Pokémon Kohaku Adventures is one of those fan-made GBA hacks that actually feels polished—like it could’ve been an official release back in the day. You start in a new region with a mix of familiar Pokémon and some surprises, and the sprite work is clean enough that you forget it’s not Nintendo-made. The pacing’s solid, too—none of that "grind for hours just to beat the first gym" nonsense.

First thing you’ll notice? The rival’s got way more attitude than the usual "let’s be friends" types. And the maps? They’ve got little hidden areas that actually reward you for poking around, which is a nice change from the usual linear routes. I went in expecting jank, but ended up sinking way more time into it than I’d like to admit.

If you’ve got a soft spot for old-school Pokémon but want something that doesn’t play it *too* safe, this one’s a solid pick.