Pokemon Crystal Clear Turns It Into an Open-World Game, and You Have to Check It Out

Pokemon fans looking for a new spin on an old favorite should try out Pokemon Crystal Clear, a modified, fan-made version of Pokemon Crystal that has been consistently updated since 2017. While Pokemon fans must supply their own version of Pokemon Crystal for the Crystal Clear mod to work, the project allows trainers to do things that normally would not be possible in the original game.

Originally released in late 2000 for the Game Boy Color, Pokemon Crystal was the third version of the second Pokemon mainline game generation. Set in the Johto region, Pokemon Crystal prominently featured Suicune, a Legendary Water-type beast. Pokemon Crystal also introduced some features that would become franchise staples in later games. Pokemon Crystal allowed players to pick a female character avatar for the first time, giving Pokemon fans a degree of character customization. Additionally, Pokemon sprites had some animations in battle, replacing the static sprites from previous games.

Build-a-Bear Reveals New Gen 1 Pokemon Plush, And You Can Buy It Now

Pokemon fans looking to add a new Build-a-Bear plush to their collection now have a new Gen 1 critter that they can buy while supplies last.

Pokemon Crystal Clear Mixes Old School Gameplay With Modern Features

While modern games like Pokemon Legends: Z-A have proven successful in their own right, Pokemon trainers yearning for a return to the series’ early days can do so via a fan-made ROMhack that has garnered plenty of support over the years. Pokemon Crystal Clear is a ROMhack of Pokemon Crystal that allows trainers to freely explore the Johto and Kanto regions from the start, without needing to beat the Elite Four to begin with. Pokemon Crystal Clear was made by ShockSlayer and other Pokemon fans, and the project’s most recent version, v2.5.11, was launched on December 5, 2024. Pokemon Crystal Clear is available by following the directions on ShockSlayer’s website. Along with the open world style gameplay, Pokemon Crystal Clear also gives players additional Starter Pokemon options from the Kanto and Johto Pokedexes. Although the usual choices like Totodile and Cyndaquil are still there, Pokemon Crystal Clear players can also pick uncommon critters like Smeargle, Ditto, and Houndour as their first Pokemon.

Plus, Pokemon Crystal Clear allows Gym Leaders to be challenged in any order, as the game features some level scaling for specific battle content. The scaling is relative to the number of Gym Badges that Pokemon Crystal Clear players earn along the journey. Additionally, Pokemon Crystal Clear allows more character customization options than the base Crystal game. Players can not only choose between a male and female avatar, but can also select an appearance based on different characters. Players can even choose to have their avatar look like a Team Rocket Grunt, with different color options to pick from.

However, playing Pokemon Crystal Clear comes with a few caveats that fans must consider. Pokemon Crystal Clear requires players to obtain a ROM copy of Pokemon Crystal and a Game Boy emulator for the device of their choice. Alternatively, Pokemon Crystal Clear can be played on an actual Game Boy Color console via a GBC flash cart that supports the game’s clock and save data functions.

2026 is the Best Time to Play Pokemon Games

Pokemon‘s 30th anniversary will be observed throughout 2026, as The Pokemon Company has teased some major announcements for the franchise on social media. Although Pokemon Pokopia and Pokemon Champions are the only confirmed titles planned to launch throughout the year, the upcoming Pokemon Day festivities on February 27 will be a date that trainers should circle on the calendar.

Although Pokemon‘s 10th mainline game generation has not been officially revealed by The Pokemon Company as of this writing, leaks and speculation about its new features have circulated on social media. As Pokemon fans wait for more information, a game like Pokemon Crystal Clear may be the right amount of nostalgia for trainers to pass the time with. What features will headline the next Pokemon game generation remains to be seen.