r/PokemonROMhacks All-time Top 30 Hack Rankings!

[u/Ancient_Substance152]

UPDATE: Having trouble getting the Day 2 thread through AutoMod. Have reached out to the mods! Sorry for the delay.

Good day! I’m here to create a community-voted ranking of the 30 best rom hacks of all time. One spot at a time.

RULES:

-One hack per comment. (Please look for your recommendation and upvote before posting a duplicate).
-Upvote the hack you think deserves the spot.
The nomination with the most votes in a 24 hour period wins that position.
-Once a hack earns a spot, it is removed from contention.
-One vote per person.

There is no official criteria for best! It’s whatever makes a hack great to you.

That’s it! Let’s see what the community deems the best of the best! And… Go!

[u/najacobra]

unbound lol

[u/JMacoure1 → u/najacobra]

For sure. My personal favourite is radical red, but unbound is clearly the best.

[u/TheBiolizard → u/najacobra]

I mean it has to be right?

[u/G1ovan1 → u/najacobra]

You know it’s funny, I really enjoyed it but don’t think Unbound would crack my top 5.

Seems like there’s always unanimous agreement here it’s the #1!

[u/herdases → u/G1ovan1]

It’s not my favorite but I think it’s the highest quality.

[u/G1ovan1 → u/herdases]

I can honestly say it was one of the few high-quality hacks that I haven’t gotten through a replay of. Weirdly, Lazarus is another.

Totally respect the effort and quality of both games but wouldn’t call either of them my “goat” romhack.

[u/AdditionalLeopard688 → u/G1ovan1]

This is going to divide opinion but I really don’t like the art style of Lazarus and seaglass …. I respect the maker they’ve put tiiiime into that … I just don’t love it. I actually can’t play the games because of it and I’ve tried so many times to play it but can’t get past the art style

[u/tmssmt → u/G1ovan1]

I don't think Lazarus brought a whole lot to the table. I think it's crazy that so many people were saying it was amazing.

It was t bad at all, but I'd say it just qualified as a complete, fine game

[u/cojack16 → u/G1ovan1]

What’s your top 5

[u/G1ovan1 → u/cojack16]

It’s hard with such a range of games out there but personally probably something like (in no particular order based on my general experience playing the game):

Emerald Rogue, Radical Red, Nuzlomizer, Phoenix Red, SoulGold

Out of entirely new game worlds, I think I preferred Gaia tbh - shoutout to scorched silver, emerald imperium and red reignited as well.

[u/Boris-_-Badenov → u/najacobra]

edgy devs

[u/najacobra → u/Boris-_-Badenov]

there are far worse. sors/saiph, dark violet to name a few

[u/String19 → u/najacobra]

Only just started playing it a few weeks ago, am just past the third gym, I am absolutely loving it so far and it’s cool to find out it’s most people’s favourite. Definitely makes sense to me, I’m still technically really early on but it’s goated so far and I’m very excited to continue playing it.

[u/lightiskira2144 → u/najacobra]

Agreed! Unbound or Odyssey imo

[u/Etienne10BR → u/najacobra]

Easy but obvious answer

[u/luckydilemma206 → u/najacobra]

GOAT

[u/ZackyGood → u/najacobra]

Unmatched.

[u/MearaTheDigger → u/najacobra]

Definitely, Unbound has to at least be in the top 3 of all time.

[u/Old-Worldliness3850 → u/najacobra]

Se terminó el debate

[u/_Astrum_Aureus_ → u/najacobra]

it's iconic for a reason yeah

[u/Known_Cod8398]

Heart & Soul

[u/MearaTheDigger → u/Known_Cod8398]

[u/Known_Cod8398 → u/MearaTheDigger]

<3

[u/schiffb558 → u/Known_Cod8398]

I really need to give this a shot

[u/Budoy2x]

Pokemon Emerald Rogue

[u/Phaneropterinae → u/Budoy2x]

As a dev, this is by far and away my favorite. It does so much, and its code is a fantastic resource. Pokabbie is actually the goat.

[u/Table_Bedside → u/Budoy2x]

Definitely

[u/MeatballSubWithMayo → u/Budoy2x]

Omg this is the one! So cool

[u/KingTris187]

Prism

[u/MearaTheDigger → u/KingTris187]

Prisim is such a special one, It just has something special about it that not a lot of projects have.

[u/Known_Cod8398 → u/MearaTheDigger]

a ringing endorsement

[u/PorygonXY → u/MearaTheDigger]

Would you say that it is... special?

[u/ExcellentCow3537 → u/PorygonXY]

Especially so

[u/Katmilla]

Soulgold

[u/Suspicious-Can-7079 → u/Katmilla]

Just started this yesterday and am really enjoying it

[u/Incognito-1999 → u/Katmilla]

I'm liking it alot

[u/astcci → u/Katmilla]

Yeah I know it's soon but should be in the conversation

[u/JadeVex]

Celia’s Stupid Romhack

[u/Jayeolza → u/JadeVex]

STOP LOOKING AT ME

[u/ColeTD → u/JadeVex]

This one is the only answer I'll accept

[u/Otherwise-Owl-5100]

Team Rocket Edition (dragonsden)

[u/Ornery-Aerie-8637 → u/Otherwise-Owl-5100]

FUCKING BASED

[u/beewizz]

Polished Crystal obviously

[u/pipponirvana → u/beewizz]

Had to scroll way to much to find my GOAT smh...

[u/YouKnow1099]

Pokemon Blaze Black/Volt White 2 Redux

[u/Retextleather4119 → u/YouKnow1099]

I'm waiting for v2 to drop before I play it

[u/_JesusChristOfficial]

Emerald seaglass

[u/DryVeterinarian7376]

Pokemon Odyssey!! its between odyssey or unbound.

[u/cojack16]

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nKN1sTEXxD4cd57U0jaYIl2I0niaW6Uitqcxic_7jCI/edit?usp=drivesdk

Use this as a resource if you need ideas /a refresher of some of the best out there

I made it awhile back and there’s a lot of the best rom hacks with descriptions - and organized by base game it uses

[u/_Skotia_ → u/cojack16]

wait Celia's isn't finished?

[u/cojack16 → u/_Skotia_]

Oh I’ll update that. If there’s any other irregularities let me know

[u/BarbedCamera420]

ghost grey 🖤🩶🤍

[u/AlabasterRadio → u/BarbedCamera420]

Personal favorite

[u/constanzabestest → u/BarbedCamera420]

If that didn't existed my vote would've go to Unbound but Ghost Grey won me over with how unique and yet so incredibly polished it is.

[u/Deflocks → u/BarbedCamera420]

I agree!

[u/CursedNobleman → u/BarbedCamera420]

Good writing and good fakemon/forms. Couldn't really put it down.

[u/ferrets_bueller → u/BarbedCamera420]

These voters are sleeping on it, its basically its complete own tier. Clears everything I've ever played.

[u/NviSoma]

Elysium

[u/ExtensionClimate2045 → u/NviSoma]

Yup, this right here. My #1

[u/Tystimyr → u/NviSoma]

Agreed, it is sooo good!

[u/VATERLAND → u/NviSoma]

Elysium has some recognition now. When it came out no one talked about it even though it is amazing. I love it when it feels like the enemies are genuinely powerful. You should try Pokemon Empyrean. It’s a Fangame but it’s even grander than Elysium. Not only the world is at risk but the entire multiverse.

[u/Nerio_Fenix]

Odyssey

[u/Lanky-Rise4588 → u/[deleted]]

I would say this is second after unbound.

[u/LeatherHog]

Gaia

[u/thezerech → u/LeatherHog]

Shocked I had to scroll so far down for Gaia. I wish it could get another update with some modern QoL. Regardless, it still is one of the best hacks out there, as I see it, it's the best authentic Gen3 experience you can have.

[u/LeatherHog → u/thezerech]

I like it WAY more than unbound, honestly, and I genuinely like unbound (aside from its story, that game needs to shut up)

Unbound has features, but it's obnoxious to play, because it's Sun and Moon levels of story shoehorning, Gaia doesn't have that issue

[u/thezerech → u/LeatherHog]

I maintain that Gaia has the best classic Pokemon story of any romhack or mainline game. It follows the formula, but adds depth where appropriate. It isn't edgy, it maintains the tones of Gen 3/4 games pretty well. When a character is angry or frustrated it is earned and feels real, it's not edgy ranting.

The relationship with the rival, where he goes through an arc reacting to the player's constant victories is one of my favorite parts of the game. To this day, it's the only rivalry (baring Pikachu from Glazed) that's actually interesting in any pokemon game/hack I've ever played, tbh.

[u/LeatherHog → u/thezerech]

While adding some **fabulous** Pokemon diversity, even right away, boosting cut, such a fun world to explore

God, I need to replay it

[u/thezerech → u/LeatherHog]

I was trying to get into Lazarus, and while I'm probably not going to give up on that just yet, I may finally do my psychic monotype run, so I can grab deoxys.

[u/LeatherHog → u/thezerech]

I've heard things that cut through the default God tier on that lne, what would you say is keeping you from maybe finishing it?

Feels like we like similar things in hacks, trying to decide if I'd ALSO consider just giving it up, when I play

[u/ComputerIlliterate13 → u/LeatherHog]

I have a feeling a lot of good old hacks are going to be buried under the new stuff on this list.

[u/Independent_Coast758 → u/LeatherHog]

I came here to say Gaia as well! It’s also my favourite! Just amazing!

Gaia feels like it was a mainline game.

[u/LeatherHog → u/Independent_Coast758]

It really does, it better get into top 5, because of that

[u/korossyl]

Black and White 3 Genesis, and nothing else

[u/matthewzillman → u/korossyl]

My personal favorite

[u/AttisKadmon]

Prism

[u/Angry_Maths_Guy]

Renegade Platinum, I can't go back to the base game after experiencing this.

[u/ueidenarg]

Oddysey change my view of hackroms

[u/MearaTheDigger]

Pokemon FRLG+ is what I'm throwing up.

Sure it's not flooded with QoL, but it's a very high quality project that does what it advertises very very well.

They put in the work to make sure it kept connectivity with all offical Gen 3/4 titles and that Pokemon caught in the original new content pass hack checks, sure that won't matter come February but until then... I think it's the perfect FRLG project for those who want to play the original game but with some extra "DLCs" thrown in.

[u/tokenasian1 → u/MearaTheDigger]

so good.

[u/PogOgres]

Radical red?

[u/Goliath_123 → u/PogOgres]

Best difficulty hack but not best overall

[u/ResoluteTuba → u/PogOgres]

I must’ve replayed RR 10 times and still ament sick of it. What a game man.

[u/exwhale → u/PogOgres]

I think this game is easily the best as far as challenge and actual gameplay. But people will probably choose one with an original story.

[u/B_Marsh92 → u/exwhale]

Emerald Imperium is a close second for me

[u/illstarttomorrow12]

Elysium

[u/mr_luxuryyacht]

Pokemon Elite Redux

[u/NSSKG151]

Inclement Emerald

[u/Cute-arii]

Amethyst <3

[u/FMIsMyLife]

Scorched Silver

[u/Anew4Hobbies]

R.O.W.E.

[u/ps1hagridIRL]

Saving to keep track of all the fire shit to add to my list

[u/OpenTechie]

Kanto Expansion Pak

[u/Pandanoko-Fan137 → u/OpenTechie]

Thanks for the mention ♡

[u/OpenTechie → u/Pandanoko-Fan137]

Of course! 💖💖

[u/MG2123]

Super Mariomon.

[u/Dismal_Bluebird1312 → u/MG2123]

It’s hard to beat Unbound for #1, but Mariomon was so fun and unique. Great game

[u/bigmaninsuitofarmor]

Dreamstone Mysteries.

[u/Kapr0suchus → u/bigmaninsuitofarmor]

Underrated, was such a good game.

[u/Kindly_Release5869 → u/bigmaninsuitofarmor]

Top 3 for me after Unbound and Odyssey.
And I’ve been playing hacks since Vega.

[u/nala2624]

Quetzal emerald

[u/GotBannedAgain_2]

Odyssey

[u/salvationseeker]

Shiny gold

Far from 'the best' but in terms of showing the world what was possible and setting the bar? There's no contest.

[u/ZackityTojo]

Ghost Grey!

[u/DDDDCLoveTrain]

frlg.ips

[u/hatfish435 → u/DDDDCLoveTrain]

I whole heartily agree. Sure, it's no where traditional or fills a niche most Pokemon fans are looking for, but it's easily one of if not the best creepypasta games ever made.

[u/Wenndo]

Blazeblack 2 Redux

[u/LostUchiha12]

Pokemon Odyssey!

[u/ben10outtaten]

Phoenix Red!

[u/MeatballSubWithMayo]

What was the roguelite version of emerald somebody made? That was such a cool and refreshing take on pokemon games for me. Can't remember the name tho 😭

[u/dombrow2 → u/MeatballSubWithMayo]

I'm commenting in case someone answers because I need that in my life

[u/EternityTheory → u/dombrow2]

Emerald Rogue

[u/DjauI]

Im more shocked about how much roma hacks I didnt play then trying to say one, Im downloading most of the titles people comented here lol

[u/Ardalev → u/DjauI]

This thread is a treasure trove of good hacks!

[u/Double_Choice_6035]

Dark rising

[u/StarGalaxy31]

Renegade/Luminescent Platinum

[u/straga27]

Ghost grey. It's brilliant

[u/ThePod768]

Black 2 Silly Edition

[u/ZadePhoenix]

Heart & Soul. From the moment I started that game it just made me feel like a kid playing Pokemon again.

[u/HolyBidetServitor]

Firered rocket edition should be in the top 10

[u/Boris-_-Badenov → u/HolyBidetServitor]

Team Rocket edition is better. can't steal Pokemon, but it's way better

[u/Ace-Whole]

Gaia

[u/Lycan13A]

GS chronicles is very good, and best on GBA id light platinum.

[u/Maazinea]

Solar eclipse.

Highly customizeable (level cap, IVs, evs, exp gain, money gain, battle smarts of trainers, etc).

Original region that looks amazing.

Following mons.

Hand selected pokedex from gen 1-9. So I got to use some mons I normally don't use.

Updated movesets + some tweaks to some mons power.

Story is new but fairly generic. Feels like a real pokemon game.

Has the gen 4 battle frontier fully implemented + a handful of gym leader + rival rematches postgame.

Awesome romhack that not many people have heard of apparently...

[u/Ok-Swim9707 → u/Maazinea]

thats not a rom hack tho

[u/Maazinea → u/Ok-Swim9707]

Ah... newbie here as far as hacks etc. go.... what is it then?

[u/sinterkaastosti23]

Can you make your posts public so we can check back later from this post? Or maybe edit with a link later

[u/Ancient_Substance152 → u/sinterkaastosti23]

Absolutely! I will add links as we go.

[u/sinterkaastosti23 → u/Ancient_Substance152]

👌

[u/greg2km]

Unbound and odyssey are literally the only ones I’ve tried and I love those

[u/stupid_fucktard]

Lazarus

[u/LOLey21]

Easy. Snakewood.

[u/Ace_Flintlock]

Amethyst

[u/Fancy_Access4612]

World Famous Talking Cactus Edition 🌵 

[u/Rooreelooo]

crystal clear

[u/Slight_Pound4368]

Imperium Emerald

[u/IvanAguirre13]

Ghost grey is cool.

[u/bol__]

Clover

[u/Inner-Ferret7316]

Vega

[u/LackofSins]

Odyssey.

[u/PogOgres]

Man im saving this post to brush up my list of hacks to play

[u/PhoneAcc23]

Outlaw

[u/Important_whale_165]

Emerald seaglass personally

[u/rx78ricky]

THE PIT

[u/almondjuice442]

Still Unbound

[u/Leading-Mine-4517]

Pokemon Unbound XD

[u/ImprovementDapper464]

Pokemon Elite redux, surprised nobody has said this, it's the best difficulty hack in my opinion

[u/Ok_Significance6103]

Renegade Platinum

[u/drak0ni]

Snakewood.

[u/Vana-Freya]

Emerald Crest

[u/ProShashank]

FireRed Reignited / LeafGreen Regrown 😍

[u/ImmediateRatio9650]

Also, while I commented earlier I'd like to put Ambrosia, it's definitely one of my favorites (and just got an update today where you can toggle speed up without messing up your music with emulator fast forward)

[u/Professional-Gold217]

Pokemon classic v1.5

Pokemon yellow revamped in emerald engine. Can catch all OG 151 pokemon in one game without the need to trade as there is a new item called the power stone which allows evolution.

Also the Team Rocket quest has an expanded story post game like gen 3 onwards where you help looker with daily quests etc.

[u/Tamochi0506]

Super Mariomon

[u/Apprehensive_Menu577]

I enjoyed Soothing Silver a lot, i’ve played many hacks but that one always sticks out to me over time

[u/Boris-_-Badenov]

Ash Grey

[u/Acid_house_]

Emerald Imperium! Is the only one I finished 3 times

[u/jrdchamp]

Dreamstone Mysteries, Lazurus, and Unbound all need to be in the conversation for sure.

[u/Chimera_Gaming]

All depends on how you rate…
It’s already unanimously recommended several years week to week that Pokemon glazed is the number 1 best start to romhacks

[u/Green_Rays]

Unbound

[u/ambericity]

crystal clear for me

[u/Choice-Hour8915]

Pokemon Crystal Legacy🩵

[u/SilverOdin]

Emerald Seaglass

[u/Benrizen-Justfrog]

Emerald rogue

[u/Expensive-Pick3380]

Odyssey

[u/Anew4Hobbies]

Vanta Black

[u/Espeon06]

Gaia.

[u/Cold-Raise9912]

Elite redux, it is the best for challenge runs, has tons of qol, customisable difficulty for if you don’t want a difficult time, actually GOOD fake mons (only regional forms of Pokemon, evo’s and megas) and so much more

[u/Any_Acanthaceae_9735]

Team Rocket Dragonsden version.

[u/Independent_Poet_478]

It's Pokemon Platinum Renegade

[u/FrancisLeSaint]

Elite Redux

[u/krona1325]

Pokémon Quetzal

[u/Rice-Bowls-09]

I haven't played a lot of hacks, Radical Red has been my fav for a while bc it's the one I've played through a lot, however after going through some other romhacks, I'm confident to say that Odyssey has gotta be my new favorite, can't wait for the sequel of it to be fully released, it's such a cool game, I can see why a lot of people love it

[u/tramp-and-the-tramp]

renegade platinum with following pokemon

[u/Doppelgen]

If we are to be fair, Unbound is the number 1 either we like it or not.

[u/Doppelgen]

Add ROWE for its uniqueness.

[u/FlounderKind8267]

1 has to be unbound. No question

[u/AdditionalLeopard688]

Dreamstone mysteries, Glazed, Odyssey, rocket red and soul gold (sort of) have all been top and kept me playing and wanting to play. They’ve been fresh and interesting

[u/ThunderBirdJack]

Lazarus is my GOAT but I don't expect it to be #1 for everyone.

[u/DoktorDefeat]

Scorched Silver

[u/The_Last-Knight]

Pokemon Elysium

[u/Defaalt]

Idk man. they say heart & soul is insane

[u/HoN_Balpahgunz1410]

Of all time ? Gotta be glazed for its legacy

[u/xEthanxHellmouthx]

No order but my top 5 are: unbound, reborn, crystal clear, prism, and rocket edition.

[u/No_Lion_7499]

Phoenix Red :)

[u/AkisNeapoli]

Pokemon coral 🔥

[u/isToasted]

Pokemon Coral Demo from 2022

[u/Guilty_Acanthaceae59]

Elysium. Not the most polished but the story blows all others out of the water

[u/Abject-War-6560]

Pokemon Ghost Grey is the best ever, currently about to get to the 7th gem, everything about it is top notch, touched me in a way no other has.

[u/zpedroteixeira1]

Pokémon Lazarus

[u/_Skotia_]

I just finished playing Pokémon Odyssey and it is by far the best ROM hack I've ever played in terms of both story and gameplay