Pokémon Evolve is one of those GBA ROM hacks that actually feels like a proper game—not just some slapped-together mess. You start with the usual pick-your-starter routine, but the twist here is how wild the evolutions get. I went with the fire type, and let’s just say it didn’t turn into anything I expected by level 30.

The maps are familiar but tweaked just enough to keep you guessing, and the trainer battles? Way tougher than the vanilla games. You’ll actually need to think about type matchups instead of just bulldozing through with an overleveled starter. And yeah, it’s still got that classic GBA charm—pixel art, chiptune music, all that good stuff.

If you’ve burned through the official Pokémon games and want something with a little more bite, this one’s worth a play.