Pokémon Onyx Blue is one of those fan-made GBA hacks that actually feels like a proper Pokémon game—just with a darker, more mysterious vibe. You start off in a region where the usual cheerful towns have this eerie edge to them, and even the wild Pokémon feel a little more unpredictable. The first time I ran into a Shiny Zubat in a cave, I almost panicked because my starter (a Grass-type with weirdly good defense) wasn’t exactly built for speed.

It’s got all the classic mechanics—gyms, random encounters, way too many HMs—but the story takes some wild turns. There’s a cult worshipping some ancient Pokémon, and your rival isn’t just some annoying kid; they’ve got actual motives. The sprite work is surprisingly polished, and the music? Some tracks sound like they were ripped straight from a late-night horror RPG.

If you’ve burned through the official games and want something familiar but with a twist, this one’s worth booting up on an emulator. Just don’t expect to breeze through it—some of the gym leaders fight dirty.