Pokémon Obsidian is one of those fan-made GBA hacks that actually feels like a proper Pokémon game—just with way more edge. You start off in this moody region where even the starter choices feel a little darker than usual. I went with the fire-type, but honestly, the ghost hybrid might’ve been the smarter pick.

The sprites are crisp, the battles move fast, and there’s this weirdly satisfying grind to the early routes. You’ll run into some wild Pokémon you’ve never seen before, and the gym leaders? They don’t mess around. First one wrecked me twice before I figured out her gimmick.

If you’ve burned through the official games and want something with a bit more bite, this one’s worth booting up on an emulator. Just don’t expect the usual hand-holding.