Pokémon of the Past is one of those weird little fan-made GBC romhacks that somehow nails the retro feel while doing its own thing. You start off in a familiar-but-not-quite region with these ancient-looking Pokémon sprites—like someone dug up a lost prototype of Red and Blue. The battles are classic turn-based, but some of the type matchups are tweaked just enough to keep you on your toes.

First ten minutes? You’re picking a starter (go with the fire one, trust me), battling some overly eager trainers in tall grass, and realizing the music is weirdly catchy for a hack. It’s janky in that charming Game Boy Color way—screen transitions stutter a bit, and some dialogue’s clearly been translated by someone whose first language isn’t English. But that’s part of the appeal. Feels like playing a bootleg cartridge you’d find at a flea market.

If you’re into obscure Pokémon mods, this one’s worth a few hours of nostalgia.