By the time the clean ROM was dumped in 2005, the damage was done. The "Squirrels" ROM had become a cult classic—downloaded for its bizarre, unintentional humor. If you are searching for this file (for historical or nostalgic purposes), you must know what you are downloading. Do not trust file names alone. Check for these hallmarks:

If your game asks you to "feed the squirrels" near the S.S. Anne, say no. The game will freeze, and your save data will be replaced with a single line of text: "Too many nuts." Have you encountered the Squirrels ROM? Share your story in the comments. For more deep-dives into forgotten ROM hacks, check out our guide to "Pokemon Snakewood" and "Pokemon Clover."

In the vast, sprawling ecosystem of Pokemon ROM hacking, certain files achieve a kind of mythological status. Veterans of early 2000s emulation forums whisper about corrupted saves, glitch cities, and "Creepypasta" versions hidden in plain sight.