Pokémon Final Flames is one of those GBA ROM hacks that actually feels like a proper, polished game—not just some slapped-together mod. You start off with a choice of fire-type starters (obviously), but they’ve tweaked the usual trio into something way cooler—think a fire/ghost Charmander evolution instead of the same old Charizard. The maps are redesigned, too, with way more hidden areas and some surprisingly tough early-game trainers.

First thing I noticed? The sprites are cleaner, and the battles feel faster than the original Ruby/Sapphire engine. There’s also this weirdly satisfying crunch to fire moves—like Ember actually sounds like it’s burning stuff now. If you’re into challenge runs, the gym leaders don’t mess around; the second one already has a full team with type coverage. Just don’t expect to steamroll it with an overleveled starter.

It’s not perfect—some of the new Pokémon designs are hit or miss—but for a fan game, it’s way more fun than it has any right to be. If you’ve burned through the official games too many times, this one’s worth a play.