Pokémon Genesis is one of those fan-made GBA hacks that actually feels like a proper Pokémon game—just with way more stuff to mess around with. You still start in a sleepy little town, pick your starter (though the choices here are way cooler than the usual trio), and set off to fill your Pokédex. But then you notice the map’s different, some familiar Pokémon have new evolutions, and there are these weird shadowy battles that pop up when you least expect them.

It’s got that classic GBA pixel charm, but with enough twists to keep you on your toes. Like, why is there a Dragon-type gym third? Who thought that was fair? And don’t even get me started on the post-game stuff—way more to do than just grinding the Elite Four again. If you’ve burned through the official games and want something fresh but still nostalgic, this one’s a solid pick.