Pokémon DarkViolet is one of those fan-made GBA hacks that actually feels like a proper Pokémon game—just with a darker twist. You start off in the familiar Kanto region, but things quickly take a turn when Team Rocket’s schemes get way more sinister than usual. The sprites are updated, the dialogue has some edge, and wild Pokémon encounters feel a little less predictable.

I wasn’t sure about the difficulty at first, but after a couple gym battles, it clicked—trainers actually use strategy now, and some of the type matchups will catch you off guard. The beta still has a few rough spots (some moves don’t animate right), but if you’ve burned through the official games and want something with a bit more bite, this one’s worth a look.