r/RomHacks

i had downloaded much of roms with file "setup.exe" but i heard thats a virus, where the hell i can download safe roms?

A sincere question: why doesn't the Digimon community just create ROM hacks? I see so many complaints about the games' usability issues... I mean, why not just improve the game, then?
One example that comes to mind is the video by Jaiden Animations; she played a DS title, and the issues she pointed out could be fixed with a new ROM hack—or someone could simply take a Pokémon game for the Game Boy or DS and turn it into a Digimon game.

I’d definitely get into the games if that were the case.

check out the hackdex

Hey all,

I just finished my ROM hack, Pokémon Light and Shadow. It’s an Emerald Expansion hack set in a completely custom region called the Waikai Region

I’m not a large studio, just one person, so there may still be a few minor palette or sprite issues as it was just a for fun project. I have been able to play all the way through without issue.

You play as Rubi, the daughter of Lance. While traveling together, Lance is called to Waikai to investigate a mysterious corruption spreading through the region’s biomes. The bay is freezing, the forest is turning into a swamp, and other areas are being warped in strange ways.

Game is semi-open world, with a central hub area you return to throughout the adventure.

Features include:

* 100+ regional forms

* Many returning Pokémon

* Fast travel item to return to the main hub

* HMs usable without needing Pokémon in your party

* Mobile PC

* Toggleable EXP Share

* Gym Leader cameos instead of a traditional gym system

* Legendary Pokémon boss battles

* Reworked movesets

* No permanent status effects

* Bulkier Pokémon and moves designed to combo with each other

Pokemon Light and Shadow BPS To download:

1. Obtain a clean Pokémon Emerald ROM
2. Download Pokémon Light and Shadow.bps
3. Open FLIPS.
4. "Apply Patch."
5. Select the .bps file.
6. Select your clean Emerald ROM.
7. Play

Edit*

Good call all Added some Screenshots had to step a way for a sec should of waited to post lol, will continue to add more later

Edit 2* Including a in progress game guide with Quick start, lore background, type chart, combat changes, evolution method changes Game Guide

Waikai Bay

Hana Flower Fields

Kitsune Village

I'm trying to find an old Pokémon GBA ROM hack that I played years ago, but I can't remember the title. Here are all the details I remember:

• It was a GBA ROM hack where you played as a human trainer (not a Mystery Dungeon game).
• It took place in a completely custom region.
• The story ended with Giratina playing a major role.
• Midway through the game, you were given the option to join the villain team.
• Later in the story, you were given another choice: either redeem yourself and become good again or remain with the villains. So the first choice wasn't permanent.
• The story had a strange progression where almost every time you reached a new city, you'd be forced to travel all the way back to your hometown, then return to the new city again as part of the story.
• There was a really memorable Bellsprout (or a similar plant Pokémon) hidden inside a tree. When you talked to it, it broke the fourth wall, claimed to be the developer of the ROM hack, and gave you hints about where to go next whenever you got stuck.
• I vaguely remember the title containing words like "Rescue" or "Dungeon", but I'm not 100% sure. It definitely wasn't an official Pokémon Mystery Dungeon game.

I've already looked into hacks like Pokémon Gaia, Unbound, Glazed, Resolute, Victory Fire, Dark Cry, Rocket Edition, and Giratina Strikes Back, and none of them seem to match all of these details.

Does this ring a bell for anyone? Even a partial match or a list of old Giratina-themed ROM hacks would be really helpful.

Hello!

I am trying to get a friend of mine back into Pokemon as we loved it so much as kids, but she only played generations 1 and 2, and will only play games that have exclusively (or predominantly) gen 1 and 2 Pokemon. Are there are recommended RomHacks that have only gen 1/2 Pokemon?

I have played all generations and lightly dabbled in RomHacks, but she's literally only played Red and Silver - I'm going to work her into Firered and Soulsilver, but wanted some fun, new, exciting storylines to suggest to her, also!

Thanks so much in advance!

P.s. I am going to get her set up with a retro console like an Anbernic RG40XXV or CubeXX or something to emulate games.

cachyos, rtx 3060, 32gb ram, i7 11th gen

old version

im trying to emulate a romhack of dragonball bt 3 using pcsx2, but when trying to emulate i get a blackscreen (so the game launches, but nothing happens). my friend on windows launches the game normally with no issues, and i was playing an version of the game that i got off of IA (internet archive) and had no issues with it

my theory it has something to do with the new version being in .iso format, and the old one is in .bin format but im not sure

new version

I came across dragonball Legacy of goku mod (gba game). Made by https://youtube.com/@supersaiyajjin and https://youtube.com@legacyofgokumods .(dont know if it was posted here b4) So I wanted to spread the information in case someone is interested (mod isn't finished yet)

So idk how well you all know 3ds games BUT I am not good at coding and I want to take one of my favorite games and help build upon it. The game being Fossil Fighters frontier. I have points on how I would upgrade and honestly would not mind being taught how. But my points for the redux (in my head being Fossil Fighters Frontier Infinite Gear)

1. Adding in cut content ie Stryker as a Paleo Pal

2. (Most difficult one) Adding in previous games Vivosaurs

3. Make it where paleo pals are optional and making your own team of 3

4. Making it where you can redo Time Attack and add in more of them

5. Removing Fossil Eaters or just having the distance for them be greater

6.you can use any bone buggy in the game plus more customization

7. Making it where using the past section you can get previous forms of Nibbles (main dino protag) as fossils

8. Make it where you can visit the previous games locations as Fossil parks (it is refrenced kn game so it works)

I was surprised how little I could find about this, especially with how many OOT romhacks there are that give completely new experiences or even entirely change the game, like that one that turns it into Phoenix Wright and even has Transfer Pak support.

When looking for ones for my favorite Zelda game though, I could not find much concrete info for LTTP romhacks. Sure, there are many of them, but most were of the "I replaced Link's sprite with another" variety or "I made the game harder", "I made the game easier" or "I added some QoL improvements" but are otherwise the same game.

Even when I tried to filter it down most appeared to be just some graphic changes, the one that seemed to do the most work and actually make it an entirely new game was a Halloween-themed romhack of all things, and a joke one where Link is old and barely able to do anything and the goal is to not softlock yourself in the puzzles.

I tried Googling about it and all I got were reddit posts from years ago of people asking the same thing, and multiple mentions of Parallel Worlds, which was still not clear if it was an entirely new experience or just an expansion of the original game.

So I figured I could try asking here now in 2026. Are there any good LTTP romhacks one can recommend that offer new experiences? Whether it's completely retooling the game like that Hero of Law mod, exploring entirely new mechanics like Reality Estate, or just basically making an entirely new quest/story? Preferably ones that aren't intended to make the game super incredibly difficult like the Mario kaizo hacks out there.

Hello guys i’m a huge mother fan and i wanted to make an hack ROM of Mother 1 or Mother 2.
I don’t know how to start making it, my dream is to make something by changing sprites and dialogues mostly, nothing too much difficult.
Something like Toby Fox’s Halloween hack (or simplier)

I really want to make something for me and my friends, but i have no experiences in coding/programming.
I also have a Macbook so idk if i can run certain programs lol.

I played Paper Mario on the N64, but I want more. I don't know how to download hack roms like Star-Matrix or TTYD64; can anyone help me with this?