Pokémon Waterfall is one of those GBA ROM hacks that actually feels like a proper Pokémon game—just with way more water routes than you'd expect. Like, a lot. You start off in this coastal town where your first rival battle happens right on the docks, and half the early-game routes are basically surfing puzzles. If you hated diving for hidden items in the originals, uh… maybe skip this one.

The sprites are clean, the new maps actually make sense (no random ledges just to annoy you), and the wild encounters feel balanced. I went with a Totodile because, well, water theme—but turns out there’s a decent mix of types if you explore a bit. Some of the gym leaders hit harder than you’d think, though. That third one with the double battles? Brutal.

It’s not perfect—some of the dialogue’s a little rough, and the HM reliance is real—but if you’re into Gen 3-style hacks with a twist, it’s a solid time waster. Just stock up on Repels before the late-game ocean sections.