Nintendo announced a special treat for Pokémon’s 30th anniversary and Pokémon Day this year — Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen will be released on Nintendo Switch (and Switch 2). The 2004 remasters will be available on the Nintendo eShop on February 27 ($19.99).
Somehow, this is the first time the remasters have appeared on Nintendo Switch.
The original Pokémon games (Red and Green in Japan, and Red and Blue in the US) released in ’96 and ’98 respectively on the original Game Boy handheld platform. In 2004, The Pokémon Company released remasters for the Game Boy Advance.
Not only do the remasters provide enhanced graphics and, er, color, they also feature all the quality of life improvements and advances from Gen 2 and 3. Updates include abilities, natures, weather, held items, and character gender options — all things Pokémon players definitely take for granted these days.
Because of these updates and improvements, FireRed and LeafGreen are considered the definitive versions of the original Pokémon RPGs:
From the official FAQ: “We thought users will appreciate the ultimate versions of those original adventures, which add various features and upgrades to the contents of Pokémon Red Version and Pokémon Blue Version.”
With the Nintendo Switch, players can link up for local co-op Pokémon trading and battling with local wireless connections, without needing a physical cable. Online play is not supported, however.
FireRed and LeafGreen are set in the Kanto region, and include 151 Pokémon to catch, train, and battle. Players can enjoy familiar characters from the original anime series, such as Brock, Misty, and Giovanni.
Note that due to limitations of the original releases, the remasters are available in English, French, and Spanish, but different language options must be purchased separately. There is no option to change the language in game.
There are no differences between the Switch and Switch 2 version, though FireRed and LeafGreen can be used with GameChat on Switch 2.
Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen will release on Feb. 27 on the Nintendo eShop. They’re rated E10+.
