Pokemon Obscura

Download Pre-Patched Pokemon Obscura GBA ROM Hack

• Creator: mocha_ltd
• Version: Beta 1.0
• Hack of: Emerald
• Released: April 25, 2025
• Language: English
• Status: Progressing (three gyms)

Pokemon Obscura is a GBA ROM Hack by mocha_ltd based on Pokemon Emerald in English. It was released on April 25, 2025, and is now available to download.

Welcome to the Shizen Region!

Pokemon Obscura is a story-driven ROM hack built from the vanilla Emerald decomp, set in the tech-advancing Shizen region. You play as a 16-year-old thrust into destiny after encountering a mysterious figure who warns of an ancient doom—one that can only be stopped by the return of a long-lost guardian Pokémon missing for 200 years.

Explore a fresh region with Pokémon from Generations 1–9 (curated 256-mon Pokédex), battle legendary trainers from the past, and stop a rising organization bent on harnessing ancient power for their own ends.

Features

• Significantly increased EXP gain to reduce grinding and encourage team flexibility
• Soft EXP Level Caps added to balance the fast leveling curve (EXP gain slows dramatically after hitting the cap, but still continues)
• HMs can be used without teaching them, as long as the Pokémon can learn them
• Trade and friendship evolutions removed — replaced with item-based or level-up methods (Check the Pokédex link for full evolution details)
• Dynamic wild Pokémon levels scale with your party’s average level (Great for easier team expansion and consistent challenge)
• EXP Share (party-wide) given after the 2nd Gym, can be toggled ON/OFF (Story-based reward timing)
• Reusable TMs
• IV Checker available in every Pokémon Center
• Increased shiny odds
• EXP gained from catching Pokémon
• More features may be added as development continues

Notes about the Beta

• This beta goes up to the third Gym Leader.
• Tested and stable only on mGBA (other emulators may have issues).
• Tone/theme aims to stay close to classic Pokémon—no overly dark or mature content.
• Not a difficulty hack: Increased challenge comes mainly from improved AI and soft EXP level caps.
• Some character sprites are reused from Emerald or other games but represent entirely new characters in this multiverse-inspired story. (Solo dev + limited sprite skills!)
• While Pokémon from Gens 1–9 are featured, movesets are Gen 1–3 only (base Emerald decomp, no move expansions).
• Regional forms (Hisuian, Alolan, Galarian) replace certain base species—for example, you’ll see Hisuian Decidueye or Galarian Zigzagoon in place of their original forms.

Known Bugs

• Map Freeze Bug: Scrolling to the far edges of the region map causes the game to freeze or behave erratically. A fix is in progress.
• Catching Visual Bug: When a Pokémon levels up and learns a move from a catch battle, the caught Pokémon may visually reappear after the move selection screen. This is only a visual bug — the Pokémon is still properly registered as caught.
• Evergreen Forest Softlock: If you lose the battle against enemy grunts in Evergreen Forest, the game will softlock. Avoid losing this battle until it’s patched.
• Other bugs may still exist — please save often and report anything unusual on PokeCommunity.

Screenshots

Useful Stuff

Downloads

Credits

mocha_ltd (Creator)

• Team Aqua’s Hideout for their amazing tutorials and super helpful community for a new developer
• Pyramid Primary Interior Tileset: Princess-phoenix
• Shady Forest Secondary Tileset: Rahtak
• Alt Pokécenter Secondary Tileset: Ekat, Vurtax (FRLG Rips), Heartlessdragoon (RSE Rips)
• Male Pokémon Center Nurse: Ryuuji
• “Jett” Trainer Sprite: robloxmaster376
• “Sheila” Trainer Sprite: robloxmaster376
• Shadow Triad Front Sprite: skeizerr
• Shadow Triad OW Sprite: PurrfectDoodle (Eva)
• Silver OW Sprite: IAG
• Silver Trainer Front Sprite: Ringloom
• Distortion World Secondary Tileset: Rahtak, Phyromatical, spaceemotion
• Battle Backgrounds: RavePossum & Ruki
• Dojo Interior Tilesets: Full list here
• Dojo Exterior Tilesets: Full list here
• Shady Forest Secondary Tileset: Full list here