Pokémon Dark Cry is one of those fan-made GBA hacks that actually feels like a proper, polished game—not just some slapped-together rom. You start off in this eerie region where the usual "catch 'em all" vibe takes a dark turn pretty quick. The story’s got this mystery hanging over everything, and the new Pokémon sprites? Way better than you’d expect from a hack.

First ten minutes in, you’re picking your starter (good luck choosing—they’re all solid), and then bam, you’re hit with weird glitchy cutscenes and NPCs dropping cryptic hints. It’s got that classic Pokémon feel but with a creepy edge, like someone left Lavender Town running in the background the whole time. The difficulty’s a step up too—wild Pokémon hit harder, and trainers don’t mess around.

If you’ve burned through the official games and want something fresh without losing that Pokémon charm, this one’s a solid pick. Just don’t blame me when you get jumpscared by a Dex entry.