Pokémon Go isn't just a game. For a select few, it's the realization of a dream. Since its inception, fans have craved a Pokémon MMO (massively multiplayer online) game that allows players to compete with one another like real Pokémon trainers.
While Pokémon Go is still wildly popular, some fans have made their own renditions of the game. The following are the best fan-made Pokémon MMOs available online. They integrate many of the familiar aspects of the Pokémon games, all for free.
Disclaimer: The following games, while all products of monumental effort, are not official Pokémon online games. Enjoy them while they last, as Nintendo itself may shut them down one day.
1. Pokémon Revolution Online
When it comes to fan-made Pokémon MMORPG games, Pokémon Revolution Online is top of the heap. From the level of sprite detail to the soundtrack, everything about this game feels like an official Pokémon game. The game also incorporates excellent ambient graphics that change with time and weather.
The base game is fantastic in itself, but Pokémon Revolution Online also adds new features every month, all for free. You have the option to join in Pokémon multiplayer or to create your own guild while exploring the Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh regions, as well as other custom regions.
This product delivers hours of entertainment. The map is huge, and the game is truly massively multiplayer; you can join other players' guilds and partake in player-versus-player (PvP) battles, just like in an actual MMO. Pokémon Revolution is definitely one of the best, if not the best, multiplayer Pokémon games online.
2. PokéMMO
Another top contender for best fan-made Pokémon MMORPG out there, the aptly named PokeMMO brings the Pokémon franchise into the modern era.
Of course, it has everything a Pokémon fan would want: a large Pokémon library, a huge map, dynamic graphics, beautiful sprite animations, and so on. You can also build bases reminiscent of the secret base feature in Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald. It's much better than emulating old Pokémon games on your Android whenever you want to work on a base.
This Pokémon browser game is massively popular and polished. To install it, you'll need to access, download, and unzip a ROM of Pokémon Black 1 or White 1. Other optional ROM installations include FireRed, Emerald, Platinum, HeartGold, and SoulSilver; any of these will provide additional graphics and visual content.
For everything you'll need, the developer's instructions offer a rundown on how to get this Pokémon MMORPG up and running.
3. Pokémon World Online
Pokémon World Online (PWO) is an old-timer in terms of Pokémon MMO games online. Despite its age, however, it's still one of the best online Pokémon games out there. It's also one of the most in-depth in terms of Pokémon statistical information and feature availability.
PWO is a standalone installation, which makes it a bit more immersive than browser-based alternatives. This allows for a particular smoothness and finish that makes it feel like a serious Pokémon MMORPG compared to other, more popular versions of the same type.
This Pokémon browser game features a greatly customizable UI. Instead of a dynamic environment, you can tailor the game design to your needs and focus on the battle rather than the environment. It's a familiar Pokémon feel with more calculated gameplay, likely to entertain both old and new Pokémon players for hours.
4. Pokémon Planet
As far as free Pokémon games go, Pokémon Planet is fun and impressive. The play area and Pokémon library are massive, and the game is true to the Pokémon series. You don't need to download it, making it one of the best free Pokémon browser games available.
Pokémon Planet also hosts a multiplayer Pokémon event called Clan Wars—players of different clans battle each other at specific times throughout the week. You can even start your own clan if you want to.
You can either play with friends or go solo. While this free online Pokémon game doesn't provide much in the way of a single-player story mode, it's a fantastic browser-based multiplayer experience and provides plenty of items and Pokémon to keep even the most hardcore Pokémon fan entertained.
5. Pokémon MMO 3D
Pokémon MMO 3D's focus is on battle animation rather than environment modeling, but we're still impressed by it every time we log in. This isn't some official endeavor on behalf of professional developers. It's fans making dreams come to life.
Pokémon MMO 3D provides little in terms of story. What it does offer, however, is exactly what users would want from a 3D version of Pokémon: you can summon and battle Pokémon in a 3D environment, surrounded by all of your favorites.
6. PokéOne
PokéOne is the newest addition in this collection of Pokémon multiplayer games. It may even surpass some of these other free Pokémon games as the best Pokémon MMORPG online, period.
PokéOne comes from the creators of Pokémon Revolution Online, and it shows. This amazing take on Pokémon multiplayer offers fun tournaments and events and also allows you to interact with other trainers.
In order to download PokéOne, you'll have to join the PokéOne Discord first. From there, you can grab the download link, and you're ready to go.
7. Pokémon Rise
Pokémon Rise feels like a canon Pokémon game. This browser-based Pokémon game comes with everything that your typical Pokémon game includes. Explore 25 different towns on a huge map, catch over 700 different Pokémon, and engage in battles with other players.
Not only does Pokémon Rise come with a plethora of features, but it also boasts an incredibly engaging storyline. Your character arrives in a new region after receiving an assignment from Professor Aspen. In this particular region, Pokémon Trainers started creating clans to overtake every Gym.
As you work to catch every Pokémon, your goal is to form the most successful clan. It's an interesting twist on one of our favorite franchises.
8. Pokémon Pets
Pokémon Pets may look a little old-school, but it's still just as enjoyable as every other Pokémon online MMORPG on this list. This Pokemon browser game has been around since 2014, giving developers plenty of time to add awesome features.
The game features 2,500 Pokémon, but not all of them hail from the original Pokémon games. The creators call these additional, made-up Pokémon "Fakemon," and the members of the Pokémon Pets community handle the creation of these new mini-beasts.
Besides exciting PvP battles, Pokémon Pets also has daily boss battles, daily rewards, and endless tower battles. Once you get good enough, you might see yourself at the top of the Pokémon Pets leaderboard.
9. Pokémon Vortex
Last on the list, we have the oldest fan-made Pokémon MMO game that's often underappreciated these days. When you visit the site and sign up for an account, you're prompted to select your starter Pokémon so that you can get started right away.
Pokémon Vortex is yet another browser-based game where you can collect different Pokémon as sets. Besides the standard Pokémon, you'll find Dark, Shadow, Mystic, Shiny, and Metallic variants. When you collect all the variants of one Pokémon, you can say you've collected a set.
As you explore, you'll encounter various Pokémon that you'll have to either defeat or capture to amass your collection. You can battle in a gym, participate in leagues, or trade the Pokémon in your collection with other players in the community. You can even get your hands on highly sought-after Pokémon through seasonal events.
Play With a Team of Trainers in These Pokémon MMOs
You've played all the Pokémon games, tried your hand at Pokémon Go, and are still dying for more. Why not try a multiplayer experience with any of the Pokémon MMO games listed above?
If you're more of a Pokémon purist, you can also try a selection of the best free, fan-made Pokémon games. Either way, you'll have an awesome time celebrating everything there is to love about Pokémon.
