Skip To...
As one of the longest-running franchises, Pokemon sparked creativity within the gaming fanbase thanks to the host of fan-made creations running around. Considering the trend of conflicting opinions concerning new official games, it’s no surprise people turn to the fandom. Some Pokemon fan games stand out more than others, and we’re here to find the best to keep you entertained while you wait for the next official entry. There’s no order to these rankings, as they all have their unique spin on the franchise.
[Updated August 13, 2024 – a new year brings a new list of exciting and popular Pokemon fan games worth discussing]
Pokemon Sage
What initially began as an anonymous collaboration on 4chan’s/vp/ Pokemon board, Pokemon Sage steadily grew to become a demo. Fans of the best old-school Pokemon games can feel instant nostalgia the moment you launch it, from the whimsical music to the graphics.
Best of all, the Pokemon used here are truly unique. The creators aimed to build a new Pokedex inspired by Latin American culture. You can see the dedication and creativity that’s gone into creating these distinct pocket monsters, and even if it’s just a demo, it makes you eager to discover them all.
Pokemon Uranium
On the topic of Pokemon games created by fans, Pokemon Uranium is yet another that draws inspiration from the classics. Even more, it feels like an official game. There are over a dozen towns to explore and eight gyms to battle in. It’s also another fan-made creation to feature over 100 new pocket monsters.
There’s a similar structure to the official franchise in that it gives off comfortable familiarity for longtime fans. Plus, you can enjoy custom game modes to play how you want, and you can even jump into the Lobby for trades with friends. Because what’s a Pokemon game without trading, right?
Phoenix Rising
Let’s take a step away from the traditional gym battles and instead dive fully into an RPG world. That’s what Phoenix Rising lets us do. It’s your job to restore peace in a war-torn land. It’s a classic adventure game mixed with fun Pokemon elements.
You can still catch Pokemon to add to your collection in this fan-made game, but there’s more to it. There are quests to complete, rewards to collect, and a skill tree to work on. It even has character customization, making it ideal for fans who want more immersion.
Pokemon Insurgence
Pokemon Insurgence blends well into the world of Pokemon, allowing you to explore a traditional story or dabble into something darker. While various Pokemon “cults” fight for control, you’re stuck in the middle.
This is another one of the best Pokemon fan games aimed at those who enjoy RPGs. There’s character creation and customization, the ability to create a base, and various Challenge Modes to enjoy. Even more exciting is that the game features some cool new Mega Evolutions for many pocket monsters.
Pokemon Prism
A ROM-hack of Pokemon Crystal, Pokemon Prism balances the classic gameplay with new mechanics. There are a range of customization options for your Trainer, more than 200 Pokemon to catch up to Generation 4, and six regions to discover and explore.
You can even play and roam around as your Pokemon, giving you greater control of the entire team. Of course, you can battle in gyms and earn badges, but the way this expands on the classic game makes it a fun fan experience to dive into.
Pokemon Fire Ash
Ever wanted to continue the adventures of Ash Ketchum? Well, Pokemon Fire Ash lets you do that. Following the anime, this fan-made Pokemon game features a robust lineup of pocket monsters from Generation 1 to Generation 7. Of course, Pikachu is your starter, but you can encounter hundreds.
But the most thrilling thing about this fan project is that you can dive into every region up to the Aloha region with Ash. We get to experience the Alolan forms and Mega Evolutions on top of everything else.
PokeMMO
Ever thought about how the Pokemon world would fare in the online space? Well, PokeMMO is your chance to explore that. It’s an MMORPG in a 2D style, and it lets you join in with other Trainers, trading, battling, and even forming teams.
Being online with others lets you easily enjoy PvP battles, making it essential to improve your Pokemon. If you’d rather shy away from that, you can always keep busy battling the various region leaders, champions, and the Elite Four. They have rather powerful Pokemon, so it’ll be a fun challenge.
Pokemon Reborn
Out of all the Pokemon fan games, Pokemon Reborn offers a compelling twist on the usual we get from the franchise. You’re still a Trainer, but it’s up to you to restore a world that is now crime-infested. Certainly not something you’d ever get from the classics.
The world is heavily detailed, too, and it features 18 gyms, numerous Pokemon up to Generation 7, and the ability to battle and trade online. It’s quite a lengthy game too, so you’ll spend plenty of hours glued to it.
Pokemon Clockwork
Pokemon Clockwork is yet another fan game that puts an interesting twist on the franchise. Like the name implies, it’s all about time here. In the Rosari region, you can travel through time, exploring the past and present as you complete various quests.
There’s a fun day and night cycle, modifications and new moves for Pokemon, and an exciting battle system that can see your pocket monsters evolve during the fight. If you want to play around with time and have fun with the Generation 1-4 Pokemon, this is a nice fan experiment to appreciate.
Pokemon Infinite Fusion
Have you ever wondered what a Bulbasaur would look like if meshed together with Charmander? Or perhaps Ekans with Nidoran? Well, Pokemon Infinite Fusion gives you that chance. It’s just pure fun. Whatever pocket monsters you can catch, you can fuse two to form a new Pokemon.
It can be the coolest thing you’ve ever seen or the absolute silliest creation possible. You’ll have to play through the intro to get the fusing part, but once you do, you won’t want to stop. It’s a delightful way to create your personal pocket monster buddy to take out on an adventure.
