You can now play Pokémon with a Murcia map, for free online!
A new demo game that has just been launched reimagines the Region of Murcia in classic Pokémon style, blending pixelated nostalgia with real-world landmarks and local pride
What started as a dream project among a few friends has evolved into a playable reality. Pokémon Hurtea, an unofficial fan-made game set in the Region of Murcia, has released its first public demo and is now available to download and play free on mobile and computer.
Created by 26-year-old Bullas native Eric Espejo, the project recreates Murcia in the visual and gameplay style of the classic Pokémon titles developed by Nintendo and Game Freak. While it captures the spirit of the original saga, Pokémon Hurtea replaces Nintendo’s fictional regions with recognisable Murcian towns, monuments and landscapes.
A Murcian adventure begins
The story opens in Bullas, chosen for what Espejo describes as its tranquillity, making it an ideal starting point for a relaxed introduction to the game. From there, players travel to Cehegín and Caravaca de la Cruz before continuing through the countryside around Mula, battling among lemon groves and visiting the Roman villa of Los Villaricos archaeological site.
La aventura empieza en Bullas 🏡
La tranquilidad de este pueblo lo hace perfecto para iniciar la aventura con un mood tranquilo.
Murcia city also features prominently, with pixel recreations of familiar landmarks including the sardine sculpture in the Segura River, the Mercado de la Fama, the tram to Nueva Condomina stadium and the National Police offices on Isaac Albéniz Street.
Other locations currently accessible in the demo include Cieza, known in the game for its flowering fields and berry gathering, and Archena, where players encounter Mount Ope and the spa, now overrun with zubats.
In keeping with the traditional Pokémon formula, players collect gym badges, with three available in the demo version, as they work towards reaching the Yecla Pokémon League.
Real places, pixel form
Throughout the journey, players encounter detailed recreations of local landmarks such as the Plaza del Alpargatero in Cehegín, the Caravaca Cross, Mula Castle, the Archena Spa and the Salto del Usero waterfall in Bullas. Real-world images and background information about each site are included within the game, reinforcing Espejo’s aim of showcasing the Region’s cultural and natural heritage.
The game also introduces original creatures inspired by Murcia, including ‘Lemonico’, with plans to create up to 150 exclusive Pokémon linked to the Region. Special items such as the ‘Huerta Ball’, designed to work particularly well with local Pokémon, further tie the gameplay to Murcian identity.
The name Hurtea itself references the huerta agricultural landscape and the Bando de la Huerta festival, celebrating the Region’s traditions and rural roots.
From private joke to public project
Espejo describes Pokémon Hurtea as “a very personal project, made with enthusiasm”. Initially conceived as a surprise for friends, it began with the idea of recreating their houses and towns within a Pokémon-style game. “I’ve always enjoyed making things they could enjoy,” he explains.
Over time, the concept expanded. Aware of Murcia’s long-standing joke reputation of “not existing” amongst other Spaniards, Espejo decided to use the Pokémon universe to give visibility to what he calls “the beautiful towns and places the Region offers”.
🍋 Bienvenidos a la Región de Hurtea 🍋
¿Alguna vez habéis imaginado como sería el mundo en el que vivís si existieran los Pokémon?
Pues aquí tenéis como se vería la Región de Murcia, la inspiración para Pokémon Hurtea 🗺️ pic.twitter.com/gRxnfB8PJ5
He developed the game without formal training, learning through experimentation and online tutorials. Completing the demo took around a year and a half. Finishing a full version, he estimates, could require another two years while he continues balancing work and studies. He is considering enrolling in a video game development course to refine the project further.
Community involvement
Pokémon Hurtea has already featured in Fangames Direct, a live stream event showcasing community-created Pokémon games in Spain, where it was well received by fans and content creators.
Now Espejo is opening the project to wider participation. Alongside the demo release, he has launched the ‘Repopulate Hurtea’ initiative, inviting players to submit their details via the official blog to appear as characters in the game. Once enough submissions are gathered, a new town not yet included in the demo, possibly Alcantarilla or Alhama de Murcia, will be unlocked and populated with these player-inspired residents.
“My intention for the future is to improve the graphics, the towns and the routes, making them more realistic, adding more images of monuments and emblematic places, and events related to the traditions of all of them,” Espejo says.
The demo arrives shortly after Pokémon’s 30th anniversary, giving Murcian fans an additional reason to celebrate. In Hurtea, the torch is symbolically passed from iconic characters such as Ash Ketchum and Pikachu to the people of Murcia, who now take centre stage in the quest to become Pokémon Master.
For Espejo, the objective is clear: to follow his dream of creating his own Pokémon game while encouraging players to visit the real-world locations that inspired it. With the first demo now live and free to download and play (in Spanish, so far there is no English text to accompany gameplay), Murcia has officially entered the world of Pokémon.
