Hytale’s Pokémon MMO: The Wildest Mod of 2026

Exciting developments are unfolding in Hytale. Recently, a modder shared a video on X showcasing their ambitious project, PokeWorlds Online, a multiplayer Pokémon fan game crafted within a Hytale server. The gameplay, aside from the user interface, closely mirrors that of Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, which is quite remarkable given that Hytale is primarily a first-person, Minecraft-style sandbox game.

The demo features players managing Pokémon in their storage boxes, equipping items, and checking stats. Players can venture into tall grass to trigger randomly generated battles, resulting in encounters that feel almost identical to the classic titles. The ultimate aim of this server is to create a multiplayer Pokémon experience within Hytale. While the trailer didn’t showcase MMORPG elements, the creator acknowledged that it’s still a work in progress.

The post from the modding team outlines ambitious plans for the project. “It will include familiar regions, additional Pokémon, and, most importantly, the ability to create custom regions, Fakemon, and much more…” They recognize the extensive time commitment required, stating, “I’m not even sure I’ll be able to finish it, considering the workload, but I wanted to demonstrate that Hytale can serve as a ‘game engine,’ rather than just a platform for existing content.” They expressed excitement about the potential for other games and servers to emerge, whether in 2D, isometric 2D, or 3D, each with unique assets and gameplay.

Hytale is a sandbox game inspired by Minecraft, developed by Hypixel Studios, which entered early access on January 13, 2026. Originally a group known for custom Minecraft servers, Hypixel Studios was acquired by Riot Games in 2020. However, Riot canceled the game in June 2025, after which the original creator regained the rights and resumed development.

One of Hytale’s standout features is its support for player-created mods using in-game tools. Even within this framework, PokeWorlds Online stands out; Hypixel founder Simon Collins-Laflamme expressed his astonishment in response to the X post. The PokeWorlds Online account noted, “I’m thrilled that I could surprise the creator himself.” Hytale has previously been modified to run games like Minecraft, Doom, and even Windows 95.

While Hytale was designed with creative freedom in mind, there’s a significant concern regarding Nintendo’s reputation for aggressively protecting its intellectual property. The company is known for taking legal action against emulators and fan projects that utilize its characters. Although Nintendo has remained relatively quiet while its franchises have been misused, it has a history of overwhelming defendants with legal challenges. Given this backdrop, it’s likely that Nintendo’s legal team would issue a cease-and-desist if they became aware of PokeWorlds Online.

Fortunately, the mod’s creator has prepared for this possibility: “If Nintendo intervenes (which would be entirely reasonable), I’ll remove any Pokémon-related assets and replace them with custom content and Fakemon.” Here’s hoping this intriguing project can navigate the challenges posed by Nintendo.

Or even run Windows 95.