One of the things I love the most about the old Pokémon games is their visuals. For me, Pokémon games are top-down adventures like Pokémon Red, Gold, and Sapphire, and it's where the series peaked. I'm not as into the likes of the Legends series, but that's just because I've never really left the 90s and early 00s behind!
When it comes to ROM Hacks, Pokémon is one of the most adapted series of them all. Sometimes we get completely new games like Pokémon Unbound or Pokémon Lazarus, and sometimes we get hacks that improve current games with new features and graphics. Pokémon Aesthetic Red created by LibertyTwins is the latter, a hack that reinvents the Kanto journey of Fire Red with a complete visual and musical overhaul.
Pokémon Aesthetic Red is out NOW! 🔴✨️
— Pokémon Fangame News (@PokeFangameNews) December 16, 2025
Features:
- Overhauled visuals and music
- All Gen 1 and 2 Pokémon available + related evolutions
- Increased difficulty + rebalancing
- 3 versions to pick from
- QOL
- More
⏬️ Check it out ⏬️https://t.co/Mv2EVQJQI0 pic.twitter.com/jjWXuNOSZW
Aesthetic Red gives Pokémon Fire Red a whole new vibrant look and a brand new soundtrack to boot, which is a mammoth task in itself. It also has an open world where the Gyms can be tackled in an order of your choosing, with no restrictions when it comes to picking up HMs.
Don't worry though, there are some new features for you to sink your teeth into rather than just playing the same game through again with no gym order. LibertyTwins have made TMs reusable and Rare Candy available in an infinite supply. Players can wonder trade, use a portable PC, and make use of optional level scaling and randomizers.
Other new features include new abilities and base sets, level caps, and type changes, as well as increased difficulties for gym leaders and bosses.
There are three versions available to play - the Normal Version which brings new music, improved graphics, and extra features; the Faithful Version with official base stats and the same abilities and types as the original game; and finally, the Music & Graphics Only mode which has the same original gameplay. And if you're playing the Normal or Faithful versions of the game, you can flip between GBC or DS sprites and fonts.
Head to the Pokémon Aesthetic Red page on Pokécommunity for more information!
And while you're here, don't forget to check out Pokémon fangame Gadir Deluxe!
