The main series of Pokemon games, developed by Game Freak, have built up a huge fanbase globally. The franchise has launched multiple anime series, a trading card game, and countless spin-off games, which has expanded the fanbase even more. With a fanbase of that size, pleasing everyone with everything is virtually impossible, and some fans are going to feel like Game Freak isn't catering to their desires.
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For some fans, this amounts to little more than complaining online, but for others, it can be a spark of creativity. Many members of the Pokemon community have gotten together over the years and have created their own Pokemon games that do things Game Freak would never even dream of.
10 Pokemon Phoenix Rising
A common theme throughout many Pokemon fangames is a more mature story. Gone are the days of friendly rivals showing players how to catch Pokemon in a friendly world. Pokemon Phoenix Rising is no exception, as the premise is that of a war-torn world that the player must help restore.
Phoenix Rising features things never seen before in Pokemon. Skill trees, side-quests, and a narrative driven by player choice are all a part of the game, along with some of the most visually impressive areas in the fangame world right now. The only downside is that it is currently unfinished, and progress on the game is extremely slow. However, what's already available for download is worth a look.
9 Pokemon Light Platinum
A well-known fangame from the early days of ROM Hacks, Pokemon Light Platinum is more of a touch-up on the usual formula than anything brand-new. The plot is intriguing enough but doesn't push the boundaries of maturity in the way others do.
With Pokemon from the first four Generations available - including all Legendary Pokemon - Light Platinum will keep players occupied for a while. It may not be a revolution in Pokemon games, but for fans who want something similar to the regular main series experience, but with a bit more challenge, this will have them covered.
8 Pokemon Uranium
Pokemon Uranium made headlines in 2016 due to getting a Cease & Desist notice from Nintendo as it launched. Thankfully, it is back online now, and all the better, as it is a unique Pokemon experience worth trying out.
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With over 150 high-quality, brand-new Pokemon, Uranium injects the feeling of discovery back into Pokemon. The game plays with a very serious tone, featuring a story that deals with death and nuclear fallout. It also has a matching difficulty, so players shouldn't take this adventure lightly.
7 Pokemon Prism
Somewhat of a rarity in the Pokemon fangame scene, Pokemon Prism is a ROM Hack of Pokemon Crystal, rather than any of the newer titles. The aesthetic of the original Game Boy games is a big selling point for Prism and is perfect for those seeking a nostalgic experience.
The game's plot is an interesting one, as one of the central issues is the debate between the old village traditions and the modern urbanization of the game's region. It doesn't sound exciting on paper, but it's a surprisingly nuanced discussion that is a breath of fresh air compared to the stand plots of Pokemon.
6 PokeMMO
Several variations of Pokemon as an MMO exist, but PokeMMO takes the crown for bringing in MMO elements while keeping relatively true to the original experiences. Currently, Kanto, Hoenn, Sinnoh & Unova are all playable in the game, with Johto in development. All of these regions use different assets from each game, meaning that each region feels just like players will remember them.
Additionally, all of the plot elements are retained, so players can adventure through each region as if they were playing the original games. The only difference is, players can now invite their friends along. It's a simple formula, but it's lovingly crafted and the purest form of multiplayer Pokemon currently out there.
5 Pokemon Zeta/Omicron
The first Pokemon fangame produced by TheSuzerian, Pokemon Zeta/Omicron, is what would happen if designers took the standard Pokemon experience and stuffed it full of everything fans have ever wanted from a Pokemon game.
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All Pokemon from Generations I through V are catchable, along with a select few from Generation VI. That's not all, as there are one or two brand-new Pokemon, as well as new Mega Evolutions. But wait, there's more! This game's biggest innovation is the Delta Pokemon, which are type & design variants on existing Pokemon, implementing regional variants years before Game Freak thought of these unique type combinations.
4 Pokemon Fire Ash
It's not an uncommon desire amongst Pokemon fans to follow Ash Ketchum's adventures through the Pokemon world themselves. Pokemon Fire Ash fulfills that wish. From Kanto to Alola, players can play through all seven regions, following the path Ash took on his adventures, fighting his friends and foes.
For players who want to use Ash's Pokemon, all of them are available as gift Pokemon in the same locations Ash caught them. Although, for those who want to deviate, every other Pokemon is catchable too. Even without the element of following Ash's adventures, Pokemon Fire Ash is a brilliant trip down memory lane for any long-time Pokemon fan.
3 Pokemon Reborn
Players looking for a Pokemon game that hits the difficulty level just right, Pokemon Reborn is arguably the best option. Tough but fair, this game isn't shy about giving the player a challenge and requiring them to plan ahead.
The story is one of the darkest out there, with domestic terrorism and other, more touchy subjects referenced and showcased at several points. The world is dark and unforgiving, but the story is deep enough to be interesting as players conquer the region, which features the majority of non-Legendary Pokemon from Generations I through VII.
2 Pokemon Showdown
Pokemon Showdown isn't a traditional Pokemon game. Players don't pick their starter and then go traveling around some region. Instead, Showdown is the Pokemon community's most popular battle simulation software to make competitively viable Pokemon.
Using Showdown's features, players have free reign to create a competitive Pokemon team all their own. Customization is available for everything from Items, Abilities, EVs & IVs. Once players have made their teams, they can take them online and see how they do in the different competitive categories until their team is ready to take into the main series games.
1 Pokemon Insurgence
The second Pokemon fangame produced by TheSuzerain, Pokemon Insurgence is the best of the best when it comes to high-quality Pokemon fangames. Insurgence has customization options for everything. Players can alter the difficulty, select specific challenge runs (such as Nuzlockes), and even chose between a light or dark version of the story.
The game comes with a healthy dose of challenge too. The game's many Gyms are based on themes rather than types, so players will have to rely on more than just one or two Pokemon for each battle. Along with this comes two explorable regions, every Pokemon from Generations I through VI, as well as more new Mega Evolutions and Delta Pokemon from Pokemon Zeta/Omicron.
With a team that is still semi-actively working on patches & bug fixes, Pokemon Insurgence is the ultimate Pokemon fangame experience.