Including all 1025 Pokemon from all 9 generations in a single ROM hack is no easy task, especially since the newer generation creatures also require modern moves, abilities, and mechanics to be imported to the hack in order to make it all work properly.
Most Pokemon ROM hacks that feature the full roster use Pokemon Emerald as a base. This is mainly because of the GBA ROM hack base Pokeemerald Expansion (created by DizzyEggg), a tool that allows creators to import a plethora of mechanics from later generations to Emerald. As a result, Emerald remains the go-to for those looking to include Pokemon from all 9 generations in their game.
Updated August 3, 2026, by Hamza Haq: With community-made Pokemon ROM hacking tools becoming more and more robust, more creators than ever have the ability to incorporate the full roster of all 1025 Pokemon from Gen 1 through 9 into their projects, including Mega Evolutions, dynamax forms, regional variants, and other gimmicks that were previously not possible for traditional Pokemon FireRed/Emerald ROM hacks that make up the majority. Two new Pokemon ROM hacks, Crippling Medical Debt and Emerald Azure, have been added to the list.
Pokemon Black Pearl Emerald
Streamlined Gameplay With QoL Features
Pokemon Black Pearl Emerald is an enhancement ROM hack, with the aim of modernizing the Emerald experience with new quality of life features, advanced custom trainer AI, multiple difficulty options, and, of course, all Pokemon from Gen 1-9, obtainable via wild encounters.
Black Pearl Emerald also includes Mega Evolutions, updated Battle UI, increased Shiny odds, and a dedicated Nuzlocke mode for those looking for a challenge. Players can find a full encounter list in an included Google Doc, making planning ahead a breeze.
Pokemon R.O.W.E. 2.0
Open-World Gen 3 Exploration
- Created By: Rioluwott
- Game: Pokemon Emerald
Pokemon R.O.W.E. 2.0 is an open-world version of the Hoenn and Sevii Islands regions, offering players a non-linear experience carefully balanced to remain as fair as possible while still granting complete freedom. Pokemon from all nine generations make an appearance in the game.
With 16 total Gyms to tackle, there is more than enough content to keep players busy for a while, and the many QoL additions like move tutoring, reusable TMs, in-game battle speed-ups, and many others, make the experience memorable. Players can also choose between three difficulty modes, as well as multiple game modes to drastically alter every run.
Pokemon Emerald Crest
Classic Emerald With Modern Enhancements
- Created By: Aaghat
- Game: Pokemon Emerald
Pokemon Emerald Crest is a vanilla-plus enhancement ROM hack that keeps the main storyline of Emerald but adds features, mechanics, and creatures from later generations to spice up the gameplay loop. The ROM hack features all 1025 Pokemon up to Gen 9, including regional variants from Hisui, Galar, and Alola, as well as The Teal Mask DLC exclusives.
While Emerald Crest isn’t necessarily a difficulty ROM hack, the updated battle AI and trainer scaling can result in a challenging experience, especially for players attempting the Nuzlocke challenge. The various QoL features included in the hack drastically reduce the time players have to spend grinding, making the overall experience a lot more enjoyable.
Pokemon Emerald Rogue
Endless Replayability With Unique Runs
- Created By: Pokabbie
- Game: Pokemon Emerald
Pokemon Emerald Rogue is a roguelike game where players partake in one battle after another against random trainers with progressively more powerful teams. Wild encounters and items found in the game are procedurally generated in accordance with the power level of the player’s team, though rare legendary encounters are still possible. Every run is different because the available Pokemon, opposing teams, and even Gym leaders change from run to run.
A “run” ends either when the player’s entire party faints or if they defeat the champion. In Modern Encounters mode, every single Pokemon from Gens 1-9 becomes available, though not all of them are catchable in a single run.
Pokemon Radical Red
One of the Toughest Pokemon ROM Hacks Ever
Pokemon Radical Red is considered one of the hardest Pokemon ROM hacks out there, offering players a brutal challenge that not only tests the extent of their in-game knowledge, but the ability to strategize as well. Enemy trainers come with custom teams tailor-made to make encounters hellishly difficult, especially at higher difficulty settings.
In addition, Radical Red also offers a host of new quality of life features, gameplay enhancements, game modes, and Pokemon from all 9 generations. Players who want a less punishing run can lower the difficulty. However, even on the lowest setting, the game remains tougher than vanilla, though still easier than Hardcore mode.
Pokemon Elite Redux
Unique Multi-Ability Difficulty Hack
- Created By: darkyy92
- Game: Pokemon Emerald
Pokemon Elite Redux is a difficulty hack chock-full of quality of life features and gameplay additions that help it stand out from the rest. Notably, Elite Redux grants each Pokemon four individual abilities, three of which are fixed, whereas the last one can be switched between multiple options, opening the door for build experimentation that’s unlike anything else out there. To accommodate this, the creator has made more than 200 custom abilities distributed among various creatures.
Additionally, Elite Redux offers enemy trainer teams with custom movesets using the smartest version of the combat AI. The need for grinding up levels has been removed via built-in infinite rare candies, EV setters, and automatic perfect IVs, allowing players to put their full focus on the battles ahead. And, of course, all 1025 Pokemon are catchable in Elite Redux.
Pokemon Blue Stars 4
GBA ROM hack Perfect For Nuzlockers
- Created By: Jean Stars
- Game: Pokemon FireRed
Pokemon Blue Stars 4 is a FireRed ROM hack set in a new region called Shinstar. The story revolves around Mewtwo’s escape from Team Cosmic, an organization that wants to use its power to revive an ancient Pokemon.
Pokemon Blue Stars 4 features all Pokemon up to Gen 9, Hisuian forms, as well as gimmicks like Mega Evolution and Dynamaxing. For players who like difficult ROM hacks, it also offers a built-in level cap system to encourage Nuzlocking, as well as three different difficulty levels to ramp up the challenge.
Pokemon Emerald Imperium
An Emerald Difficulty ROM Hack With Promise
- Created By: iriv24
- Game: Pokemon Emerald
Pokemon Emerald Imperium is an increased difficulty ROM hack that attempts to bring Pokemon Radical Red’s QoL and balance changes to the Hoenn region, including new abilities, stat changes, typing changes, new movesets, and alternate evolution methods that RR popularized.
Almost all Pokemon from Generations 1-9 can be captured, including Mega Evolutions and Gigantamax forms. For Nuzlockers, the game also offers built-in randomizers, enforced level caps, and different difficulty modes. On top of that, there are a whole host of QoL improvements added to the game like Reusable TMs, IV Perfecter NPC, Stat Editor for EVs and IVs, Toggleable Repel and Auto Run, and much, much more!
Pokemon Sacred Red World
Open World Kanto Adventure
- Created By: SacredGBC
- Game: Pokemon FireRed
Pokemon Sacred Red World is a GBA ROM hack of Pokemon FireRed that turns the traditionally linear Kanto region into an open world by introducing shortcuts to every major city in the game. Players can take on the eight Gym Leaders in any order they want, and their team will scale to match the badge level of the trainer.
Pokemon Sacred Red World offers trainers the chance to catch Pokemon from Generations 1 to 9, including Paradox forms, Gigantamax and Dynamax forms, Mega Evolutions, as well as regional forms. For players interested in a Gen 1 game that does it all, this is one to try.
Pokemon Crippling Medical Debt
A Unique Twist on the Traditional Pokemon Journey
- Created By: GMars
- Game: Pokemon Emerald
Pokemon Crippling Medical Debt is a fun take on the traditional trainer journey. In it, instead of heading out on a grand adventure to catch Pokemon, defeat Gym Leaders, and battle Legendaries, players are forced to take on the role of a trainer to earn money to pay some hefty medical fees to the Nurse Joys who took care of them after they got in a car accident.
This ROM hack contains all 1025 Pokemon from Gen 1 to Gen 9, a well-constructed custom story that holds up despite its absurd premise, and an increased difficulty setting for those looking for a challenge. Nuzlocke quality-of-life features, like soft caps and other enforced rules, are also available. The creator has even provided in-depth documentation for Pokemon Crippling Medical Debt, including Encounter Tables, TM locations, and detailed trainer team compositions.
