Play Pokemon 2004 Online

Pokémon 2004 is one of those fan-made ROM hacks that somehow feels more authentic than half the official releases. Boot it up on a Game Boy Color (or an emulator—no judgment), and you're immediately hit with that warm, crunchy pixel art and the tinny battle music we all secretly miss. The creator clearly had fun with it—there are little tweaks everywhere, like wild Pokémon you wouldn’t expect in certain routes, or trainers who say ridiculous things mid-battle.

At first glance, it plays just like the old-school games: pick a starter, grind levels in tall grass, and accidentally waste all your money on Potions instead of saving for that sweet new Poké Ball. But then you notice the small stuff—maybe a weirdly overpowered early-game encounter, or a hidden area that wasn’t in the original. It’s got that janky charm of something made by someone who just really loved Pokémon and wanted to mess around with it.

If you’ve ever thought, "I wish FireRed had more random Zubats in caves," this might not be for you. But if you’re the type who still hums the Lavender Town theme, give it a shot.