- Pokemon Renaissance fan game is a free, non-profit fangame set 3 years before Red and Blue
- Regional forms: All three Kanto starters have brand-new Odorus regional typings
- Exploration focus: Chapter 1 packs multiple optional side quests into Blue Coast Town
- Best starter pick: Ice/Grass Bulbasaur offers strong early-game coverage
- Watch difficulty: Some optional trainers hit level 14 while story content sits near level 8
What Is the Pokemon Renaissance Fan Game?
Pokemon Renaissance is a non-profit fan game built on the PSDK starter kit by a multicultural team of roughly 30 Spanish, English, and French developers. Set three years before the events of Red and Blue, it sheds light on dark corners of the Pokémon timeline while adding a brand-new region called Odorus, more than 200 new Pokémon and regional forms, original music, and refreshed graphics. The project deliberately targets seasoned players of the franchise, focusing on two of the series' four pillars: exploration and collection.
Chapter 1, titled "A Glimmer Over Alderus," opens in Blue Coast Town with an unusually cinematic intro: character creation is framed as correcting a misprinted Pokédex record, and you can customize your protagonist's name, skin tone, and eye color before the story begins.
Video Highlights:
- Full Chapter 1 gameplay walkthrough from Blue Coast Town to Clifton Sea
- Showcase of all three new regional starter forms
- Multiple side quest demonstrations, including the Oran Berry theft case
- First rival battle against Thomas and his Steel-type Squirtle
The game offers a difficulty selection at startup — including a nightmare mode — and every setting except nightmare can be changed at any time in the options menu. Difficulty has no impact on the amount of content available, so newer players can safely start on normal.
The development team describes the project's design philosophy on the official project page, explaining how they analyzed the official Game Freak titles to fix what felt missing. Visit the official project site for presentation videos in both English and French.
Odorus Starter Forms: Which Should You Pick?
Professor Blackthornne offers the classic Kanto trio, but each one carries an Odorus regional form with a completely new typing. This is the single most important early decision, and the trailer-worthy redesigns make it genuinely difficult.
| Starter | Odorus Typing | Strengths | Weaknesses | Playstyle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulbasaur | Ice/Grass | Powder Snow, strong special potential | Fire, Fighting, Rock | Special attacker |
| Charmander | Ground | Electric immunity, powerful physical moves | Water, Grass, Ice | Physical attacker |
| Squirtle | Steel | Metal shell, excellent defense | Fire, Fighting, Ground | Defensive wall |
Bulbasaur (Ice/Grass)
- Powder Snow gives early freezing potential
- Leech Seed sustains long fights
- Struggles against rival Thomas's Steel Squirtle
Charmander (Ground)
- Immune to Electric moves
- Strong physical damage output
- Best raw offense of the three
Squirtle (Steel)
- Bullet Punch priority move
- Superb bulk for tough boss fights
- Slower early progression
Thomas picks a starter strong against yours. If you choose Ice/Grass Bulbasaur, his Steel-type Squirtle spams priority Bullet Punch. Stock Potions and use Leech Seed early — the drain effect is the difference between winning and blacking out.
Blue Coast Town Side Quests Step-by-Step
Blue Coast Town is dense with optional content, and completing side quests before Route 1 leaves your team several levels ahead of the curve. The first chapter alone includes at least five distinct quest lines.
Catch the Oran Berry Thief
A merchant on the square asks you to find a brown-haired boy who stole his berry stock. Question the berry-loving grandmother, follow the trail to the Pokémon Center, and uncover a touching reason behind the theft. Reward: a batch of berries to hold in battle.
Play Hide-and-Seek with Lisa
Lisa hides with four Pokémon around the Blue Coast Ruins. Find all of them, then win her follow-up battle. Rewards include a Rare Candy, a Full Heal, and an item that boosts Pokémon affection.
Photograph Three Landmarks for Paul Vincent
The artist gives you a camera with limited memory. Shoot a shell-covered beach, a towering lighthouse, and a bridge extending into the unknown. Return after all three photos for generous compensation.
Solve the Missing Marip Mystery
Farmer Bruno's three Marip vanished. Question his colleague Robin, wait until nightfall, confront the suspicious Medi near the farm, deliver his letter to Robin, then investigate the ruins. The truth involves a long-lost companion Pokémon and reunites a family.
Grant the Lighthouse Guard's Wish
A guard's bedridden son dreams of owning a Marip. Catch one and bring it to him for a reward of old medicines and a heartfelt scene.
Side questing before Route 1 pushed the walkthrough team to Ivysaur before ever leaving the first town. Route 1 trainers — including the six-trainer gauntlet before Pavl — become trivial with a leveled squad, and you'll earn Rare Candies, Quick Claws, and Great Balls along the way.
Chapter 1 Route and Trainer Guide
| Location | Content | Recommended Level | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Coast Town | Story intro, 5+ side quests | 5-8 | Explore every house for free items |
| Blue Coast Ruins | Hide-and-seek, Marip mystery | 6-9 | Optional double battle trainer (level 14) |
| Route 1 | Six trainers plus gauntlet gate | 8-12 | Multiple branching paths to explore |
| Serpentine Cave | Next story objective | 12+ | Evil team planting explosives inside |
| Clifton Sea | Trainer class tutorial, next hub | 12+ | Chapter 1's natural stopping point |
Route 1 wild encounters include Oddish, Burmy, Genie, and the regional fauna. Note that XP Share is enabled by default — a quality-of-life choice that keeps your whole team progressing even when only one Pokémon battles.
A trainer near the ruins runs a level 14 double battle while story content expects level 8. Losing simply returns you to the Pokémon Center, so treat it as a revenge target — one player only won the rematch thanks to a lucky double freeze from Powder Snow.
Additional mechanics worth knowing:
- Day/night cycle: Sleeping at the Pokémon Center advances time and boosts team happiness; a Pokémon named Fedison replaces Nurse Joy overnight
- Trainer classes: Unlocked by completing objectives and meeting people, displayed on your trainer card
- The Azor Corporation: Delivers your Pokédex after the rival battle and hints at the evil team's activities in Serpentine Cave
Chapter 1 Completion Checklist
Chapter 1 Essential Milestones:
- Choose your Odorus starter and win the first rival battle against Thomas
- Complete all five Blue Coast Town side quests
- Defeat all six Route 1 trainers to unlock Pavl's challenge
- Deliver all three photographs to Paul Vincent
- Reach Clifton Sea and unlock your trainer class system
Save manually at regular intervals — the game autosaves rarely, and long exploration sessions in the ruins and Route 1 can be lost to an unexpected double battle loss. The Pokémon Center also fully restores your team for free.
FAQ
Q: Is the Pokemon Renaissance fan game free to play?
Yes. Pokemon Renaissance is a non-profit fan game created by a team of about 30 volunteers from Spain, England, and France using the PSDK starter kit. It targets seasoned Pokémon players and is not sold commercially.
Q: When does Pokemon Renaissance take place in the Pokémon timeline?
The story is set three years before the events of Red and Blue. It explores dark or unexplained areas of the franchise's history and includes many winks and references to the wider universe, including ties to Professor Oak.
Q: Can I change the difficulty after starting the Pokemon Renaissance fan game?
Yes. Every difficulty setting except nightmare mode can be changed at any time through the options menu. Difficulty choice has no impact on the amount of content you can access.
Q: Which starter is best for the Pokemon Renaissance fan game?
Ice/Grass Bulbasaur performs strongly through Chapter 1 thanks to Powder Snow and Leech Seed, though it struggles in the rival battle against Steel-type Squirtle. Ground-type Charmander offers the best offense if you prefer a physical playstyle.