These eight projects offer very different takes on Pokémon: tougher Hoenn battles, a Greece-inspired region, story-led adventures, dungeon exploration, and even a Mario-themed overhaul. The list follows The Filibuster’s July 18, 2025 roundup, which ranked them from eighth to first but did not publish scoring criteria or comparable test results. Treat that order as one publication’s editorial selection—not an objective measure of which game is best. The roundup also uses “ROM hacks” broadly: some projects may be fan games built on separate engines rather than patches for an original Pokémon game.
Which of these Pokémon projects fits your taste?
The descriptions below reflect The Filibuster’s roundup and are not claims of independent gameplay testing. The projects vary more by format, tone, and structure than a single ranking can show.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Pokémon Pokopia - Nintendo Switch 2 | $69.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Pokémon Legends: Arceus - US Version | $54.25 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Pokémon Violet - US Version | $51.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Pokémon Sword - Nintendo Switch | $54.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Pokémon™ Legends: Z-A - Nintendo Switch | Buy on Amazon |
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| Project | What the roundup highlights | Best fit if you want |
|---|---|---|
| Pokémon Emerald Imperium | A harder Emerald/Hoenn experience with expanded Pokémon availability and quality-of-life tools | Familiar-region battles with added challenge |
| Pokémon Lazarus | A Greece-inspired region, multiple generations of Pokémon, following Pokémon, side quests, day/night, and two difficulty modes | A new region and a broad adventure |
| Pokémon Dreamstone Mysteries | A missing-professor mystery in Cormoria, Team Somber, Dreamstones, and less-linear routes using an Emerald-style tileset | A story and exploration in a familiar visual style |
| Pokémon Pisces | A reworked Hoenn beginning in Pacifidlog, with new Pokémon and Fakemon, altered opponents, double battles, and new evolution mechanics | A remixed Hoenn journey and changed battles |
| Super Mariomon | A humorous Mario-themed character overhaul with randomized and replay-oriented elements | A playful crossover premise |
| Pokémon Awakening | A story-focused experience with portraits, a class system, relationships, and branching paths | Character-driven play and choices |
| Pokémon Reminiscence | Procedurally generated dungeons, legendary Pokémon transformed into humans, party members that do not level up, and a reported 2025 content update | Dungeon exploration and unusual party systems |
| Pokémon Odyssey | An exploration- and dungeon-led adventure without the usual Gym and Elite Four structure | A break from the standard badge progression |
This comparison is an editorial way to sort the roundup’s descriptions, not a shared scorecard. Its entries are not rated consistently across story, difficulty, completeness, or technical format.
What each entry offers
Pokémon Emerald Imperium: a tougher Hoenn revision
Ranked eighth in the roundup and credited there to Iriv24, Emerald Imperium is described as a more demanding Emerald-based adventure inspired by Radical Red. The roundup calls out stronger trainers and Gym Leaders, broader Pokémon availability, rare candies, stat editing, ability capsules, and reusable TMs. The project page lists patch v1.3.1 and a September 2025 update date; it asks players to provide a clean Pokémon Emerald ROM. See the Emerald Imperium project page for its current patch and instructions.
#1 Best Overall
- Shape the world and build a cozy new life with Pokémon as a Ditto transformed to look like a human.
- Use other Pokémon’s moves, like Bulbasaur’s Leafage, to revitalize and navigate the world around you.
- Meet and befriend more Pokémon as you help nature flourish.
- Gather materials to create items and furniture, till the fields to grow delicious crops, build homes for the Pokémon you meet, and more—there’s so much to do!
- Experience a world with varied weather, real-time days and nights, and other surprises.
Pokémon Lazarus: a new region with side activities
Ranked seventh and credited to Nemo622, Lazarus is described as a Greece-inspired region featuring Pokémon from several generations, following Pokémon, side quests, day/night, and two difficulty modes. The roundup’s note that only the first three Gyms were available reflected its July 2025 snapshot, not the later release status: a November 2025 report announced version 1.0 for November 14. Check the project’s current page for the release and installation details rather than relying on an older progress note. The later date is reported by Pokémon.com.
Pokémon Dreamstone Mysteries: a mystery in Cormoria
Ranked sixth and credited to Coinbirdface, Dreamstone Mysteries centers on a missing professor, Team Somber, and mysterious Dreamstones. The roundup describes an Emerald-like tileset, an expanded roster, and routes that are less linear than the original game. It is a natural pick for players who want a story-led journey without leaving that visual tradition.
Rank #2
- Action meets RPG in this new take on the Pokémon series
- Study Pokémon behaviors, sneak up on them, and toss a well-aimed Poké Ball to catch them
- Unleash moves in the speedy agile style or the powerful strong style in battles
- Travel to the Hisui region—the Sinnoh of old—and build the region’s first Pokédex
- Learn about the Mythical Pokémon Arceus, the key to this mysterious tale
Pokémon Pisces: Hoenn rearranged
Ranked fifth and credited to Pebbler Platoon, Pisces changes Hoenn’s starting point to Pacifidlog and reworks opponents and progression. The roundup also points to new Pokémon and Fakemon, double battles, and altered evolution mechanics. Its appeal is less about a wholly new region than about seeing familiar Hoenn material reconfigured.
Super Mariomon: a comedic crossover
Ranked fourth and credited to Kobazco and the team, Super Mariomon replaces the familiar Pokémon framing with Mario-themed characters and a humorous tone while retaining turn-based Pokémon-style play. The roundup notes randomized and replay-oriented elements, making it the most overtly crossover-driven option in this group.
Rank #3
- Embark on a new Pokémon adventure
- Catch, battle, and train Pokémon in the Paldea Region, a vast land filled with lakes, towering peaks, wastelands, small towns, and sprawling cities.
- Choose either Sprigatito, Fuecoco, or Quaxly, to be your first partner Pokémon before setting off on your journey through Paldea.
- Embark on an independent study called the Treasure Hunt to gain new experiences, meet new people, and find your very own treasure.
Pokémon Awakening: branching, character-focused play
Ranked third and credited to KidFates, Awakening emphasizes story and relationships, with character portraits, a class system, and branching paths. Its format matters: the roundup cautions that it may be a separate-engine fan game, not a patch for a Pokémon ROM. Check the creator’s platform and installation information before treating it like a GBA hack.
Pokémon Reminiscence: procedural dungeons and a naming wrinkle
Ranked second, this project is headed “Pokémon Reminiscence” in the roundup, although the article’s prose calls it “Pokémon Reminiscencia.” Its described premise has legendary Pokémon transformed into humans; the roundup also mentions procedurally generated dungeons, party members that do not level up, and a 2025 update with added content. Verify the project’s own title and current status on its creator-maintained page before downloading.
Rank #4
- Catch, battle, and trade Pokémon on an all-new adventure in the Galar region
- Choose from three new partner Pokémon and encounter never-before-seen Pokémon
- Unravel the mystery behind the Legendary Pokémon Zacian and Zamazenta!
- Team up with other Trainers to participate in Max Raid Battles***!
- Battle wild Dynamax Pokémon in Max Raid Battles and try catching them***
Pokémon Odyssey: exploration over the Gym circuit
Ranked first, Odyssey is presented as a dungeon- and exploration-led adventure that does away with the standard Gym and Elite Four structure. Its creator-authorized guide identifies English v4.1.1 as complete, based on FireRed (U) 1.0, and played as a patched GBA file. The guide’s patch archive upload date is September 23, 2025. Find the precise base-game and patch steps in the Pokémon Odyssey guide.
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How to choose beyond the ranking
- For a familiar region: Emerald Imperium leans into difficulty and convenience changes, while Pisces rebuilds Hoenn’s starting point, battles, and mechanics.
- For a new story or setting: Lazarus offers a new region and side activities; Dreamstone Mysteries foregrounds a mystery; Awakening emphasizes characters and branching paths.
- For a different structure: Odyssey shifts toward exploration and dungeons, while Reminiscence makes procedural dungeon runs central to its pitch.
- For a change in tone: Super Mariomon is the overtly comedic crossover.
- For a challenge: Emerald Imperium is the entry the roundup specifically describes as harder. The supplied descriptions do not establish a comparable difficulty scale for the other games.
Check format, version, and setup before downloading
“ROM hack” does not mean every entry installs the same way. A patch modifies a player-supplied base game; a separate-engine fan game may have different platform and installation requirements. Confirm the creator’s latest instructions, current version, and compatibility before starting. The July 2025 roundup does not establish current versions or completion status for all eight entries.
Best Value
- Live the life of a Pokémon Trainer in the streets of Lumiose City!
- For the first time in the Pokémon RPG series, command your Pokémon in real-time battles
- Use the power of Mega Evolution in battle and take on rampaging Rogue Mega-Evolved Pokémon
- Compete in the Z-A Royale each night to test your skills and try to become the strongest Pokémon Trainer
- Visit shops, restaurants, and places called wild zones—where Pokémon roam free—all centered around Prism Tower
Patch-based examples
Odyssey’s guide specifies a clean, legally dumped FireRed (U) 1.0 ROM, a UPS patch, and an emulator that can open the patched GBA file. The UPS patch itself is not a playable game. Emerald Imperium’s page asks for a clean Pokémon Emerald ROM and recommends emulator options including mGBA and RetroArch with an mGBA core; those are the project’s recommendations, not independent compatibility testing. Both sources say players supply the base ROM rather than providing it. Do not download unauthorized ROMs or pre-patched copies.
Separate-engine projects
For Awakening, and any other project that is not a ROM patch, check the creator’s page for supported operating systems, installation steps, and update status. Do not assume that a GBA emulator or a particular base game is required—or supported—without project-specific instructions.
What community listing does and does not establish
PokéCommunity says its Showcase section is reviewed and subject to approval, with different progress, download, and screenshot requirements for projects at different stages. That describes the forum’s listing process; it does not mean every Pokémon fan project has been vetted there or certified safe or legal. See PokéCommunity Showcase.
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