Pokémon Ruby Is Getting A Sequel More Than Two Decades Later

4 hours ago 9

Published Apr 7, 2026, 9:01 AM EDT

James is a gaming writer from London who has spent thousands of hours exploring titles from every genre. Though he has a particular affinity for multiplayer titles like World of Warcraft, Destiny 2 and League of Legends, he has also put thousands of hours into single-player experiences, from deep RPGs to epic PC strategies. When he's not playing or writing, he can usually be found supporting his beloved Brentford FC.

We are set to enter the tenth generation of Pokémon in 2027, and everyone has their favorites from the journey up until now. Whether you're a die-hard fan of the original run, or picked up the games later on, there isn't really a wrong answer as to which games are the best to play.

For some, Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire serve as the most memorable, the first releases in Generation 3 that brought two of the most iconic Legendary Pokémon in history to players. The remakes, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire built on that legacy brilliantly, thrusting the games forward into the modern day.

Obviously, developer Game Freak has long since moved on from those games, but the fans are ready to step in and fill the void, and one highly ambitious project is set to deliver an amazing sequel to the original Ruby, more than two decades since its original release.

Pokémon Ruby 2 Is The Sequel We Never Expected

A split image of Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire.

Over on YouTube, you can find the channel for King Cradi, the developer who is working on the ROM hack sequel, and who has just posted a one year progress update on the game. It's already a genuinely impressive project, and one that brings a ton of exciting additions, as well as expanding the narrative significantly.

Those who played through Pokémon Ruby will know that it has one of the best stories in the series so far, as Team Magma attempt to use Groudon to dry up the oceans of Hoenn and increase the land mass available in the region. This sequel picks up the story as if they succeeded, exploring that "what-if" scenario and giving us a whole new take on the map to explore in the process.

As part of that, iconic areas like Lilycove City have been abandoned, and it promises to be a very different experience as a result. The game also features an extensive regional Pokédex of 255 'mons, and there's plenty of new content, including a Dark-type gym, a bunch of puzzles to solve and a tournament arena in Mauville City.

This Pokémon ROM Hack Is Super Ambitious

The player stood outside of the Poke Center in Lavaridge Town in Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire.

As you'll likely be able to tell already, Pokémon Ruby 2 is a hugely ambitious undertaking and one that really could serve as one of the best examples of a ROM hack ever. The only potential issue with that is, unfortunately, that it's therefore going to take a while longer to cook up, with a full release expected towards the back end of this year.