Pokémon LeafGreen Version

All told, this FireRed & LeafGreen re-release is undoubtedly a lazy way to celebrate 30 years of Pokémon. For the asking price, Game Freak and The Pokémon Company could've included some extra goodies, like a hard mode or online functionality.Still, this is the most convenient way to experience the charm of the original Kanto adventure, and going back in time to see how much the Pokémon series has grown gave me a newfound appreciation for all the catchin' I've done over three decades, and all that there is to come. Now give us Pokémon HeartGold & SoulSilver, please.

Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen on the Nintendo Switch 2 are exactly what you’ve been waiting for. They are well-executed ports of the first remakes of the original generation, offering a captivating adventure featuring some of the best characters in the franchise's history. While one might feel that more could have been done—or that certain content could have been made more interesting—throughout the 25-hour playthrough, I felt nothing but joy playing this massive classic on the big screen with a controller in hand. It is practically a childhood dream come true; so please, find a way for us to experience HeartGold and SoulSilver the same way.

Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen preserved the spirit of the original generation one games, and their rerelease has done exactly the same. The legend of these games will always be one of returning to the roots of Pokémon, whether it be their release in 2004, or their rerelease in 2026.

Pokémon FireRed keeps Kanto and the Sevii Islands charming, but reaches Switch through poor emulation, no online features, and a price that is hard to defend.

Pokémon LeafGreen is a showcase of what made and still makes Pokémon games so appealing thirty years later. Timeless critters in a colourful Game Boy Advance palette, the joy of catching and battling, plus a sense of adventure that’s woven throughout. It is a shame that the port lacks additional quality-of-life updates or online play, though. The Nintendo Switch re-release is ideal way for both newcomers and seasoned Poké-veterans to get the

Overall, if you played Pokémon LeafGreen and FireRed when they came out, these are literally the exact same games with absolutely no changes to them. If you haven’t, well, welcome to a very different Pokémon experience. Stick around after the credits because these games were making post-game content popular long before the MCU joined in.

​Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen are clean-cut distillations of why the series has endured in the eyes of millions. The tried-and-true gameplay loop of exploring, catching, and battling is in a beautifully simplistic form here. With little written narrative and simplified visuals, my mind is allowed to wander and craft a story of its own. It makes for an especially striking contrast and compliment to Switch titles like Legends: Z-A or Scarlet/Violet. While it’s hard not to argue that these Switch conversions are a little too no-frills for their own good, you’re ultimately still left with a Pokémon game that’s extremely fun to revisit again and again thanks to its open-ended world and the broadly engaging layout of Kanto. Full stop, these are deeply charming and easy recommendations.

Even 22 years after their original release, Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen remain incredibly fun games that explore a classic yet extremely engaging structure. It’s a shame, however, that these games are only available through an expensive bundle with few real improvements.

There’s a reason why Pokémon are so beloved. LeafGreen and FireRed Versions are both still undeniably enjoyable, evergreen releases and have aged well, because their mechanics were so carefully designed from the very beginning. At their best, they take me back in time to a more carefree life – for example to those moments when I was a kid and sat on the yard swing for hours, playing with my Game Boy. As a re-release however, it is too lazy and cynical, topped off with a price tag that’s a bit too high.

Despite the shortcomings and the lack of opportunities for improvement, simply immersing yourself in FireRed and LeafGreen for a while is enough to understand why Pokémon is what it is. Everything seems to revolve around simple, yet highly engaging (or addictive) premises. The collectability, the phenomenon of evolution, and the beauty of seeing the creatures grow and evolve as we battle and adventure, the reward for each challenge overcome, and the ingenuity of the social factor of needing to trade to fill the Pokédex have helped make the franchise the legend it is today. FireRed and LeafGreen deliver what they need to. But it's undeniable that we must continue to demand more and better from the companies involved, so that they deliver these titles in the best possible way and right from launch.