Pokémon Vortex (Beta 3) is one of those fan-made GBA ROM hacks that actually feels polished—like someone took the classic Pokémon formula and gave it a fresh coat of paint. You start off with a choice of new starters (no more just Fire/Water/Grass), and the maps? Way more detailed than the original Ruby/Sapphire tiles. Battles are snappy, and there’s even some extra moves and abilities tossed in to keep things interesting.

First time I played, I got lost in the starting town because the layout’s a little different—but in a good way, like stumbling into a secret area you didn’t expect. The wild encounters feel balanced, and the trainers actually put up a fight. If you’ve burned through the official games too many times, this one’s worth a spin.