As emulation of retro games becomes increasingly mainstream, so do ROM hacks that take these classic games and build something new. This could be as simple as adding a complete translation of a game that was never released in that language, or a complete overhaul of how the game plays to create something new and unique. While emulation is still scary to many people, and certain gaming companies want to crack down on this legal activity as much as possible, the surrounding community has continued to grow and thrive. For the picks on this list, these are games that originally debuted on handhelds, making them run perfectly on handheld emulation devices or handheld PCs, such as the Steam Deck. We've also provided links to the patches you will need, but you will need to supply your own ROMs.

3 Pokémon R.O.W.E

An open-world take on Pokemon Emerald

Pokémon R.O.W.E. is a ROM hack for Pokémon Emerald, creating a seamless open world, so there is no loading between routes. This also adds a significant amount of content and features to the game. Not only are there 16 total badges, but it also includes every Pokémon up to gen 9. There are difficultly options: wild Pokémon and trainer level scaling, achievements, and so much more. While some Pokémon fan games involve creating their own region and storyline, this one builds upon existing content, so it feels more in line with an improved traditional experience than a fan game, which can be more applicable to some people. Either way, Pokémon R.O.W.E. provides a deeper and more feature-complete experience if the out-of-the-box Pokémon experience isn't doing it for you anymore. Pokémon R.O.W.E. also avoids the pitfalls of other fan-made games by not introducing any fan-made Pokémon into the mix.

2 Shin Megami Tensei English patch

For JRPG and Persona lovers

Shin Megami Tensei is a dungeon-crawling RPG that is a spin-off of Megami Tensei. Now, it's best known as the series from which Persona was spun off, although entries in the Shin Megami Tensei serieshave continued to be released. The game was never released or localized on PlayStation or GBA outside of Japan. An English version existed on mobile devices but is now unplayable on modern firmware and devices. That makes going back to experiencing this first entry difficult if you can't read Japanese, but a fan translation has made it easier. An English patch was made for the GBA version, considered the definitive version of the game. It is a complete, top-to-bottom translation, covering every line, item, and menu option, making this a perfect way to experience the origins of the Persona series. The GBA version was also technically a remaster of the original PlayStation version, making this version slightly superior.

1 Pokémon Prism

A new (fan-made) Pokémon adventure

Pokémon Prism is a fan-made game that uses Pokémon Crystal as its base. What makes this one special is that it is expansive, including tons of new content, as well as content from other Pokémon games. It features a total of six regions to explore, a combination of ones from the games and new creations. It includes a total of 251 Pokémon, including a bunch from generations past Pokémon Crystal. It also includes features not introduced until later games, like deep character customization. It also features some new additions, including the ability to control your Pokémon directly while exploring, along with 20 badges to collect and a new narrative that ties together this massive fan game. It's technically still in beta, so you may need to be careful with your saves when updating to a new version, but that's a small ask for a massive free game.

A whole world of ROM hacks to explore

These ROMs are just a handful of the many ROM hacks available. The websites and communities these three come from are thriving with passionate people working hard on a variety of different hacks. It's impressive to see, especially since they can't legally make money from this work. For most, this is a hobby, and that passion comes through in the impressive quality of some of these. While there is no shortage of ROM hacks for most classic retro games, the Pokémon community, in particular, has made a near-infinite number of ROM hacks, so there is always something new to check out.