With the recent release of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, fans of the franchise still can’t get over playing other Pokemon games in 2026.
Fortunately, there is a myriad of fan-made games that aspiring trainers can choose from.
While such games are not part of the original game series, many of these fan-made Pokemon games can be quite interesting, as they offer a new and unique set of gameplay mechanics, stories, and even new regions to explore.
Note: We classify these fan games as different from rom hacks. Fan games are created using RPG Maker XP or Pokemon Essentials.
In comparison, Rom hacks are made and modified from its base rom such as Pokemon Emerald, Pokemon FireRed, or Pokemon Ruby.
Related articles:
- 20 Best Pokemon GBA ROM Hacks
- 10 Best Pokemon Emerald ROM Hacks
- 10 Best Pokemon FireRed ROM Hacks
- 25 Best ROM Hacks
- Top 10 Pokémon ROM Hacks with a New Story
- 10 Pokémon ROM Hacks with Over 16 Gyms
Editor’s Update (January 2026): Added a new entry that fans will sure love.
Here are some of the best Pokemon fan-made games to play in 2026:
12. Pokemon Xenoverse: Per Aspera Ad Astra
Pokemon Xenoverse: Per Aspera Ad Astra is not your typical fan-made Pokemon Game.
Apart from having a memorable Latin name, Pokemon Xenoverse offers something new by introducing a unique region and distinctive Pokemon battle HUD.
The developers behind Pokemon Xenoverse, the Weedle Team did a great job creating a new Pokemon world with a design that can rival the Gen 5 of the mainline games.
Features of this game include an entire generation of fakemons, more interactive battle scenes, improved graphics, and Vintage Pokemon.
11. PokeMMO
For players looking for a competitive environment, PokeMMO is definitely worth a try. This game boasts an online multiplayer feature where anyone can enjoy PVP Pokemon battles.
PokeMMO has a massive world composed of four regions (Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Unova). In addition to PVP, the developers added more challenges to the game by providing the gym leaders with stronger Pokemon.
The team behind PokeMMO regularly installs updates to maintain balance and introduce fresh contents that continually changes the game’s current meta.
10. Pokemon Clockwork
As the name suggests, Pokemon Clockwork is a fan-made game that revolves around the concept of time. This makes Celebi, the Time Travel Pokemon an ideal choice to become its version mascot.
Pokemon Clockwork’s story takes place in the Rosari region, where the main character can travel through time and complete a series of quests.
The region is beautifully designed with color palettes similar to the Pokemon games on Nintendo DS, but a bit better.
Players can encounter a wide variety of Pokemon from Generation 1 to 4, which can be captured depending on the game’s day and night cycle system.
9. Pokemon Fire Ash
Ash Ketchum has come a long way indeed. After losing several tourneys from the previous seasons, Ash finally becomes a champion after beating Gladion in the Alola League.
Ash used the momentum he gained from Alola to compete in the World Coronation series, eventually defeating Leon, the strongest Pokemon trainer at that time.
For those who want to witness Ash’s momentous journey to victory, Pokemon Fire Ash is a perfect choice. This fan-made Pokemon game follows the events of the anime, starting from Kanto all the way to Alola.
Considering the length of the story, Pokemon Fire Ash has a massive world consisting of 50+ gyms and at least 800 Pokemon waiting to be captured and trained.
8. Pokemon Sage
Unlike ROM hacks, fan-made Pokemon games are made with more serious efforts to create something new and memorable for their players. And when it comes to uniqueness, Pokemon Sage is a game that doesn’t fall behind the competition.
Pokemon Sage has a roster of around 200 new Pokemon originally made by its developers. In layman’s terms, these non-Nintendo made Pokemon are known as Fakemons.
The game introduces the Urobos region, which is inspired by the places and culture of Latin America.
While the Pokemon formula is still prevalent in Pokemon Sage, it will remain its independence by not adding some familiar features like Mega Evolutions and Z-moves.
7. Pokemon Reborn
Built from the style of Pokemon Emerald, this game can give a hint of nostalgia to its players. Centered around the Reborn City, Pokemon Reborn features a wide range of content amounting to over 100+ hours of playtime.
Apart from having 807 obtainable Pokemon, it also makes capturing more exciting by allowing the player to acquire rare Pokemon by different means.
Notable examples include finding Pokemon in concealed locations, receiving gifts, and many more.
Pokemon Reborn is equipped with servers to accommodate online Pokemon battles and friend-to-friend trading.
6. Pokemon Apex
Pokemon Apex is a game that deviates itself from most fan-made games. It removes the usual gameplay mechanic of collecting gym badges to immerse the players into its distinctive storyline.
The game is about an unnamed teenager living in a city called Nascene. While on the way to school, the teenager is mysteriously transported to a Pokemon world where a malevolent cult resides.
The developers are still working on completing Pokemon Apex. While in the ALPHA stage, the game is expected to become more adult-oriented through a serious plot with more mature dialogues.
Other game features include side quests, unlimited TMs, and a total of 400 Pokemon available as of writing this article. More features will be integrated into Pokemon Apex in the future.
See more information and screenshots of Pokemon Apex here.
5. Pokemon Phoenix Rising
Pokemon Phoenix Rising is another RPG-heavy game that provides more emphasis to its story.
The player will journey around the Hawthorne region, trying to capture Pokemon while quelling a rebellion led by a family claiming to be of royal blood.
Its defining feature is a multichoice storyline, letting the players change the course of the story based on their decisions in the game.
There are also options for character customization, as well as a skill tree system.
The graphics are similar to a classic JRPG, and its creators made the game with pure passion as they released Pokemon Phoenix Rising by episodes, all completely free.
4. PokeRogue
Unlike all the other entries in this list, PokeRogue is a fan-made game created using Phaser3 2D game framework. As the name imply, PokeRogue’s gameplay is rooted on its rogue-like mechanics rather than world exploration.
In PokeRogue, everything is all about random Pokemon battles. You start with a small team, and you get to make it stronger by capturing higher level Pokemon. Winning battles also rewards you with various items that you can use throughout your run.
For fans looking for a fresh twist on the Pokemon formula, PokéRogue offers a challenging and engaging alternative that rewards experimentation and long-term mastery.
3. Pokemon Insurgence
Pokemon Insurgence is a jam-packed game that offers a vast number of content that every Pokemon fan will surely enjoy.
The world of Pokemon Insurgence is filled with a new variant of Pokemon known as Delta Species. To encounter these creatures, the player must traverse the massive region of Torren.
Also read:
- What is The Best Starter in Pokemon Insurgence?
- What’s the Pokemon Insurgence Best Team? Read our Indepth Guide!
Mega Evolution is present in the game, and some Pokemon are even designed with new and unique mega evolutions.
Pokemon Insurgence is 100% complete and has an active community and creators that regularly update the game for a better experience.
2. Pokemon Uranium
With 8 badges to collect in the Tandor region, some fans believed that Pokemon Uranium feels more like a Pokemon game than those from the official series.
Pokemon Uranium contains more than 150 Pokemon, with the addition of a new type called Nuclear.
Nuclear-type Pokemon are vulnerable to all types of moves except steel. However, they can also deal massive damage since their attacks are super-effective against every type, but again, except for steel.
Players looking to beat the game with a twist can do so with Pokemon Uranium’s Nuzlocke mode.
1. Pokemon Infinite Fusion
What a way to end this list with a game that turns the curious dream of some Pokemon fans into reality.
Imagine a fan-made game where you can fuse Pokemon to create a new one, similar to what happened to Kyurem in Pokemon Black and White 2.
Using the DNA splicers from the said games, combining Pokemon became the key element in Pokemon Infinite Fusion.
Players have the freedom to fuse any two Pokemon they like starting from Generation 1 to 7. All 176,400 possible combinations will result in a hybrid Pokemon with different stats, movepool, and sprites.
Players can use these Pokemon in battles to fight gym leaders and collect 16 badges across the regions of Kanto and Johto.
Conclusion
Every fan-made Pokemon game provides a breath of fresh air for those who want to temporarily escape the quintessential elements found in the official games.
To attract more players, developers of these fan-made games work tirelessly to push the boundaries of the Pokemon gaming experience. Fan games are indeed great games, no doubt about that.
As mentioned above, most of these games are made by RPG Maker XP or Pokemon Essentials, and they are one-of-a-kind.
Just sad to say that some of these games no longer offer updates and support due to DMCA takedown notices which were issued by Nintendo.
Have you played any fan-made Pokemon we mentioned in this list? Let us know what you think in the comments section below!
