Pokémon Crystal World is one of those hacks that actually makes the original Crystal feel fresh—new maps, tougher trainers, and a bunch of Pokémon you wouldn’t normally see in Johto. The first thing you’ll notice? Your starter choices are way different. No more picking between Cyndaquil, Totodile, and Chikorita—now you’re looking at stuff like Ralts or even a Larvitar.

Battles get intense fast, too. Gym leaders don’t mess around, and wild Pokémon levels are juiced up so you can’t just breeze through routes. Some areas are totally redesigned, and there are even a few surprises if you know where to look (let’s just say the Ruins of Alph got a lot more interesting).

If you’ve played Crystal to death but still love that Gen 2 vibe, this hack’s worth sinking some time into.