Pokémon BlackGranite X is one of those fan-made GBA hacks that actually feels polished—like someone took the classic Pokémon formula and gave it a darker, grittier twist. The sprites are redrawn, the towns have this eerie, almost gothic vibe, and wild Pokémon encounters can get surprisingly tough early on. I remember picking my starter (a ghost-type fox thing?) and immediately getting wrecked by the first trainer’s weirdly balanced team. Classic.

It’s not just a reskin, though. There are new evolutions, some bizarre type combos (fire/psychic? sure, why not), and a story that’s way more involved than your usual "go beat eight gyms" setup. The pacing’s a little uneven—you’ll grind more than you’d expect—but if you’re into ROM hacks that actually try something different, this one’s worth the hassle. Just save often. Trust me.