When a game company stops giving you the games that you want, or you come across a title for a system that's no longer being produced but just want more, you have to turn to the ROM Hacking community for answers. Pokémon Pinball is one of our favourite games for the Game Boy Color, and I regularly play Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire on my Analogue Pocket. And with the absence of any new Pokémon Pinball games heading my way, I'm just glad that gamers like Callum are bringing extra additions to the GBA game via new ROM hacks and updates.
Callum, who goes by callumsmilee on X, has already released his Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire Plus hack, with new features like Shiny Pokémon and shiny boss fights, an extended Pokédex of critters, a hardcore mode, a secret boss fight, e-reader Pokémon, new Poké Balls, and more. Now, he's brought out version 1.1 with even more amazing extras.
@callumsmilee has updated their GBA ROM hack, 'Pokémon Pinball Ruby & Sapphire Plus', to v1.1! It adds a bunch of new Pokémon, a new area, lots of quality-of-life features, and a new boss fight! https://t.co/knNCa9rAcu
— Reticent (@ReticentY2K) September 10, 2026
The new update to Callum's existing hack brings 22 new Pokémon to the GBA pinball classic, as well as a new area and a bonus stage. There's also PokéNav and the inclusion of Shiny Board Pokémon
You'll need to head over to Callum's Discord page to download the files needed to get the ball rolling (pun intended) with Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire Plus. You'll need to patch it onto a legally acquired ROM of the US version of Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire, and if you're updating from the first version of the ROM Hack, then make sure to rename your old save file so that it matches the new ROM in order to carry over your progress!
