The best Pokemon ROM hacks, ranked
We finished them so the ranking means something.
How we ranked them
We played each hack to the credits. Difficulty curve, story, the polish of the maps and music, and whether the download still works without a forum login. Hype did not earn anyone a slot.
| UnboundBest | Radical Red | Renegade Platinum | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Newcomers | Hardcore vets | Nuzlocke players |
| Difficulty | Fair | Brutal | Steep |
| New region | Yes | No, Kanto | No, Sinnoh |
| Stable download | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Time to beat | 30 hours | 40 hours | 35 hours |
The top three
1. Pokemon Unbound
The clear pick for most players. A new region, a difficulty you can actually tune, and modern quality-of-life on top of a FireRed base. It is the hack we point newcomers to first.
2. Pokemon Radical Red
For people who thought the main games were too easy. It is mean, fair, and packed with modern mechanics. Not your first hack, but maybe your favorite.
3. Pokemon Renegade Platinum
The definitive Sinnoh. Every Platinum issue addressed, every Pokemon accessible. If you want a complete, balanced pair of Nuzlocke-ready games, start here.
We rebuilt the map three times before it felt right. The hard part is not adding features, it is knowing what to leave out.
Frequently asked questions
Are Pokemon ROM hacks legal?
The patch files are legal to share. Applying a patch to a ROM you dumped yourself from a cartridge you own is legal. Distributing the patched ROM, or downloading a pre-patched ROM, is not. Our guides only ever hand you the patch.
Which hack should I play first?
Pokemon Unbound. It is forgiving, polished, and teaches the new mechanics without punishing you for not knowing them.
Do I need a powerful computer?
No. These run on a ten-year-old laptop with mGBA. Anything from the last decade is more than enough.
Can I play on my phone?
Yes. Put the patched ROM in Delta on iOS or Pizza Boy on Android. The controls are fine once you map them.
Pick one and play tonight
The patch guide walks you from clean ROM to playing in under ten minutes.