Pokémon Victory Fire is one of those solid GBA ROM hacks that actually feels like a proper Pokémon game—just with way more fire types than you'd expect. Right off the bat, you get to pick from some wild starter options (think Houndour or Bagon instead of the usual suspects), and the region's got this cool volcanic theme going on. Battles are tougher than the main games, but not in a cheap way—trainers actually switch out their Pokémon, which keeps you on your toes.

The sprites are clean, the new maps don’t feel slapped together, and there’s even a post-game if you’re into that. Only gripe? Some of the dialogue’s a little rough, but hey, it’s a fan game. If you’ve burned through the official titles and want something familiar but fresh, this one’s worth a playthrough.