while back as it entered the Streamer sphere and caught the attention of the masses. But just why is this hack so popular? Randomness, my friend, pure randomness.

And by randomness, I mean in the game. Similar to Recordkeepers, every time you boot up a game of Emerald Rogue, you know you’re going to get a totally new and unique experience. Proceed through routes, encounter new random Pokémon, challenge trainers and even unlock permanent upgrades for the next run. And if you lose, well, of course, it’s back to the start with you.

And this game is no joke. Getting to the Champion is no easy feat. So if you think you’ve got the skills, then step into the arena!

3 Pokémon XG Next Gen

Stealing Pokémon… for the Greater Good!

Anyone who grew up playing Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD knows what’s coming up here. I recently played XD Gale of Darkness, and while it still holds up, being stuck in that Gen 3 format really holds it back from true greatness.

I still have a lot of nostalgia for GameCube games, with their personality and charm. Part of me even prefers them to the modern Pokémon games, which just seem decades behind in terms of quality.

So imagine my surprise when I found this rom, which brings XD up to modern standards, with a physical/special move split, the fairy type, new shadow Pokémon, and even an improved difficulty curve. And all this while maintaining the glorious look of the 3D Pokémon, which have never looked better. XD, and now XG, revolutionised Pokémon all those years ago. Such a shame Game Freak never capitalised on it.

2 Pokémon Infinite Fusion

Skitty and Wailord… Some Questions are Best Left Unanswered

Does anyone remember that old program that let you swap Pokémon faces and bodies, creating unholy abominations not meant for this world? I do! Now imagine, if you can, an entire game based upon that very concept.

Pokémon Infinite Fusion builds upon that idea, allowing you to use DNA Splicers to combine any of the available Pokémon and create a new beast that gains elements from both parties. With this power at your fingertips, you can create over 250,000 new forms, featuring specially made art from the community.

And if that wasn’t enough of a game-changer, you also have a revitalised Kanto, new Postgame content and sidequests to keep you busy! The amount of content in this game is pretty staggering. Chances are we’ll never see another project like this again!

1 Pokémon Relict

A Matter of Gods and Men

As soon as I saw the developer of this new title, I knew it was going to be an absolute gem. Relict is created by PhionGames, who also helmed the Reminiscencia and Realidea System projects, 2 other fantastic games. However, it seems that many of the lessons learned from those titles have been brought forward and culminated in this super-polished new game.

Pokémon Relict introduces a brand-new style of play, which is a sort of interesting combo between Mystery Dungeon and your classic Roguelike format. You progress through floors, exploring dungeons, fighting, catching Pokémon and defeating bosses, all while accompanied by Arceus, in human form.

A special mention has to go to the art here, as the game features beautiful cutscenes and animated illustrations of the characters and events that happen as you progress. This is, of course, the advantage fan games have over Rom Hacks: they are unbound by old software.

While the game isn’t massively long, due to the Roguelike elements of it, you can easily play through this game multiple times without getting bored, as each playthrough brings new challenges and tense encounters! So give this one a whirl, if you want to spice up your next Pokémon playthrough!