Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen Arrive on Nintendo Switch for Pokémon’s 30th Anniversary
The Pokémon franchise celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2026, and Nintendo marked the milestone with the return of two classic Pokémon Games: Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen, originally released for Game Boy Advance, are now available digitally on the Nintendo Switch as of February 27th, 2026.
These versions bring the classic Kanto adventure to modern hardware while keeping most of the gameplay and features faithful to the original releases. For longtime fans of Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen, the Switch release offers a straightforward way to revisit one of the most popular generations of Pokémon games.
Revisiting the Kanto Region in Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen
For players unfamiliar with these titles, Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen are remakes of the original Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue adventures.
The games take place in the Kanto region, where players travel between towns and routes capturing wild Pokemon, battling rival Trainers, and collecting Gym Badges. Like most classic Pokémon games, the ultimate goal is to build a strong team and complete the Pokédex.
The remakes also include the Sevii Islands, an additional set of locations that expand the original Kanto story and introduce more Pokémon encounters.
Trading and Battling in Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen on Nintendo Switch
The original Game Boy Advance versions of Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen relied on accessories like the Game Link Cable or Wireless Adapter for multiplayer connectivity.
On Nintendo Switch, these features have been updated to use the console’s built-in local wireless connection instead.
Players can meet in the Pokémon Wireless Club, located on the second floor of any Pokémon Center. From there, up to four other players can join to:
- Trade Pokemon
- Battle other Trainers
- Participate in small multiplayer activities
One important note: online play is not supported, so players will need to be nearby to connect.
Quick Reset Feature in Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen
One of the controversial changes in the Nintendo Switch versions of Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen is a built-in quick reset shortcut.
Pressing all four face buttons on the Joy-Con at the same time returns the game to the main menu. For players who enjoy Shiny hunting - the process of repeatedly resetting encounters to find rare alternate-colored Pokémon - this can save several seconds during each attempt.
However, for casual players simply progressing through the game, the shortcut introduces a potential risk.
Because these Pokemon games do not include a modern autosave system, an accidental reset can cause players to lose a significant amount of progress.
Because the original Game Boy Advance Pokémon games only relied on two main buttons, you can adjust the controller settings in the system’s Accessibility menu and remap the Joy-Con buttons. Disabling one of the extra buttons will not remove any key gameplay features, but disabling one of the face buttons such as X or Y prevents the game from recognizing the four-button reset input.
If you decide to try Shiny hunting later, you can always restore the original button mapping.
Language Versions of Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen
Another detail players should keep in mind is that Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen maintain the language structure used in the original Game Boy Advance releases. Instead of selecting a language within the game, separate versions are available for each language. Before purchasing the game through the Nintendo eShop, players should confirm that they are selecting the correct language version.
Pokémon HOME Compatibility
Nintendo has also confirmed that Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen will support transfers to Pokémon HOME. This feature will allow players to move Pokémon caught in these classic Pokemon games into the broader modern Pokémon ecosystem, though right now, it looks like a one-way trip, so be sure you’re not wanting them back in FireRed or LeafGreen! More details about the transfer process are expected to be shared on home.pokemon.com as they become available.
Where to Buy Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen
Both Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen are currently available as digital downloads on the Nintendo eShop.
At the moment, Nintendo has confirmed that the games will not receive physical releases. They are also being sold as standalone titles rather than being included in the Nintendo Switch Online classic games catalog.
With the release of Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen on Nintendo Switch, Nintendo is giving players another opportunity to revisit one of the most influential eras of Pokémon games.