7 must-play Pokémon Gen 3 ROMhacks to try before the Nintendo Switch ports drop
Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire are rumoured to be dropping on the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 later this month, so while we wait to see if that’s true, why not consider some unofficial spin-offs?
Below is a curated list of Gen 3 Pokémon ROMhacks, plus a little bit about each one. Keep in mind that to play these yourself, you’ll need a legally obtained ROM of the game it’s based on which, in this case, will either be Pokémon Emerald or Pokémon FireRed.
Given how Pokemon Emerald might not get a re-release on Nintendo Switch consoles, these are probably your best of playing them on modern hardware.
Pokémon Gamma Emerald - Pokémon Emerald
We might as well kick things off with one of the more recent ROMhacks, Pokémon Gamma Emerald.
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This is a HD-2D recreation that isn’t quite finished yet, but you can still play a large portion of the game for free via the latest build. It’s one of the best-looking ROMhacks out there and, in my opinion, this art style is where the Pokémon series should have gone after it left the Nintendo 3DS/2DS behind.
Pokémon Black Pearl Emerald - Pokémon Emerald
ROMhacks like Pokémon Gamma Emerald tend to get a lot of attention, meaning lesser-known hacks like Pokémon Black Pearl Emerald get swept under the rug.
They shouldn’t though, especially this one as it reworks the battle system of Pokémon Emerald and even gives you a new rival. It’s pretty cool.
Super MarioMon - Pokémon Emerald
If you feel like Pokémon ROMhacks are a little too same-y nowadays, Super MarioMon is 100 percent for you.
This one was actually created by the YouTuber Jacob Alpharad and his friends, and turns the Mushroom Kingdom into one big Pokémon battle league. You can add Piranha Plants, Hammer Bros, Lumas, and more to your team.
Pokémon Odyssey - Pokémon FireRed
The hype around Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey may have finally settled down, but if you’re looking for an odyssey yourself, this one is it.
My personal favourite on this list, Pokémon Odyssey is a dungeon-crawler where you explore and loot the Yggdrasil Labyrinth. It’s a very fun twist on the Pokémon formula so try it out for yourself.
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Pokémon Emerald Legacy Enhanced - Pokémon Emerald
While quite a few of the ROMhacks on this list are glaringly different from the game they’re based on, Pokémon Emerald Legacy Enhanced is exactly what it says on the tin.
It introduces several quality-of-life improvements with the aim of modernising Pokémon Emerald for a modern-day audience, including difficulty modes, better inventory management and all Pokémon catchable without the need for trading.
Pokémon Unbound - Pokémon FireRed
Another incredibly popular ROMhack we can’t ignore for this list is Pokémon Unbound. Despite being based on Pokémon FireRed, the two games couldn’t be any different, as Pokémon Unbound tells a completely bespoke story.
It’s a good one to try after completing the Pokémon Legends: Z-A Mega Dimension DLC as both are centred around Hoopla.
Pokémon Emerald Kaizo - Pokémon Emerald
This one is for the trainers who feel up to any challenge thrown at them. Pokemon Emerald Kaizo is Pokémon Emerald with the difficulty cranked up to 11, with trainers and gym leaders fully decked-out with the best possible teams.
Anyone who can successfully complete a Nuzlocke run on Pokémon Emerald Kaizo can confidently call themselves a true Pokémon master.