Pokemon Emerald Crest

If you want Emerald to feel like Emerald — same Hoenn, same Team Magma and Aqua plot — but with nearly every modern feature and Pokemon bolted on, Pokemon Emerald Crest is built for exactly that. Aaghat's hack keeps the vanilla story and adds later-generation mechanics, Pokemon from Gen 1 to Gen 9 and a set of extra quests on top.

The roster is the headline: Pokemon from all nine generations, with Alolan, Galarian and Hisuian forms, Ultra Beasts and even Pokemon from the Teal Mask DLC. You choose from 27 starters, and the battle side covers Mega Evolution, Primal forms and Z-Moves alongside an improved battle engine and an expanded item list.

What really sets Crest apart is how configurable it is. An Open World Mode, a randomizer, a Nuzlocke mode, Mirror and Thief modes, a Chaos Mode, inverse type effectiveness and a dynamic trainer-levelling system all live in the game's options, so the same ROM can be a relaxed modern Emerald or a chaotic challenge run.

The current build is v1.0.F, updated in June 2025 after a long run of v1.0.9.x releases. The hack is listed as completed, but the author has announced a much larger v1.1 that refactors most of the game and adds Dynamax, Gigantamax, Indigo Disk content, better AI and improved trainer parties — and warns that it will require a new save file.

• Vanilla Emerald story with extra side missions
• Pokemon from Gen 1-9, including Alolan, Galarian and Hisuian forms, Ultra Beasts and Teal Mask Pokemon
• 27 starters to choose from
• Mega Evolution, Primal forms and Z-Moves
• Open World Mode and a Teleportation Service
• Randomizer, Nuzlocke mode, Mirror/Thief modes, Chaos Mode and inverse battles
• Dynamic trainer levelling and more wild boss encounters
• DexNav, Pokedex Plus and a new summary screen
• Follower Pokemon, Exp. All, reusable TMs, auto-run and running indoors
• PC storage from the Start menu, chain fishing, climbing and a 499-item bag

On default settings Crest plays like a modernised Emerald: familiar progression, more Pokemon and plenty of quality-of-life upgrades. The dynamic trainer levelling and extra wild bosses add some bite, but the difficulty is largely what you make of it through the options.

That makes it ideal for two kinds of players: Emerald fans who want Gen 9 Pokemon and modern conveniences without a new story, and challenge runners who like toggling randomizers, Nuzlocke rules or type-chart twists. If you want a structured hard mode with level caps built in, Emerald Imperium or Inclement Emerald are more focused choices; for a different take on 'Emerald plus everything', compare it with Emerald Enhanced.

• Decide on the randomizer and Nuzlocke modes before you start: the author notes they require a new game.
• Mega Evolution needs the Mega Stone held; Primal forms, Z-Moves and the other battle gimmicks are triggered from the battle menu.
• The Teleportation Service and Open World Mode make backtracking painless — use them to grab later-generation Pokemon early.
• The game is built with the Emerald decompilation, so cheat codes made for vanilla Emerald generally do not work.
• Players have reported a few crashes and softlocks in specific spots (for example certain moves and gym battles), so save often and keep a backup.
• mGBA is a safe emulator choice; see our PC guide for setup.

v1.0.F added a debug menu, updated and custom Spotlight events, Teal Mask Pokemon, items and data, a batch of Gen 9 moves (including Make It Rain, Axe Kick, Collision Course and Triple Arrows), Galarian Yamask's evolution method, the Aurora Ticket and inverse type effectiveness. Z-Moves became usable in the Battle Frontier (except the Battle Arena), Flash no longer needs to be learned, the 'perfect IVs' option now gives six perfect IVs instead of three, and the Luxury Ball now always catches shiny Pokemon.

Old saves should keep working on v1.0.F, but the announced v1.1 will need a fresh save. It promises Dynamax and Gigantamax, an updated UI, improved trainer parties and AI, and Indigo Disk Pokemon, moves and items.