Upcoming Pokémon Game Will Allow Players to Join Team Rocket

Becoming the ultimate champion? That’s old news. You’ve already taken on the role of the heroic trainer in Pokémon games — now, get ready to embrace your inner villain with an exciting new title that lets you step into the shoes of Team Rocket.

Introducing Team Rocket Evolved, a fan-made project for Pokémon Emerald that flips the traditional monster-catching experience on its head. While you’ll still be journeying across the land and earning gym badges, the approach is entirely unique. In this version, you can actually steal Pokémon from other trainers. If you pull off a successful heist, your opponent might just throw in the towel. Poor Youngster Joey and his six Rattata won’t know what hit them.

As you wreak havoc across Hoenn, expect the locals to be less than welcoming in Team Rocket Evolved. Key facilities like Pokémon Centers will be off-limits until you conquer an area and defeat its gym leader. There will be alternative methods to heal your Pokémon, but be prepared for these resources to be limited and costly. You can also call in reinforcements from the larger Team Rocket organization — after all, who said the game had to be fair?

Your goal is to rise from a lowly Team Rocket grunt to a powerful admin. In a refreshing twist, the creators, EricTurner3 and his wife, have opted not to use AI in crafting this ROM hack. Despite this, they’re committed to delivering a polished, handcrafted experience. The final product is set to include Pokémon from every generation, featuring Mega Evolutions and Dynamax Evolutions, along with new trainer types to encounter.

For those who enjoy a softer touch, Pokémon in this hack can still follow you around, reminiscent of Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. However, to keep things realistic, the Pokémon you steal might not be too eager to cooperate. This hack could provide a fresh perspective on moments when Pokémon refuse to obey their trainer’s commands.

The Team Rocket Evolved project is currently in development, and the creators are inviting fans to share their ideas or requests through the official subreddit.

This ambitious fan game might just deliver what Pokémon Winds and Waves won’t.