Pokémon: Advanced Adventure is one of those fan-made GBA hacks that actually feels polished—way more than you'd expect from a beta. You start off with the usual Pokémon journey, but the region's totally new, and some of the sprites are surprisingly clean for a romhack. First ten minutes in, you're already running into weirdly balanced wild Pokémon (watch out for that level 8 Pidgeotto near the starting town).

It’s got that classic FireRed vibe but with enough tweaks to keep you on your toes—new maps, different gym orders, and some bizarre trainer teams that’ll make you rethink your starter choice. I went with Charmander like an idiot and immediately regretted it when the first gym leader pulled out a Geodude. Still, the grind feels fair, and the music’s weirdly nostalgic even though half the tracks are remixed.

Definitely one of the better Pokémon hacks if you’re tired of replaying the official games for the hundredth time.