Pokemon fan games allow creative game makers to design brand-new custom adventures, often featuring fakemon, new regions, new storylines, and new game modes. Free from the constraints of what has come before, fan games are free to put their own spin on the Pokemon formula, resulting in games that are chock full of custom features and QoL additions that sometimes make them more enjoyable than mainline games in the series.
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Most Pokemon fan games are made in RPG Maker XP using the Pokemon Essentials toolkit, which gives creators access to scripts that mimic the mainline games in the series, while also giving them the freedom to alter the look and feel of their games in a way that Pokemon ROM hacks simply cannot. Considering the size of the community and the amount of love poured into these projects over the years, choosing the best Pokemon fan games is no easy task.
Updated November 29, 2025, by Hamza Haq: The Pokemon fan community remains as active as ever, with new projects being released every other day. Thanks to the extensive documentation available for developers interested in making their own Pokemon fan games, it is easier than ever to release personal projects made using RPGXP. The article has been updated with three new entries to give players looking for their next fan game a few more options.
Pokemon Reborn
Feature-Rich, Story-Driven Adventure
Pokemon Reborn is a difficult, narrative-driven fan game celebrated for its mature themes, feature-rich content, and intricate puzzles. The game features a new region, all Pokemon up to Generation 7, and unique field effects and terrain systems that drastically alter combat encounters, adding a new layer of depth to combat.
Reborn features 21 starters, 18 Gyms, custom shinies, and many more quality-of-life additions that make it one of the most beloved Pokemon fan games of all time. For those looking for a challenge, the game even has a built-in Nuzlocke mode, though, considering its challenging nature, it's much harder to beat than the vanilla Pokemon games.
Pokemon Realidea System
A Complete Pakcage With Modern Features
Pokemon Realidea System is a masterclass in visual presentation, using clever lighting and fog effects to lift the otherwise bland Pokemon color schemes to incredible heights. Originally released as a Spanish-only fan game, Realidea System has since received an English version, allowing the wider community to enjoy what it has to offer.
Set in the region called Esoteria, the game tasks players with collecting 8 Gym Badges and challenging the League, the traditional Pokemon journey with a twist that’s revealed as the story progresses. Fakemon feature heavily in Realidea System, all with animated battle sprites and attacks to fully integrate them within the game. Quality-of-life features like speed-up, dialogue skips, nature changing, free move relearning, and many more make the experience streamlined.
PokeRogue
A Roguelite Twist on Pokemon Battling
PokeRogue is a unique fan game that flips the typical explore, collect, and battle formula on its head. Instead of the classic Pokemon league challenge, PokeRogue functions as a roguelite game where every “run” is a series of endless randomized battles that players have to complete in order to progress to the next stage.
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Defeating a Pokemon in Pokerogue gives players the choice between three random rewards. Things like Potions, Pokeballs, and Held Items can only be obtained in this manner. Capturing a Pokemon during a run unlocks it as a starter, with the exact same Nature, EVs, and IVs as the captured mon, incentivizing multiple captures.
Pokemon Infinite Fusion
Limitless Fusion System for Infinite Replayability
Pokemon Infinite Fusion is perhaps the most technically impressive fan game ever made. In it, any two Pokemon can be fused together to create a new one, with a new sprite, stat spread, and unique traits that make them stand out from the rest.
The base version of Pokemon Infinite Fusion features nearly 200,000 custom sprites, with more being added with new updates and community contributions. 400 Pokemon from Generations 1-5 are included, with a built-in encounter randomizer for even more fun. Considering the sheer number of possible fusion players can create in Infinite Fusion, no two runs will ever be the same.
Pokemon Tectonic
A Feature-Rich Journey Into the Makya Region
Pokemon Tectonic is set in the Makya region and features all Pokemon up to Generation 8, new regional forms exclusive to the Makya region, and 30+ new evolutions for already existing Pokemon. The game reworks the stats, abilities, and movesets of a large majority of Pokemon to make Pokemon that are traditionally considered trash-tier picks viable options for a playthrough. To that effect, the developers have created over 500 new moves and abilities and spread them out over all 1000+ species of Pokemon in the game to give everyone a fighting chance.
Pokemon Tectonic also features new terrain changes, Typechart touchups, status condition reworks, and experience gain overhaul to streamline the experience for the maximum fun possible. In addition, a MasterDex, MoveDex, and Battle Guide are incorporated directly into the game, giving players built-in documentation to refer to whenever needed. It is a visually distinct, mechanically impressive Pokemon fan game that ticks a lot of the boxes enthusiasts look for in a project, and as such, definitely worth looking into.
Pokemon Xenoverse
A Polished, Professional-Grade Fan Game
Pokemon Xenoverse is one of the most polished, high-quality fan games currently available to download, featuring over 500 Fakemon and original Pokemon in a brand-new region called Eldiw. Additionally, the game also features the Sound-type, a new, fully integrated typing that adds another dimension to the combat.
Best of all, Xenoverse has perhaps the most impressive cutscenes in any fan game ever made, featuring fully animated action sequences that play out like anime snippets, bringing the game’s story to life. Another highlight of the game is X Pokemon, special regional variants of existing Pokemon with a different typing, coloration, and moveset that are featured heavily throughout.
Pokemon Uranium
Community-Powered Project That Lives On
Pokemon Uranium is one of the most famous fan games for the franchise, as it entered the limelight when its development was shut down directly by Nintendo. Fortunately, despite the takedown, Pokemon Uranium remains active thanks to dedicated community members and fans taking up the task of adding new content and updates that helped the game reach the finish line.
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Uranium is a visually impressive fan game set in the Brazil-inspired Tandor region, featuring 160+ Fakemon and a small selection of original Pokemon. Players take on the classic gym challenge in the new region, with 8 Gyms, an Elite Four, and a champion to crown themselves the best trainer of the region.
Pokemon Infinity
A Feature-Packed, Wondrous Pokemon Adventure
Pokemon Infinity is a gorgeous fan game set in the brand-new Egho region. It features Gen 1-6 Pokemon, 100+ new fakemon, a captivating storyline, stunning visuals, custom animations, and an updated battle UI. Together, these features come together to create one of the most memorable Pokemon fan games ever made, making it an easy choice for this list.
Additionally, players can customize their experience of Pokemon Infinity by selecting a game mode, which includes a built-in randomizer, multiple Nuzlocke modes, level caps, monotype challenges, and more.
Pokemon Africanvs
Set in Ancient Africa and Rome
Pokemon Africanvs is an RPG Maker XP fan game based on the second Punic War, a series of battles fought between ancient Rome and Africa. Players assume the role of a Roman soldier who awakens during a siege, and uses Pokemon to fight their way out. The story revolves around battling against famous historical figures using Pokemon, culminating in a final boss fight against Hannibal, the enemy leader.
Pokemon Africanvs features all Pokemon from Generation 1 through 9, new fakemon, as well as custom and regional forms. The main appeal of the game is how it weaves in real history with the world of Pokemon, giving significant historical figures Pokemon teams that fit their theme and backstory.
Pokemon Awakening
Gorgeous Pokemon Fan Game With Flair
Pokemon Awakening is a fan game heavily inspired by JRPGs like Persona, featuring a class and job system that players can use to customize the main character, in addition to the Pokemon in their party. The game even features a relationship system based on the Persona games, giving NPCs players meet during their journey added depth and importance.
Visually, Pokemon Awakening is incredibly impressive, particularly when it comes to the overworld. Gorgeous tilesets, excellent lighting, and the perfect mixture of colors bring the world to life. Difficulty is not the core focus, so players who want something a little more casual will find this to be right up their alley.