- Pokemon Renaissance project: A nonprofit fan-made Pokemon RPG built on Pokemon SDK (PSDK)
- Chapter 1 is available now with roughly 10-15 hours of story content
- Features a brand-new region (Aldiris), 60+ new Pokemon, custom tiles, and an original soundtrack
- Offers both English and French language options
- Not affiliated with Nintendo or Game Freak, and distributed free of charge
What Is the Pokemon Renaissance Project?
The Pokemon Renaissance project is a community-driven fan game developed on Pokemon SDK (PSDK), a popular open-source engine for creating fan-made Pokemon adventures. The team operates a bilingual (French/English) development hub and has been sharing progress publicly since 2017. The project's flagship release, Renaissance Chapter 1, launched with a full new region, custom assets, and dozens of original Pokemon designs.
The development team distributes the game through their own launcher, and the community gathers on their official Discord server. Because it is a nonprofit fan production, the game is offered free of charge and clearly states it is not affiliated with Nintendo or Game Freak.
There is a separate fan project also called "Pokemon Renaissance," built by a solo developer as a Harvard CS50 final project in 2020. It features 4 gyms, an Elite Four, and a Champion, and takes about 4 hours to finish. Do not confuse it with the PSDK-based Project Renaissance covered by this wiki.
Video Highlights (the CS50 fan game sharing the name):
- Solo-developed Pokemon fan game made for Harvard CS50 (Fall 2020)
- Custom maps, wild encounter tables, and themes designed by one creator
- Contains 4 gyms, an Elite Four, and a Champion
- Save system lets you quit and resume at any point
- Roughly 4 hours of playtime
Key Features of Renaissance Chapter 1
Renaissance Chapter 1 is the first major public release of the Pokemon Renaissance project. According to the team's official announcement, it delivers a substantial slice of a longer planned adventure with fully original assets.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Content length | 10-15 hours of gameplay |
| Region | Aldiris, a whole new region to explore |
| Pokemon roster | 60+ new fan-made Pokemon |
| Graphics | Brand-new custom tiles and NPCs |
| Audio | Original soundtrack composed for the game |
| Languages | English and French, both supported |
Exploration
- New Aldiris region
- Custom tilesets and mapping
- Fresh towns and routes
Collection
- 60+ original Pokemon
- New evolution lines
- Unique regional designs
Presentation
- Original soundtrack
- Custom NPC sprites
- Bilingual text support
If you play in English but also read French, following the team's official X account (@PkmnRenaissance) gives you development updates and patch notes first, since some announcements appear in both languages.
How to Download and Start Playing
Getting into the Pokemon Renaissance project takes just a few minutes. The team distributes the game through their own launcher rather than app stores or Steam.
Join the Community
Visit the official Project Renaissance X account or Discord (discord.gg/fQ6tDXz) to confirm the latest download links and announcements from the dev team.
Download the Launcher
Use the official launcher link shared in the Chapter 1 release announcement (api.pkmnrenaissance.com/launcher) to get the game files.
Select Your Language
Choose English or French at setup. Both are fully supported for the Chapter 1 story content.
Start Your Adventure
Begin in the Aldiris region. Save early and often; the game supports manual saving so you can continue whenever you like.
Renaissance Chapter 1 is a nonprofit fan game. There is no purchase, subscription, or in-game monetization; the launcher link in the official announcement is the intended access channel.
Comparing the Two Renaissance Fan Games
Because two fan projects share the Pokemon Renaissance name, here is a side-by-side breakdown to help you identify which one you are playing or reading about.
| Aspect | Project Renaissance (PSDK) | CS50 Pokemon Renaissance |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Pokemon SDK (PSDK) | Custom CS50 web project |
| Team | Dev team, active since 2017 | Solo developer (Sam, USA) |
| Content | 10-15 hours, Chapter 1 | ~4 hours total |
| Region | Aldiris (new region) | Custom single map region |
| Gyms | Region progression, Chapter 1 scope | 4 gyms + Elite Four + Champion |
| Languages | English and French | English |
| Status | Ongoing releases | Completed 2020 course project |
This wiki focuses on the PSDK-based Project Renaissance by the Aldiris team, the actively developed fan game with 60+ new Pokemon and an original soundtrack.
New Player Checklist
Before diving deep into the Aldiris region, work through these early-game milestones to set up a smooth run through Chapter 1.
Chapter 1 Starter Goals:
- Download the official launcher and install Chapter 1
- Choose your language (English or French)
- Pick a starter and build a balanced early team
- Catch several of the 60+ new Pokemon
- Explore the opening areas of the Aldiris region
- Save frequently and back up your save file
FAQ
Q: Is the Pokemon Renaissance project an official Pokemon game?
No. Project Renaissance is a nonprofit fan game built on Pokemon SDK and is explicitly not affiliated with Nintendo or Game Freak. It is distributed free of charge by its independent dev team.
Q: How long is Renaissance Chapter 1?
The official release announcement states Chapter 1 offers roughly 10-15 hours of content, including a whole new region, 60+ new Pokemon, custom tiles, and an original soundtrack.
Q: Where can I download the Pokemon Renaissance project?
The team distributes the game through their official launcher link shared in the Chapter 1 release post on X (@PkmnRenaissance), with community support available on their Discord server.
Q: Does the game support languages other than English?
Yes. Renaissance Chapter 1 is available in both English and French, matching the bilingual nature of the development team.