Pokémon LeafGreen and FireRed: A Nostalgic Return to Kanto

The Journey Begins

I was six years old when my Pokémon journey began. In 2004, I received a Game Boy Advance SP for my birthday and immediately headed to our local toy store with my parents. There, I carefully selected two games that would define my childhood gaming experience: Sonic Advance 2 and Pokémon LeafGreen.

While I would eventually play through the entire series—FireRed, Yellow, Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, and beyond—LeafGreen holds a special place in my heart as the game that started it all. So when Nintendo announced the 30th anniversary rereleases for the Switch, it felt like fate that I should return to where it all began.

The Perfect Recreation

Playing Pokémon LeafGreen on the Nintendo Switch 2 is everything I remember and more. The developers have captured the essence of the original Game Boy Advance experience perfectly—from the distinctive pixel art to the iconic chiptune soundtrack that defined a generation.

From 6 PM to 3 AM on release day, I was completely absorbed in Kanto once again. I was so engrossed that I literally fell asleep on my couch with the Switch 2 controllers still in my hands. When I woke up at 1 PM the next day, I didn’t even bother with breakfast—just grabbed a glass of water, settled back into my favorite spot on the couch, and continued my adventure.

This isn’t just nostalgia talking. Pokémon LeafGreen and FireRed deliver what might be the quintessential Pokémon experience—accessible enough for newcomers while hitting all the right notes for longtime fans. If you’ve never played Pokémon before, these remakes could be the perfect entry point into one of gaming’s most beloved franchises.

The Kanto Experience

These remakes faithfully recreate the original Red and Green games that launched the Pokémon phenomenon in 1996. You begin your journey in Pallet Town, visiting Professor Oak’s laboratory to choose your starter Pokémon—Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle. From there, you set off on the classic adventure: catching Pokémon, training your team, defeating eight Gym Leaders, challenging the Elite Four, becoming Champion, and thwarting Team Rocket’s nefarious schemes.

What sets the Kanto region apart from later Pokémon games is its sense of genuine exploration. Unlike more recent entries that often guide you from point A to point B, FireRed and LeafGreen give you the freedom to discover the world at your own pace. After defeating the third Gym Leader, you’re essentially free to explore the remainder of the map however you choose. There are hints scattered throughout—helpful NPCs who might point you in the right direction—but there’s no constant hand-holding or quest markers telling you exactly where to go next.

This design philosophy creates a true sense of adventure rather than feeling like you’re simply following a predetermined path through a story.

The Challenge Factor

The battles in LeafGreen and FireRed present a more engaging challenge than many modern Pokémon games. Experience points aren’t shared among your entire team, which means your Pokémon maintain more balanced levels relative to your opponents. Additionally, the limited selection of Pokémon available early in the game prevents you from immediately assembling a perfectly optimized team.

I’m currently playing through the game using the Nuzlocke challenge—a fan-created set of rules that adds extra difficulty by limiting how many Pokémon you can catch and requiring you to release any Pokémon that faint in battle. After experiencing the relative ease of more recent Pokémon generations, where losing two team members to a single Rattata seems unthinkable, I’ve been reminded just how challenging these classic games can be. I’ve learned the hard way that underestimating LeafGreen’s difficulty comes with consequences.

The Price of Nostalgia

Here’s where things get complicated. Unlike other Game Boy Advance titles available through the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pass (which costs $49.99/£34.99/AU$59.95 annually), Pokémon LeafGreen and FireRed are being sold separately for $19.99/£16.99/AU$30 each.

There are some legitimate advantages to this separate release. You get indefinite offline play and integration with Pokémon Home, features not available with the standard emulator titles. Additionally, the classic games avoid potential exploits that could arise from features like the emulator’s rewind function.

However, given that Nintendo is charging a premium for these titles compared to other GBA games on the platform, I can’t help but feel something more was needed to justify the price tag. I’m not asking for a complete overhaul—just perhaps a small new area to help complete the National Pokédex, challenge mode options like a randomizer, or even releasing them as a bundled package with Ruby and Sapphire.

Perhaps I’m being spoiled by still having my original Game Boy Advance cartridges stored safely under my bed, allowing me to play the originals whenever I want. But for a 30th anniversary celebration, these releases feel like they’re missing that extra “something special” that would make them truly memorable.

Should You Play Pokémon LeafGreen and FireRed?

Play it if…

• You’re new to Pokémon and want to experience where it all began
• You’re a longtime fan looking to relive childhood memories
• You appreciate classic game design with modern convenience
• You want a Pokémon experience with genuine exploration and challenge

Don’t buy it if…

• You already own the original Game Boy Advance cartridges
• You’re looking for significant gameplay innovations or new content
• You prefer the quality-of-life improvements in modern Pokémon games
• You’re satisfied with the Game Boy Advance titles available through Switch Online

Accessibility

Pokémon LeafGreen and FireRed don’t include any specific built-in accessibility features, but they don’t really need them. The turn-based battle system and straightforward exploration allow you to play entirely at your own pace. You only ever need to press one button at a time, making the game accessible to virtually anyone who can operate a controller.

How I Tested

For this review, I primarily played Pokémon LeafGreen on the Nintendo Switch 2. To recreate my original Game Boy Advance experience, I spent considerable time playing in handheld mode, though I also enjoyed extended sessions in docked mode—particularly when battery life became a concern during marathon play sessions.

Interestingly, when I played on my Amazon Fire QLED TV, the classic pixel art held up surprisingly well. I expected a blurry mess, but the sprites maintained their charming handheld aesthetic even on a large screen.

My preferred docked controller is usually my 8BitDo Ultimate 2, though I frequently used the Joy-Cons so I could lounge more comfortably on my couch during longer gaming sessions.

First reviewed February-March 2026.

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