7 Best Pokemon Fire Red ROM Hacks of 2024

Pokemon Fire Red version is a remake of the 1996 Game Boy Pokemon game Pokemon Red. Without a doubt, Fire Red is a welcomed revamp of an age old classic that defined the mobile RPG genre and set the stage for the entire Pokemon franchise that we know and love today.

Previously we wrote about the best Pokemon DS ROM hacks, but today we’ll be covering all of the best hacks for Fire Red.

The game is so beloved that still to this day fans are releasing Pokemon Fire Red ROM hacks. It’s incredible the level of depth that some of these games have. While some ROM hacks are more simple and primarily focus on increasing the game’s difficulty level, others include new spins on the story and some feel like entirely new games altogether.

Without further ado, let’s get into the games and see which are the best ROM hacks!

What Are The Best Pokemon FireRed ROM Hacks?

1. Pokemon Ash Gray

Pokemon Ash Gray is one of the best Pokemon ROM hacks and is created by Metapod23. It follows the events from season 1 of the original Pokemon anime series. Thought it should be mentioned that although this ROM hack follows season 1 of the anime, the player is able to catch Pokemon that never appeared in the first season of the show.

It’s also not necessary to follow the plot exactly as releasing Bulbasaur isn’t required. This game also includes content from banned episodes of the show such as Beauty and the Beach, The Legend of Dratini, and Electric Soldier Porygon. A very cool nod to die hard fans of the series.

This Pokemon Fire Red ROM hack is very popular and for good reason. It has a great story and the fan service is top notch. It was originally released based in 2015 and still to this day is one of the most popular ROM hacks and widely played.

Some notable features:

• Play through the game as Ash Ketchum and catch all the Pokemon from season one of the original anime
• Get items and play through events from the anime
• New tiles, sprites, and maps
• Tools replace HMs and the hatchet replaces the cut ability
• Climb Kit was added to be used as the rock climb abilty

2. Pokemon Dark Rising

Pokemon Dark Rising is seen by many as one of the greatest Pokemon ROM hacks of all time. It’s one of the top choices on just about every ROM hack list, and for good reason. Tons of Pokemon fans love this hack.

Not only does it have brand new features that you couldn’t find in the original Pokemon games, but there are 386 Pokemon from Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, and Unova, newer generation moves, new characters, new events, Dream World abilities, Pokemon can learn egg moves by leveling up instead of breeding, you can battle Nurse Joy for additional XP, and much more!

Pokemon Dark Rising is a GBA ROM hack based on the Pokemon FireRed original version of the game. It was originally created by DarkRisingGirl and last updated in 2017.

Read our full review: Pokemon Dark Rising Review

3. Pokemon Cloud White

Pokemon Cloud White is a must play if you enjoyed the original FireRed GBA game. It has a great unique story, new designs, items, and artwork. Mega evolutions make an appearance along with mega gems.

There’s new Pokemon sprites, the buildings are redesigned (the Pokemarts and Pokecenters), upgraded battle scenes, and much more. The game has over 540 Pokemon total from Gen 1 – 6 and an entire day and night system plus weather.

Some features:

• New regions (Johto, Heart Gold and Soul Silver maps, Mangan, and Azur
• New rivals and new enemy teams make an appearance
• National dex is available at the beginning
• New moves and Pokemon abilities
• A Black and White repel system and experience catch system
• You can now run indoors
• New battle backgrounds have been added
• The difficulty cap is higher in this hack
• Day and night and weather included
• The Pokemon World Tournament like in Black 2 and White 2
• The Kolloseum
• Mega evolutions and mega gems and tons more

Pokemon Cloud White has tons of quality of life improvements over the base game of Fire Red and adds onto that with lots of additions. It’s a great hack that we highly recommend you check out.

4. Pokemon Liquid Crystal

Pokemon Liquid Crystal may be another Johto and Kanto style adventure, but the game is very good. It has fantastic music and the overworld’s design is very asthetically pleasing for a Pokemon game.

This hack includes much of the original game content, but once you get through that, the game extends the Kanto campaign with original content.

It is very faithful to certain details from Gen 2. As a multi-region hack, it’s very impressive. Johto, Kanto, and a big chunk of Orange Islands can take a significant amount of hours to clear this game. Some players have reported this hack taking them over 60 hours total to play through and complete.

Liquid Crystal isn’t a particularly grindy Pokemon game and while it is more difficult than the base game of FireRed, the difficulty here doesn’t feel unnecessarily unfair. By the end of the story, your team should be nearly level 80 or so.

As mentioned above, the music in this hack is fantastic. It is without a doubt one of the biggest highlight pieces to mention. It includes lots of remastered Gen 2 songs with the classic Gen 3 sound that fans of the series will love and feel nostalgia for. This hack is a good play through and a fun time.

5. Pokemon Clover

Pokemon Clover is indeed another Fire Red rom hack, but this one features two new regions included. You’ll explore the Fochun and Ebin Isles and will discover 386 entirely new “Fakemon”. These Pokemon-like creatures are reimagined Pokemon that are entirely new to this hack.

Pokemon Clover was originally worked on back in 2014 and started as a reash of Fire Red, but since then it has been completely overhauled with new characters, maps, music, and gameplay. This ROM hack serves as a parody of 4chan culture and of the Pokemon franchise as a whole. It’s a lighthearted take on the classic formula that isn’t meant to be taken too seriously.

Do keep in mind that some of the themes and language in the game aren’t suitable for younger players. The devs behind this hack have been working on it for years and you can tell have put tons of time and effort into it. The game should take you around 100 hours or so to beat completely and is an absolutely silly and new take on a Pokemon game.

Some features to mention:

• 2 new regions to explore
• 386 “Fakemon” to find and capture
• A new custom soundtrack
• Pokemon Gen 7 – 8 battle engine used
• Competitive style battle AI
• Increased difficulty from the core game and tons more

If you’re looking for a more lighthearted ROM hack that doesn’t take itself too seriously, but is a unique spin on the classic formula, be sure to check out Pokemon Clover.

6. Pokemon Gaia

Pokemon Gaia is a hack created by Spherical Ice based on Pokemon Fire Red. Players can explore the new Orbtus region. It’s a civilization that is now in ruins after some previous natural disasters.

The folks of the region created monuments for their gods and guardians, but all that remains of their city are the temples, idols, and story that remind us of the past that once was. In present times, the local Pokemon Professor Redwood notices an increase in the region’s seismic energy and calls on help from some local Pokemon Trainers. You join them to help keep the earth from being destroyed.

This hack features Pokemon from the Johto, Hoenn Region, Sinnoh, Unova, and Kalos regions. It has updated move sets accurate to Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire and also includes modern competitive items and modern abilities. Mega Evolution also makes an appearance.

It features new Pokemon and updated Trainer sprites and some fantastic new music. Pokemon Gaia is a blast to play through and we definitely recommend giving it a shot!

7. Pokemon Adventures Red Chapter

Pokémon Adventures Red Chapter is a ROM hack that’s a bit darker themed and has a uniquely fresh storyline. it has some notable iconic characters from the Anime such as Team Rocket and this game takes much of the story from the Manga story arcs and includes it within.

This hack is a bit brutal and can be downright violent at times. Gym leaders from the Orange Islands make an appearance and there are some additional plots included in this game that weren’t in the original Manga series. Pokemon from Gen 1 – 7 make an appearance as well as Shadow Pokemon, Zombie Pokemon, fusion Pokemon, some new Fakemon, and more.

Some features:

• Level cap increased from 100 to 255
• 2 rivals make an appearance here, both Blue and Green (you can even play as them in some parts)
• Kanto and the Orange Archipelago regions return
• Certain evolutions are easier to get
• TMs are reusable

This game is a must play if you are a fan of the Manga. A lot of work has gone into making it clearly and the dedication shines through. We recommend giving it a playthrough for sure.

Summary

Now that we’ve gone through our list of the best Pokemon FireRed rom hacks, be sure to let us know down below which of the games was your favorite. Some of these are definitely more well known that others, but we’ve done our best to include a little something for everybody here regardless of your preferred playstyle.

We’ve even got a few hacks in here that throw in some Fakemon. Who doesn’t love some entirely new Pokemon reimagined?