Team Rocket Evolved Lets You Play as Pokémon’s Villains

Team Rocket Evolved is an upcoming fan-made project built from Pokémon Emerald that changes the usual hero’s journey into a criminal climb through Hoenn. Instead of starting as a young trainer chasing badges, players take the role of a Team Rocket grunt and work towards becoming an organisation administrator.

The project keeps familiar Pokémon mechanics while giving them a much less respectable purpose. Players will still travel through the region and challenge Gym Leaders, but they can also attempt to steal Pokémon from other trainers. A successful theft may even persuade the defeated opponent to give up immediately.

A different kind of Hoenn adventure

Life as a Team Rocket member makes the region far less welcoming. Pokémon Centres will not be available in an area until the player takes control of it and defeats its Gym Leader. Alternative healing options are planned, although they are expected to be both expensive and limited.

Players will also be able to request assistance from the wider Team Rocket organisation. That support could make difficult encounters more manageable, while reinforcing the project’s central idea: this is a campaign about building influence rather than earning the trust of every town.

For context on the group’s familiar characters and history, Bulbapedia’s Team Rocket reference provides a useful overview.

From grunt to administrator

The planned progression takes the player from a low-ranking grunt to a Team Rocket administrator. Creator EricTurner3 has said that he and his wife are developing the ROM hack without using AI. The creators describe the project as a hand-crafted fan game with a broader scope than a simple story reskin.

The finished version is expected to include Pokémon from every generation, along with Mega Evolutions and Dynamax Evolutions. New categories of trainers are also planned, adding more variety to encounters across the region.

There is a softer touch beneath the villain-focused premise: Pokémon can follow the player, much like they do in Pokémon HeartGold and Pokémon SoulSilver. That feature creates an amusing contrast with the game’s theft mechanics, particularly when a newly acquired Pokémon is not especially keen to follow orders.

Still in development

Team Rocket Evolved remains in development, so its final features may change. The creators are inviting fans to share ideas and requests through the project’s official subreddit.

For Australian players interested in the wider arcade and gaming scene, RETROCADE’s Arcade Blog covers related news, while the Arcade Videos collection offers more gaming coverage. Those planning a dedicated setup can also browse the arcade machine range or consult the Arcade Machine Buying Guide.