Pokémon II (Red Hack) is one of those weird, charming ROM hacks that tweaks the original Game Boy classic just enough to feel fresh. You still start in Pallet Town, but the Pokémon line-up is shuffled—some familiar faces are gone, replaced by later-gen monsters that somehow fit right in. First time I played, I picked Squirtle like always, only to realize halfway through Brock’s gym that the type matchups aren’t what I remembered.

The overworld looks mostly the same, but trainers have different teams, and some routes are rearranged just enough to keep you on your toes. It’s not a full overhaul, more like someone remixed your favorite song—same melody, but with a few unexpected beats. And yeah, it’s still glitchy in that classic Game Boy way, but that’s part of the nostalgia.

If you’ve played Red a hundred times and want something that feels familiar but slightly off, this hack’s a solid pick.