Pokémon Elite Quest (alpha) is one of those fan-made GBA hacks that actually feels like a proper, polished game—not just some slapped-together rom. Right off the bat, you get hit with custom sprites, a fresh region, and a bunch of Pokémon from different gens mixed in. The starters aren’t your usual Kanto trio either; I went with a Riolu and immediately regretted not picking the grass-type when the first gym wrecked me.

It’s got that classic GBA vibe but with enough tweaks to keep you on your toes—new moves, tougher AI, and some wild evolutions you won’t see coming. The alpha tag means there’s still some rough edges (occasional text glitches, a route or two that feels unfinished), but honestly, it’s way more playable than some official releases I’ve tried. If you’re into ROM hacks that actually respect your time, this one’s a solid pick.