Pokémon Dark Rising is one of those fan-made ROM hacks that actually feels like a proper, full-fledged game—just with way tougher battles and a darker story. You still start with your usual starter Pokémon, but don’t expect the usual breezy gym crawl. Trainers here hit hard, and wild Pokémon can wreck you if you’re not careful. The story’s got this weird, almost edgy vibe with some legit twists, and the new Pokémon mixes keep things unpredictable.

First 10 minutes? You pick your starter (I went with the fire type, no regrets), get immediately thrown into some wild lore about a prophecy, and then get smacked around by a rival battle that actually makes you think. The sprites and maps are polished for a hack, though some dialogue feels a little… extra. If you’re tired of vanilla Pokémon and want something that doesn’t hold your hand, this’ll keep you busy.