Pokémon! These uniquely-powered majestic creatures are remarkable, especially if you are a Pokémon fan.
Despite its age, Pokémon is a popular franchise. The new take on the franchise has given fans unique experiences, but if you’re like me, you sure want to feel nostalgic from time to time.
And that’s where Pokémon Emerald comes in. It is a 2004 Game Boy Advance release. The role-playing game takes you to the Hoenn region, stitched to our memories.
Pokémon Emerald is a third-generation game that takes the best bits from Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, adding new stories, characters, gameplay mechanics, and more. It is one of the best Pokémon games, considering it sold 7 million units worldwide.
To re-live those memories and explore more unique experiences, you must try Pokémon Emerald ROM Hacks.
But what are ROM hacks? And, most specifically, Pokémon Emerald ROM hacks? Let’s answer these questions and list the best Pokémon Emerald ROM hacks you must play.
Let’s get started.
What are Pokémon Emerald ROM Hacks?
ROM Hacks lets modifiers modify classic ROM games to create new experiences. ROM stands for Read-Only Memory which stores the video game data. It keeps the game data in digital format for preservation purposes.
Any person with sufficient knowledge and access to tools can modify the digital content in ROM, adding new gameplay elements, including music, gameplay, graphics, and even new levels.
ROM hacks let modders create new games, providing a unique experience for the community. ROM hacks also improve old games’ quality of life, making them more enjoyable for the current audience.
Pokémon Emerald ROM hacks are built on top of Pokémon Emerald ROM. As the game is one of the best Pokémon games of that time, modders use it as a perfect framework to create new experiences.
But Why Pokémon Emerald?
Before we go and list the best Pokémon Emerald ROM hacks, it is essential to understand why Pokémon Emerald. And why not other Pokémon games, such as Ruby and Sapphire?
That’s because Pokémon Emerald is an evolution in Pokémon gameplay, mechanics, and content. It builds upon previous Pokémon releases and offers an excellent foundation for creative people to build upon — offering a complete package.
Also, the Pokémon community has been working on Pokémon Emerald ROM hacks for an extended period. It means extensive research has already gone into it.
There’re plenty of Pokémon Emerald ROM hacks that you can play. However, we’ll focus on the best ones to keep the list short.
Disclaimer: We condemn piracy in any form or way. ROM Hacks are a great way to access Pokémon content. However, it may lead to piracy. This article lists the ROM hacks for knowledge purposes, not how to get them.
Pokémon CAWPS
Pokémon CAWPS is one of the best ROM Hacks based on Pokémon Emerald. It brings new aspects to the already-excellent Pokémon game. However, it is made for adults where you play as a police officer (option to choose from male or female). This leads to a mature theme where you can see a lot of violence, offensive dialogues, and even death. So, if you’re a kid, you must avoid this game.
As for content, CAWPS adds new Pokémon, areas, items, challenges, and storylines. Once you start the game, you get two Pokémon — where you pick one, and the game assigns you the other one randomly. Apart from these, you get access to Grinding Cave, which you can use to grind levels in the end game.
In short, Pokémon CAWPS is a mature-themed Pokémon Emerald ROM hack that lets you play as a cop in the Hoenn region. So, if you’re mature enough to deal with the content, pick it up and enjoy it!
- Creator: Crizzle
- Last Updated: 2016
Pokémon Victory Fire
Are you looking for a more challenging game than the vanilla Pokémon Emerald experience? If you do, check out the Pokémon Victory Fire – a ROM hack created by a group of developers.
In this game, you play Iron or Pure (young boy or girl), where you go on an extraordinary journey to become the best trainer in the Tyron Region.
To achieve greatness, the player must leave their hometown and fight the best trainers and Gym leaders. Soon, you discover that Team Mirage has upset the entire Tyron region as they attack Professor Ivan, a Pokémon expert and revered figure.
Like CAWPS, Victory Fire offers access to new content, including levels, Pokémon, and challenges. You can also uncover Pokémon world secrets and know Victini’s important role.
- Creator: Win1158
- Last Updated: 2023
Pokémon Emerald Rogue
In recent times, roguelike games have become extremely popular. And, if you want to try out a roguelike Pokémon game, check out the Pokémon Emerald Rouge.
The game takes you on an entirely new adventure where you get access to randomly chosen routes. Like any other roguelike game, it has procedural items, wild encounters, and trainers. It also offers a hub area to unlock NPCs and buildings for your run.
In each run, you must defeat the 8 randomly-generated GYM leaders, the champion, and the elite four. And it takes roughly 3-4 hours to complete a run. The nifty quick save option ensures you can permanently save the game and return later to complete it.
To make each run unique, it offers a Seeded mode to set individual config settings, including trainer difficulty, a double battle mode, etc.
It also offers character customization, mega evolution in battle, rare legendary encounters, safari zone, and Galarian forms. So, to test your roguelike skills, you must try Pokémon Emerald Rogue.
- Creator: Pokabbie
- Last Updated: 2022
Pokémon Theta Emerald Renev
Pokémon Theta Emerald Renev is a complete repackage of the Emerald game with additional Pokémon, improved gameplay mechanics, abilities, items, and other quality-of-life improvements.
If you loved playing the original Pokémon Emerald, you’ll surely adore what Pokémon Theta Emerald Renev offers. In this game, you can capture 721 Pokémon. In addition, you get access to 600+ moves, including Flame Charge and Dragon Pulse. You also get around 200 different abilities and access to 500+ items, including Beat Ball, Life Orb, etc.
To improve the game’s quality of life, Pokémon Theta Emerald Renev offers increased bag capacity, difficulty for those looking for a challenge, 100+ reusable TMs, alternative evolution methods, and color-coded stats. It also has a day and night system and Legendary Pokémon portals.
So, if you want an upgraded experience, check out Pokémon Theta Emerald Renev.
- Creator: LCCoolJ95
- Last Updated: 2018
Pokémon Emerald Kaizo
Are you bored with the difficulty of the original Pokémon games? Then, check out Pokémon Emerald Kaizo, a super challenging Pokémon Emerald version. The Pokémon Stadium and Firered Omega inspire this ROM hack. It offers super-rich content where you get 386 Pokémon to catch!
Apart from that, it offers legendary Pokémon events and post-game content. But, the key aspect of Kaizo is the difficulty. It starts at the lowest difficulty but slowly ramps up as you progress, especially when encountering an overwhelming enemy variety. Also, you cannot use items in battle, making it difficult to beat mobs as you progress.
On top of these, you’ll need specific knowledge and Pokémon to take on the elite four in Emerald Kaizo. All of these are done with Nuzlocke, a set of rules that aim to make Pokémon games harder.
Some other notable key Pokémon Emerald Kaizo features include an altered move pool for Pokémon and no need for excessive grinding.
So, if you need a challenge, pick up Pokémon Emerald Kaizo, and see how you fare in an unforgiving Hoenn region.
- Creator: SinisterHoodedFigure
- Last Updated: 2020
Pokémon R.O.W.E
Pokémon R.O.W.E is an open-world take on the Pokémon Emerald. Here, R.O.W.E stands for Rioluwott Open World Emerald. It brings many quality-of-life improvements and builds upon the Hoenn region. This Pokémon Emerald ROM hack is also the most frequently updated ROM hack with tons of features that’ll keep you busy for a long time.
As Pokémon R.O.W.E is open-world, you can explore the modified Hoeen region. It includes all Pokémon up to Gen 8. In quality of life changes, you don’t have to worry about breeding to get good Pokémon abilities. Moreover, you can choose from three game difficulties.
It offers an Egg Move tutor for beginners and lets players choose from 9 starters or get one randomly.
R.O.W.E has tons of content and QoL, including no Evs mode, perfect Ivs mode, a double battle mode, nature mints, AutoRun options, daily gym leader rematches, mega evolutions, etc.
Overall, Pokémon R.O.W.E is one of the finest Pokémon ROM hacks you must try.
- Creator: rioluwott
- Last updated: 2023
Pokémon Glazed Version
Pokémon Glazed is a top-tier Pokémon Emerald ROM hack. That’s because it is a new game set in a new region, Tunod.
With a new region comes a new story where you play as a twelve-year-old. You get out on an adventure across the Tunod region, only to find a mysterious power set to collapse the real world. You aim to find the mysterious power, the team behind it, and its purpose.
However, you don’t have to do it alone, as you meet allies throughout your journey and a scarfed Pikachu that wants revenge!
Pokémon Glazed Version brings many new things for the players to enjoy. These include newer battle spites, permanent mega evolution, improved Pokémon catch rates, etc.
Pokémon Glazed allows you to go on a new adventure, meet new allies and enemies, and save the world from the mysterious power.
- Creator: redriders180
- Last Updated: 2022
Conclusion
Pokémon has one of the finest communities in the world. They’re passionate about Pokémon, which shows in the excellent Emerald ROM Hacks online. As a Pokémon fan, you’ll love the listed ROM hacks as they offer a unique perspective and take on the world of Pokémon Emerald. The list is not exclusive; you can always find other interesting Pokémon Emerald ROM hacks. However, the list does give you the best starting point to check out ROM hacks based on this excellent game.
In case you’re playing Pokémon Legends, check out how to evolve Gligar to Gliscor!
