Ever playedPokémon Platinumonly to say, “Haven’t I used this team before?” If your team has a Starter, Luxray and a Staraptor, etc., then I’m sorry to say that yes, that team is incredibly basic. No hate though.
In fact, even when you try and branch out, eventually, once you’ve been through all the games multiple times,you’ll get a bit bored by using the same Pokemon over and over again. At this point, what you’re in dire need of is a refresh!
While it can feel a bit weird using Fakemon created by other people, once you immerse yourself in the experience, you’ll start seeing the flaws in GameFreak’s own character design. At some point, you may even start to prefer the fan-made stuff. Who knows?
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In any case, if you need a breath of fresh air,give these Fakemon Rom-hacks a try!
This list contains a mix of ROM hacks and Fan Games. Generally, due to not using a hacked copy of the game, Fan Games have more creative freedom with their designs. However, both deserve their space on the list.
8Pokémon Fools Gold
Not Quite What You Expected!
Download Link
Feeling nostalgic? Well, I have an experience that may just blow your mind. Pokémon Fool’s Gold is a ROM hack ofPokémon Crystalwith251 completely reimagined Pokémon. While they may have the same names, these are completely different beasts entirely.
Not only do the Pokémon look different, but they havecompletely new typesand are found in different places. There are new areas to explore as well as new moves for you to discover.
And while not every redesign is a banger (some of them are utterly bizarre), there are many with thematically brilliant designs that you might end up preferring over the original. If you feel like running through Gen 2 again, maybe spice it up a bit with a bit of Fool’s Gold.
7Pokémon Sweet 2th
A Delectable Delight
Ephraim225
Cakes… Sweets… Pokemon? What on earth’s going on? This is another ROM hack that draws on the original Pokémon but changes them in completely ridiculous ways. And yes, it’s odd, but somehow it works quite well.
Pokémon Sweet 2th is the second installment in the series, witha whopping total of 386 brilliantly designed new Fakemonand even25 Mega Evolutionsfor you to discover. This game takes place in a brand new colourful region that looks as sickly sweet as you might imagine.
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Hidden gems that are well worth checking out.
Of course, if you’re prepared, you’re going to have to do quite a bit of learning. One of the main draws here is thebrand-new type chart, comprising various ice cream flavours. As if this game wasn’t bizarre enough, right? But learning these types is just as simple as learning the real Pokémon types. Once you’ve got the knowledge, you’ll be good to go!
6Pokémon Xenoverse
Dimensional Chaos
Team WEEDle
Tired of ROM hacks and want to try something completely new? Well, Pokémon Xenoverse is a great place to start if you want to get into Fan Games.
Xenoverse takes place in the Eldiw region, which is currently being plagued by a series of interdimensional faults. Andthrough these faults come the brand new X species Pokémon, a series of monsters from the Xenoverse world. Of course, these aren’t the only new additions.
The Dex has a massive 583 species, including normal Pokémon and newly created Fakemon too, blended into the mix. And these designs are pretty fantastic, looking like they came straight from GameFreak’s own designers. Clearly, a lot of love was put into the dex here, and the presentation is top-notch. If you’re lucky, you may even run into a Pokémon that’ll give you a blast from the past!
5Pokémon Vega
Guided By The Stars
Pokemon Vega Team
While now Pokémon Vega might seem a little dated, this is still a brilliant hack if people want an easy introduction to the world of Fakemon.
Despite that, be warned, this gamedefinitely ups the difficulty quite a bit, requiring a decent amount of grinding if you want to take everything on. But considering the quality of the Fakemon, it’s well worth your time in my opinion.
Of course, you have the new region of Tohoak, 181 Fakemon and even a bunch of new moves designed specifically for these new creatures. What’s more, unlike many hacks,there’s a good amount of postgame to explore, including a battle facility, which will really test your skills.
Now, if you fancy an easier experience that fixes some of the problems of the original, try out Vega Minus for an equally great time.
4Pokémon Prism
Building On The Classics
RainbowDevs
While Pokémon Prism isn’t exactly packed with Fakemon (only the legendaries are actually new designs), it deserves its place on this list due to how much it changes up the regular formula.
Whether it’s the huge amount of customisation, the new types, collectables, the explorable regions or even just the idea ofbeing able to play as your Pokémoninstead of the trainer, this game really pushes the boundaries of what’s possible, especially as it utilises the Gen 2 engine. Which honestly makes it feel even more unique!
This gameeven faced legal actionfrom Nintendo itself, and as such, has become a bit of a legend in its own right. Even asROM hacks and fan gamesbecome ever more advanced, Prism will always be a gem, just waiting to be replayed.
3Pokémon Uranium
A Radioactive Ramble
Involuntary Twitch and JV
Pokémon Uranium was one of the first Fakemon fan games I experienced in my youth, and to this day,it holds up! And this is for good reason.
The presentation of the game is great, with a compelling story based onnuclear disastersthat grips you from the very start and a brilliant roster of Fakemon that’ll have you struggling to make your team!Sometimes 6 Pokémon just isn’t enough!
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Fancy a break from the Pokemon formula? These rom-hacks will feel like a breath of fresh air.
Taking place in the Tandor Region, the graphics here will stun you as you roam through the wonderfully designed routes and bustling cities. Customisable game modes likea nuzlocke modewill entertain anyone looking for a bit more difficulty, along with useful quality of life additions and even thenew nuclear typingfor more variety.
While the game is still receiving updates, the main bulk of the project is complete, so put on your hazmat suit and get ready to dive in.
2Pokémon Flux
Tap Into The Flux
JV and Oripoke
Ready for a real level up? Welcome to Pokémon Flux, a whole new adventure set in the Altera region. You might be wondering what sets these next games apart from the others. Because all the games on this list are pretty fantastic.
It’s all about presentation and polish. Are the Fakemon well-designed, blending in with the lore of the world? Are there new tile sets, quality of life changes, interesting game-changing mechanics that force you to change the way you think? Is there love and intrigue injected into the story? Well, I can assure youthese next 2 have that in spades.
Not only are the designs in Pokémon Flux incredible, but there’s a wholenew battle mechanicin Alter battles, utilising Flux moves! What’s more is that instead of playing it safe and doing thewhole gym shtick, there’s a whole new progression with a unique league structure, which is such a breath of fresh air.
Pokémon in the overworld, pretty lighting, online features, well-thought-out routes, all of these are just scratching the surface of what makes the experience here so polished. It’s a shame that it’s just ademoright now, but when it fully releases, it is going to be remarkable!
1Pokemon Armonia
Uncover The Secrets That Lie Beneath
Honestly, the top two choices here were particularly tricky. In reality, I only found out about Pokémon Armonia recently, but as soon as I saw it, I sort of fell in love. Perhaps it was the adorable new starters that got me,but sometimes you can tell when something is a game changer.
It’s easy to make a generic-looking dog Pokémon, or a regional bird, but it’s truly difficult to make a Pokémon design that no one has ever thought about or seen before. And even more to modify an already existing Pokémon with aregional designthat looks better than the original.I’m looking at you, South-sea Gastrodon.
There’s even a new lizard version of Eevee that covers the other types with its incredible evolutions. What’s so great about these Fakemon is how seamlessly they connect to the world and the other regular Pokémon around them. In all honesty, going through the dex,there’s none that I actively dislike, which is pretty rare for a Fakemon game.
When you add in the fascinating history vs tech story, the super interesting world design, and evennew features like the EXP system, it all culminates in something that’s just profound. If only GameFreak could replicate this quality.
While this Fan Gameisn’t quite finished yet,it still has a mountain of content, so be sure to keep a watchful eye on this one and look out for that final update!
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