The original 151 return as Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen launch on Nintendo Switch.
More than 20 years after their original release, Pokémon FireRed Version and Pokémon LeafGreen Version are heading back to modern consoles. The beloved Game Boy Advance remakes will arrive digitally on the Nintendo Switch on Feb. 27, just in time for Pokémon Day. The titles will also be playable on the Nintendo Switch 2 system.
Originally launched in 2004, the games reimagined Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green, which first debuted in Japan in 1996. Now, longtime fans can return to the Kanto region while a new generation discovers where the global phenomenon began.
Both titles will be available digitally on My Nintendo Store and Nintendo eShop. Players can purchase each version individually in English, French, or Spanish. Because the Nintendo Switch editions replicate the original releases, each language version is sold separately. There are no in-game language options, so buyers should confirm their selection before purchase. The French and Spanish editions reflect EU French and EU Spanish.
The games will also be available at select retailers during launch week for a suggested retail price of $19.99.
A Return to Kanto
Set in the iconic Kanto region, FireRed and LeafGreen feature the original 151 Pokémon. Players travel from Pallet Town through forests, caves, and cities while challenging Gym Leaders and building a team.
Familiar faces return, including Brock, Misty, Professor Oak, and Giovanni. The games maintain their classic turn-based battle system and retro soundtrack, preserving the feel of the Game Boy Advance era.
However, these remakes also introduced several updates at the time of their 2004 debut. Abilities, natures, weather effects, and held items expanded the strategy. Players could also select their character’s gender, which was not an option in the earliest releases.
Modern Convenience Meets Retro Gameplay
While the games preserve their original structure, Nintendo Switch players gain one major modern feature. Local co-op connectivity allows players to link up without a Game Link Cable, as was required during the Game Boy Advance era.
That change makes trading and battling more accessible, especially for younger players experiencing Kanto for the first time.
As Pokémon celebrates its 30th anniversary, this rerelease offers both nostalgia and accessibility. For veteran Trainers, it is a return to a defining era. For newcomers, it is a chance to meet some of the franchise’s most iconic characters in their original setting.
Whether revisiting childhood memories or starting fresh, the journey through Kanto begins again on February 27.
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