Several Pokemon ROM hacks let you play from Team Rocket’s side of the story, but their similar names make them easy to confuse.
Three of the most commonly mixed-up projects are:
- Pokemon Team Rocket Edition by DragonsDen
- Pokemon FireRed: Rocket Edition by ColonelSalt
- Pokemon Team Rocket Jessie & James Edition by MrNightology
They are three separate games created by different developers. They use different base games, follow different stories and approach the Team Rocket concept in different ways.
This comparison explains which game is which without mixing their features, downloads or documentation.
Quick Comparison of the Team Rocket Games
| Game | Creator | Base Game | Main Character | Main Region Scope | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pokemon Team Rocket Edition | DragonsDen | Pokemon Emerald | Team Rocket Grunt | Kanto, Sevii Islands, Johto and Hoenn in the current Spanish release | Spanish v3.0.6; Hoenn Part 2 in development |
| Pokemon FireRed: Rocket Edition | ColonelSalt | Pokemon FireRed | Team Rocket Grunt | Kanto | Completed v1.0.2 |
| Pokemon Team Rocket Jessie & James Edition | MrNightology | Pokemon FireRed | James, with Jessie and Meowth | Kanto and Johto are listed as its main regions | Completed v1.1 |
Pokemon FireRed: Rocket Edition’s creator thread identifies the completed release as v1.0.2 and describes it as a FireRed hack centered on Team Rocket’s activities in Kanto.
MrNightology’s current Whack a Hack thread identifies Pokemon Team Rocket Jessie & James as v1.1 and complete, with FireRed BPRE as its base ROM.
1. Pokemon Team Rocket Edition by DragonsDen
Pokemon Team Rocket Edition: DragonsDen Version is the game covered by TeamRocketEdition.com.
It is based on Pokemon Emerald and was originally developed in Spanish as Pokemon Edición Team Rocket. The Spanish version is the primary release and receives new content before the English translation.
You begin as a Team Rocket Grunt and complete missions for the organization while gradually rising through its ranks.
The story expands across several regions and follows Team Rocket’s activities around familiar Pokemon events while introducing its own missions, characters, experiments and storylines.
Current DragonsDen Version Progress
The latest Spanish version is v3.0.6.
Its released story content currently includes:
- Kanto
- Sevii Islands
- Johto
- Johto DLC
- Hoenn
Hoenn Part 2 is still in development.
The latest English translation is v1.5 and currently includes:
- Kanto
- Sevii Islands
- Johto
The Johto DLC and Hoenn have not yet been translated into the current English release.
For current version information, use the dedicated Pokemon Team Rocket Edition Download page.
What Makes the DragonsDen Version Different?
The DragonsDen game has grown into a multi-region Team Rocket adventure with systems and content extending far beyond its original Kanto story.
Current features include:
- Team Rocket rank progression
- Kanto, Sevii Islands, Johto and Hoenn
- Pokemon data through Generation 9
- Team Rocket experiments and custom Pokemon
- Mega Evolutions
- Pokemon Legends: Z-A Mega content
- Z-Moves
- Strong Bond and other special forms
- Easy, Normal and Hard difficulty modes
- Day, afternoon and night
- More than 200 reusable TMs
- EV training
- Mints
- Expanded level progression up to level 150 after the relevant event
- Side missions and optional content
- Ephemeris Mode for starting from later story points
The current version continues to receive fixes while the next Hoenn section is developed.
2. Pokemon FireRed: Rocket Edition by ColonelSalt
Pokemon FireRed: Rocket Edition is a completely separate game created by ColonelSalt.
As its name suggests, this project is based on Pokemon FireRed rather than Emerald.
Its story runs alongside the original FireRed adventure, but instead of following Red, you play from the perspective of a Team Rocket member operating in Kanto.
ColonelSalt describes the game as a story in which the player cheats, lies and steals their way through Kanto’s criminal world while uncovering events taking place behind Red’s original adventure.
Pokemon Stealing
One of FireRed Rocket Edition’s defining systems is the ability to steal Pokemon from defeated Trainers.
The creator’s documentation states that Trainers become available for theft according to the player’s Team Rocket rank, eventually expanding the range of Trainers the player can steal from.
This is an important distinction because the Team Rocket theme is built directly into how the player obtains Pokemon.
Morality and Side Quests
FireRed Rocket Edition also includes a morality system and branching side quests.
The player’s decisions can affect how certain criminal missions develop and what consequences follow.
FireRed-Based Battle Mechanics
The game retains FireRed as its foundation while incorporating later-generation mechanics, including:
- Fairy type
- Physical/special split
- Moves from later generations
- Interface and gameplay improvements
These are documented features of ColonelSalt’s project rather than features shared automatically with the other Team Rocket games.
Is Pokemon FireRed Rocket Edition Complete?
Yes.
The creator’s PokeCommunity thread lists Completed Version v1.0.2, originally released on April 9, 2020, with a later minor dialogue edit.
Its story is primarily a Kanto-focused FireRed reinterpretation rather than the multi-region structure used by DragonsDen’s current game.
3. Pokemon Team Rocket Jessie & James Edition
Pokemon Team Rocket Jessie & James Edition is another separate Team Rocket ROM hack, created by MrNightology.
It also uses Pokemon FireRed as its base, but its premise is very different from both DragonsDen’s game and ColonelSalt’s Rocket Edition.
Instead of creating a new Rocket Grunt, you play as James, accompanied by Jessie and Meowth.
The creator’s story description begins after the trio’s adventures chasing Ash and Pikachu. Giovanni calls them back for Team Rocket missions involving theft, investigations and interference with rival plans.
Jessie, James and Meowth
The game’s identity is built around the familiar Team Rocket trio.
That makes it easy to distinguish from the other two games:
- DragonsDen: original Team Rocket Grunt
- ColonelSalt: original Team Rocket Grunt
- MrNightology: James with Jessie and Meowth
Missions and Team Rocket Activities
The creator describes missions involving:
- stealing Pokemon
- stealing items
- investigating locations
- interfering with enemy plans
- completing assignments for Giovanni
The project therefore follows a more anime-inspired Team Rocket setup rather than retelling FireRed from the viewpoint of a new Grunt.
Regions and Features
The current creator thread lists Kanto and Johto among the game’s regions.
Its documented features also include:
- Battle Subway
- stealing from shops
- day/night system
- Black/White-style Repel system
- Ruins of Alph puzzles
- region-specific wild Pokemon music
- additional overworld and music systems
The story setup references the trio’s previous travels through Kanto, Johto and Hoenn, but the creator’s actual feature list names Kanto and Johto as the game’s regions, so these should not be treated as the same thing.
Is Jessie & James Edition Complete?
Yes.
The current creator thread identifies the project as Pokemon Team Rocket Jessie & James v1.1 and marks it as complete.
Main Differences Between the Three Team Rocket Games
Base Game
The easiest technical difference is the game each project is built from.
- DragonsDen’s Pokemon Team Rocket Edition: Pokemon Emerald
- ColonelSalt’s Pokemon FireRed: Rocket Edition: Pokemon FireRed
- MrNightology’s Jessie & James Edition: Pokemon FireRed
This is why the word FireRed is especially useful when identifying ColonelSalt’s game.
Main Character
Each project approaches the Team Rocket perspective differently.
DragonsDen
You begin as an original Team Rocket Grunt and progress through the organization.
ColonelSalt
You also play an original Team Rocket member, with the story taking place alongside Red’s FireRed adventure.
Jessie & James Edition
You specifically play as James, alongside Jessie and Meowth.
If Jessie and James are the central playable characters, you are looking at MrNightology’s project rather than either of the other two.
Story Structure
Pokemon Team Rocket Edition by DragonsDen
The story grows into a long, multi-region Team Rocket adventure.
The current Spanish version moves through Kanto, the Sevii Islands, Johto, the Johto DLC and Hoenn, with another Hoenn section still planned.
Pokemon FireRed: Rocket Edition
The story is closely tied to the events of Pokemon FireRed.
Red’s familiar journey is happening at the same time, but the player sees a different side of Kanto and learns what is occurring away from Red’s perspective.
Jessie & James Edition
The story follows the anime Team Rocket trio after Giovanni gives them new assignments.
Its structure is mission-based and directly uses Jessie, James, Meowth and other elements associated with their adventures.
Pokemon Stealing Works Differently
The games should not be assumed to have the same stealing system simply because they all involve Team Rocket.
FireRed Rocket Edition
ColonelSalt’s game has a dedicated system allowing the player to steal Pokemon from defeated Trainers, with access affected by Team Rocket rank.
Jessie & James Edition
MrNightology’s creator description specifically includes stealing Pokemon from Trainers and stealing from shops as part of Team Rocket’s activities.
DragonsDen Version
DragonsDen’s game contains Team Rocket missions, criminal operations and rank progression, but it should not be described as having ColonelSalt’s specific post-battle theft system.
The three games use the Team Rocket concept differently.
Regions Are Another Easy Way to Tell Them Apart
DragonsDen Version
Current Spanish release:
- Kanto
- Sevii Islands
- Johto
- Johto DLC
- Hoenn
FireRed Rocket Edition
Primarily:
- Kanto
Jessie & James Edition
The creator’s current feature list identifies:
- Kanto
- Johto
The story also references the trio’s earlier travels through Hoenn, but that narrative reference should not be confused with the documented playable-region list.
Development Status
| Game | Development Status |
|---|---|
| Pokemon Team Rocket Edition – DragonsDen | Active; Spanish v3.0.6 released and Hoenn Part 2 is in development |
| Pokemon FireRed: Rocket Edition – ColonelSalt | Completed; v1.0.2 |
| Pokemon Team Rocket Jessie & James – MrNightology | Completed; v1.1 |
ColonelSalt’s creator thread identifies FireRed Rocket Edition as completed, while MrNightology’s current Whack a Hack thread likewise marks Jessie & James as complete.
Was DragonsDen’s Game Inspired by FireRed Rocket Edition?
The projects are separate, but DragonsDen credits ColonelSalt’s earlier Team Rocket project as an inspiration.
That does not make DragonsDen’s game a version, remake or continuation of ColonelSalt’s game.
They use different base ROMs, different stories, different mechanics and separate development histories.
The safest way to identify them is by creator and base game, not simply by the words “Rocket Edition.”
How to Identify Which Team Rocket Game You Have
If the game says Pokemon FireRed: Rocket Edition
You are most likely looking for ColonelSalt’s FireRed-based game.
Look for:
- Creator: ColonelSalt
- Base: FireRed
- Kanto-centered story
- Trainer Pokemon stealing system
- Morality system
If it says Pokemon Team Rocket Edition or Pokemon Edición Team Rocket
Check whether the creator is DragonsDen.
Look for:
- Creator: DragonsDen
- Base: Emerald
- Spanish-first development
- Sevii Islands, Johto and Hoenn in addition to Kanto
- Team Rocket experiments
- Modern Pokemon and battle content
The current DragonsDen game covered by this website can be found on the Pokemon Team Rocket Edition homepage.
If Jessie and James Are in the Title
You are looking at MrNightology’s Pokemon Team Rocket Jessie & James Edition.
Look for:
- Creator: MrNightology
- Base: FireRed
- James as the playable lead
- Jessie and Meowth as central characters
- mission-based Team Rocket story
Why Are These Games So Often Confused?
The main problem is their names.
Pokemon Team Rocket Edition, Pokemon FireRed: Rocket Edition and Pokemon Team Rocket Jessie & James Edition all describe games built around the same organization.
Searches such as:
- Pokemon Team Rocket Edition
- Pokemon Rocket Edition
- Team Rocket Edition
- Pokemon FireRed Rocket Edition
can therefore refer to different projects.
The creator name is usually the fastest way to remove the ambiguity:
- DragonsDen = Pokemon Team Rocket Edition
- ColonelSalt = Pokemon FireRed: Rocket Edition
- MrNightology = Pokemon Team Rocket Jessie & James Edition
Pokemon Team Rocket Games Comparison Summary
| Difference | DragonsDen | ColonelSalt | MrNightology |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game | Pokemon Team Rocket Edition | Pokemon FireRed: Rocket Edition | Pokemon Team Rocket Jessie & James |
| Base ROM | Emerald | FireRed | FireRed |
| Protagonist | Rocket Grunt | Rocket Grunt | James |
| Central companions | Original story cast | Original/Familiar Kanto cast | Jessie and Meowth |
| Current region scope | Kanto, Sevii, Johto, Hoenn | Kanto | Kanto and Johto listed by creator |
| Trainer Pokemon stealing | Not ColonelSalt’s post-battle theft system | Dedicated system | Part of documented missions |
| Rank progression | Yes | Yes | Mission-focused |
| Current status | Active development | Complete | Complete |
| Current version | Spanish v3.0.6 / English v1.5 | v1.0.2 | v1.1 |
About Pokemon Team Rocket Edition by DragonsDen
TeamRocketEdition.com is focused specifically on DragonsDen’s Pokemon Team Rocket Edition.
If that is the game you are looking for:
- Visit the Pokemon Team Rocket Edition homepage for the current game overview.
- Use the Pokemon Team Rocket Edition Download page for the Spanish and English releases.
- Browse the Pokemon Team Rocket Edition Documentation for gameplay references.
These pages contain information for DragonsDen’s game and should not be assumed to apply to FireRed Rocket Edition or Jessie & James Edition.
Team Rocket Games FAQs
Is Pokemon Team Rocket Edition the same as Pokemon FireRed Rocket Edition?
No.
Pokemon Team Rocket Edition is DragonsDen’s Emerald-based game, while Pokemon FireRed: Rocket Edition is ColonelSalt’s FireRed-based game.
They are separate ROM hacks.
Who created Pokemon Team Rocket Edition?
The Pokemon Team Rocket Edition covered on this website was created by DragonsDen.
Who created Pokemon FireRed Rocket Edition?
ColonelSalt created Pokemon FireRed: Rocket Edition. The project is based on Pokemon FireRed and its completed release is v1.0.2.
Who created Pokemon Team Rocket Jessie & James Edition?
MrNightology created Pokemon Team Rocket Jessie & James Edition. The creator’s current thread lists v1.1 as complete.
Which Team Rocket game is based on Pokemon Emerald?
Pokemon Team Rocket Edition by DragonsDen is based on Pokemon Emerald.
Which Team Rocket games are based on FireRed?
Both Pokemon FireRed: Rocket Edition by ColonelSalt and Pokemon Team Rocket Jessie & James Edition by MrNightology use Pokemon FireRed as their base.
Which game lets you steal Pokemon from Trainers?
Pokemon FireRed: Rocket Edition has a dedicated mechanic that allows Pokemon to be stolen from defeated Trainers according to the player’s Rocket rank.
Jessie & James Edition also includes stealing Pokemon as part of its documented Team Rocket missions.
These mechanics should not be assumed to work identically between the two games.
Which Team Rocket game has Hoenn?
The current Spanish version of DragonsDen’s Pokemon Team Rocket Edition includes the present Hoenn release, with Hoenn Part 2 still in development.
The Jessie & James story setup references earlier travel through Hoenn, but its creator’s feature list identifies Kanto and Johto as the game’s regions.
Is Pokemon FireRed Rocket Edition complete?
Yes. ColonelSalt’s creator thread lists the completed release as v1.0.2.
Is Jessie & James Edition complete?
Yes. MrNightology’s current creator thread identifies v1.1 as complete.
Is DragonsDen’s Pokemon Team Rocket Edition complete?
The currently released Spanish version already contains Kanto, the Sevii Islands, Johto, the Johto DLC and the first current Hoenn release, but development is continuing with Hoenn Part 2.
Are these official Pokemon games?
No. All three are fan-made Pokemon ROM hacks and are separate from Nintendo, Game Freak and The Pokemon Company.
2 Comments
so you cant steal pokemons after battle
I would say the key difference is not being able to steal Pokemon and lack of the bounty system. Both of those things make the other version an entirely different game with a much more open world feel. It’s a shame because this has more regions and a better story, but significantly less you can do.