Pokémon Little Emerald (GBA) – Littlelocke Difficulty ROM Hack
Game Information
Original Game (ROM Base): Pokémon Emerald (U)
Hack Status: Complete (v1.4 – 30 Oct 2025)
Language: English
Content Type: Difficulty-focused challenge ROM hack (Littlelocke ruleset)
Table Of Contents
About This ROM Hack
Pokémon Little Emerald is a difficulty ROM hack of Pokémon Emerald designed specifically around a custom challenge format called a Littlelocke. In this Nuzlocke variant, the player may only use fully unevolved Pokémon. Unlike standard difficulty hacks that rebalance evolved Pokémon, this game rebuilds the entire experience—wild encounters, trainers, bosses, and mechanics—around unevolved Pokémon only.
The hack is intentionally harder than vanilla Pokémon Emerald on all difficulty settings, but it compensates with extensive quality-of-life systems, flexible difficulty modes, sandbox options, and modern mechanics. While built with Nuzlocking in mind, the game fully supports casual play, experimentation, and custom rulesets.
Story Overview
Key Features
- Littlelocke Rule Enforcement: All Pokémon encountered in the wild and used by trainers are fully unevolved Pokémon only, ensuring a consistent and fair challenge environment.
- Modern Battle Mechanics: Generation 9 battle mechanics are implemented, unless otherwise stated, which dramatically increases strategic depth.
- Custom Starters: Players choose between Snivy, Scorbunny, and Squirtle, all remaining unevolved throughout the game.
- Hard Level Caps: Strict level caps prevent overleveling and enforce strategic planning.
- Difficulty Modes:
- Hard Mode: Gym Leaders and most bosses use full teams of six Pokémon with optimized movesets.
- Normal Mode: Reduced team sizes and softer movesets while remaining harder than vanilla Emerald.
- Sandbox Mode: An optional submenu allowing players to customize their experience, including max money/BP, IV & EV editing, EV gain toggles, 100% catch rate, disabling trainer battles, and collision toggles.
- Monotype Mode: All gift Pokémon (including starters) can be restricted to a chosen type at the start of the game, if possible.
- Mini-Boss System: Mini-bosses scattered throughout the world reward Battle Points, battle items, and access to move tutors.
- Battle Point Economy: A BP shop allows purchase of competitive items such as Ability Patches, Nature Mints, Bottle Caps, and battle items.
- Held Item Permanence: Held items removed during battles are permanently lost, while held items taken from trainers can be permanently kept—only if the battle is won.
- Trainer AI Rules: Trainers do not use items in battle, ensuring consistency and fairness.
- Custom Mega-Style Evolutions: Baby Pokémon can temporarily evolve in battle via held items (incenses), functioning as a unique “Mega Evolution” system for unevolved Pokémon.
- Follower Pokémon & Partner Battles: Pokémon follow the player in the overworld, and most major bosses feature overworld partner Pokémon.
- New Custom Maps:
- Deep Woods: Accessible from Petalburg Woods post-Cut
- Desert Oasis: Accessible from Route 111
- Minor Story Adjustments: Boss encounters have been added or repositioned, including dynamic level scaling for certain fights depending on progression.
Known Bugs & Issues
- As of version v1.4, no major game-breaking bugs are documented. Bug-fix patches are planned as issues are discovered, and balance changes are ongoing. Information on specific bugs may be limited or community-reported rather than centrally listed.
Screenshots
Download Links
Documentation
Patches: Google Drive
Developer Information
Developer / Team: Purkat
Credits & Inspiration
- Features: Inspired by various ROM hacks: Run and Bun (Pre-Status NPC, level-cap Rare Candies), Pokémon Lucid (boss trainers with overworld Pokémon), Inclement Emerald (Nature Mint NPC), Radical Red (Egg Move Tutor), and Meissa Moon (changes like Bulletproof Golett and the Illuminate rework). Special thanks to Montimon02 for the Monster Magikarp concept.
- Code & Tools: Includes modified or used code from ghoulslash (Ability Changer), Jaizu, Buffel Saft, AkimotoBubble, PokemonCrazy, Scyrous (IV viewer), devolov (auto-run shoes, field HM use), Buffel Saft (difficulty & EV options), AsparagusEduardo (new bag pockets), Lunos / LOuroboros (Infinite Repel), and KinglerChamp (VanillaCalc base). Built on RHH’s pokeemerald-expansion, itself based on pret’s pokeemerald.
- Additional thanks to Meister_anon, Alex (rainonline), hudurlem, Team Aqua’s Hideout (Archie), and all contributors to poryscript and porymap.
Source & References
Official Thread / Website: Pokecommunity
Community Link: https://discord.gg/Hdj7cFfJeZ
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who is this hack/game for?
A: Pokémon Little Emerald is ideal for players who enjoy challenging Pokémon games, Littlelocke or Nuzlocke runs, and strategic combat built around unevolved Pokémon.
Q: Is this game only meant to be Nuzlocked?
A: No. While designed with Nuzlocking in mind, it can be played normally or customized using Sandbox Mode.
Q: How difficult is Little Emerald compared to vanilla Emerald?
A: It is significantly harder on all difficulty modes, even Normal Mode.
Q: Are evolved Pokémon completely unavailable?
A: Yes. All Pokémon remain unevolved by design, though some baby Pokémon can temporarily evolve in battle via special held items.
Q: What is Sandbox Mode used for?
A: Sandbox Mode allows players to customize difficulty, speed up testing, or tailor the game for creative or casual playthroughs.
Q: Does the game include modern competitive features?
A: Yes. IV viewing, EV control, Nature Mints, Bottle Caps, Hyper Training, and BP-based systems are all included.