Pokémon FireRed Version and Pokémon LeafGreen Version are separate digital rereleases of the 2004 Game Boy Advance remakes, not new remakes of the original 1996 games. Their main appeal is simple: play the familiar Kanto adventure on Nintendo Switch or Switch 2, with local wireless play and a few bonuses. If you already own the GBA versions, the Switch editions add convenience more than new content.
What is included in the Switch rerelease?
Each game retells the first Pokémon adventure through the 2004 remake, following a young trainer through Kanto as they collect Pokémon, challenge Gym Leaders and work toward the Pokémon League. The games include the original 151 Pokémon and the Sevii Islands, an expanded area added in the GBA remakes.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee! - Nintendo Switch | $53.87 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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NINTENDO Légendes Pokémon : Arceus (SWITCH) EU Import | $54.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Nintendo Pokemon: Let's Go, Pikachu! (Nintendo Switch) (European Version) | $56.90 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Minecraft - Nintendo Switch | $29.83 | Buy on Amazon |
Nintendo also lists GBA-era features such as Pokémon abilities and natures, weather, held items and a choice of player-character gender. The Switch releases preserve that remake-era package rather than rebuilding the adventure as a modern remake. Nintendo says the games also play on Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo’s release announcement has the platform and feature details.
What changes in the Switch versions?
Convenient digital access
The Switch editions are digital-only and sold separately. Nintendo announced availability for 27 February 2026 in English, French or Spanish. Each language is a separate version: there is no in-game language switch, and the French and Spanish versions are EU French and EU Spanish. These are launch-announcement details, not a statement of current regional availability or price.
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#1 Best Overall
- Don the role of a Pokémon Trainer as you travel through Kanto
- Discover a new species of Pokémon with the Pokémon Lets Go series
- Catch Pokémon in the wild using a gentle throwing motion with either a Joy-Con controller or a Poké Ball Plus accessory, which will light up, vibrate, and make sounds to bring your adventure to life
- See the world in style by customizing Pikachu and your Trainer with a selection of outfits
- Connect to Pokémon GO* to transfer caught Kanto-region Pokémon, including Alolan and Shiny forms, as well as the newly discovered Pokémon, Meltan, from that game to this one
Presentation on a modern screen
Nintendo Life reviewer Lowell Bell found the upscaled sprites crisp, but noted that black bars frame the image. That is a presentation trade-off rather than a change to the underlying adventure: the game retains its GBA-era look and layout. Bell’s review is one reviewer’s assessment, not a universal verdict.
Local wireless play, not online trading
Nintendo describes local co-op or local wireless play without a Game Link Cable, with additional games and systems required. Bell reports that trading is local rather than online. That means this rerelease is not a way to trade or battle with someone remotely over the internet. Check Nintendo’s announcement for its local-play qualification.
Rank #2
- Model Number: 211169
- Product type :PHYSICAL_VIDEO_GAME_SOFTWARE
- Item weight: 0.052 kg
Which version should you buy?
FireRed and LeafGreen are separate versions, so your choice matters if you are hunting version-exclusive Pokémon or aiming to complete a collection. Nintendo confirms that they are distinct editions, but the available product details here do not enumerate the exclusives. If completion is your goal, plan on trading with a player who has the other version; the trading described by Bell is local, so this is not a remote-trading solution.
Nintendo’s North American launch announcement listed a suggested retail price of US$19.99 for each game, and said select retailers would carry them during launch week. Nintendo Life listed launch prices of US$19.99 in North America and £16.99 in the UK. Those are launch figures, not verified current prices or proof of an active retailer listing. Buying both versions therefore meant paying for two separate games at launch.
Rank #3
- Meet countless characters from the beloved series
- High-end visuals, modern resolutions and carefully polished gameplay
- Brand new horde mode multiplayer for up to two players, online and splitscreen
Bonuses, Pokémon HOME and the soundtrack
Post-game tickets
The Pokémon Company’s Japanese product page says the Mystery Ticket and Aurora Ticket are automatically added to the important-items bag after entering the Hall of Fame. They allow encounters with Ho-Oh, Lugia and Deoxys. See the official Japanese title page for the bonus details.
Pokémon HOME timing
The same official page lists Pokémon HOME linkage as planned for October 2026 and describes a Celebi reward for completing the software Pokédex. It does not specify a go-live day or establish whether linkage is active on 8 October 2026. Treat the connection and reward as planned details until the official service information confirms availability.
Rank #4
- Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures
- Explore randomly generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles
- Play in creative mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armor to fend off the dangerous mobs
- Play on the go in handheld or tabletop modes
- Includes Super Mario Mash-Up, Natural Texture Pack, Biome Settlers Skin Pack, Battle & Beasts Skin Pack, Campfire Tales Skin Pack; Compatible with Nintendo Switch only
Nintendo Music
The Japanese page lists 64 soundtrack tracks on Nintendo Music for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers. This is a separate listening extra, not additional in-game content.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is FireRed and LeafGreen on Switch worth buying?
Bell gave the North American version 7/10 in a Nintendo Life review published 3 March 2026. He praised convenient access to a nostalgic Kanto journey and the crisp-looking sprites, while criticizing the black-bar framing, lack of new content and lack of online functionality. His conclusion was mixed: the rerelease has charm and convenience, but remains sparse for its asking price. As he put it, “A lack of online functionality is also a bummer.” Read Bell’s full Nintendo Life review.
That assessment points to the clearest buying decision. If you want an easy way to revisit Kanto on a current Nintendo system, or have never played these remakes, the Switch release offers a straightforward route into the adventure. If you already have a GBA copy and are looking for substantial new material or online multiplayer, the Switch version offers little to change your mind.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
