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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →If you want to revisit Johto, start with Pokémon HeartGold or Pokémon SoulSilver: these Nintendo DS remakes return to the region and update the original Gold and Silver adventure. Prefer the classic-generation presentation? Choose Pokémon Crystal, or the original Gold and Silver. The Pokémon Day 2026 roundup named Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves as upcoming games for Nintendo Switch 2, with a planned global simultaneous launch in 2027; it did not announce a new Johto game.
Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver are the closest Johto return
For a playthrough focused on revisiting Johto, Pokémon HeartGold and Pokémon SoulSilver are the clearest fit. The Pokémon Company describes them as a return to the adventure of Gold and Silver on Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi. They feature updated graphics and sound, touchscreen features, and the Johto starter choices Chikorita, Cyndaquil, and Totodile. The games also included the Pokéwalker accessory. The Pokémon Company International’s HeartGold and SoulSilver page gives the direct pitch: “With Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver Versions, they can return there to experience the exciting adventure of Pokémon Gold and Pokémon Silver on the Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi systems.”
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Pokémon Pokopia - Nintendo Switch 2 | $69.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Pokémon Legends: Arceus - US Version | $54.25 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Pokémon Violet - US Version | $51.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Pokémon Sword - Nintendo Switch | $54.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Pokémon™ Legends: Z-A - Nintendo Switch | Buy on Amazon |
These are enhanced remakes rather than the original Game Boy Color releases, so they suit players who want Johto with updated presentation and DS-era features. The official page’s platform references are historical; they do not establish current stock, modern-system compatibility, or digital availability. If you are considering a physical copy, check the seller, condition, completeness, regional compatibility, and whether you have hardware that can play it.
Choose Pokémon Crystal for a distinctive classic-generation version
Pokémon Crystal is a Game Boy Color game set in Johto. It is a strong pick if you want the classic-generation feel but also want the specific differences the official page highlights: the option to play as a boy or girl character, animated Pokémon introductions, graphical improvements, and the Battle Tower. The Pokémon Company International’s Pokémon Crystal page describes those features.
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#1 Best Overall
- Shape the world and build a cozy new life with Pokémon as a Ditto transformed to look like a human.
- Use other Pokémon’s moves, like Bulbasaur’s Leafage, to revitalize and navigate the world around you.
- Meet and befriend more Pokémon as you help nature flourish.
- Gather materials to create items and furniture, till the fields to grow delicious crops, build homes for the Pokémon you meet, and more—there’s so much to do!
- Experience a world with varied weather, real-time days and nights, and other surprises.
Crystal is a separate classic-generation option, not a modern remake. Its historical platform information does not confirm that it is currently sold digitally or compatible with hardware you own today.
Play Pokémon Gold and Silver for the original Johto pair
Pokémon Gold and Pokémon Silver are the original games that introduced this Johto adventure. The Pokémon Company reports their original Japanese release date as November 21, 1999. It also records that Virtual Console versions for Nintendo 3DS family systems arrived on September 22, 2017. Those dates are release history, not proof that the games remain available through the 3DS storefront. See The Pokémon Company International’s Gold and Silver page for the official history.
Rank #2
- Action meets RPG in this new take on the Pokémon series
- Study Pokémon behaviors, sneak up on them, and toss a well-aimed Poké Ball to catch them
- Unleash moves in the speedy agile style or the powerful strong style in battles
- Travel to the Hisui region—the Sinnoh of old—and build the region’s first Pokédex
- Learn about the Mythical Pokémon Arceus, the key to this mysterious tale
Pick this pair if playing the original releases matters more to you than the remake updates in HeartGold and SoulSilver or the distinctive features of Crystal. As with the other older games, verify the specific copy, region, and hardware before buying or planning a playthrough.
Which Pokémon game should you play before a new Johto game?
| Game | Why choose it | Historical platform stated by The Pokémon Company |
|---|---|---|
| HeartGold / SoulSilver | Enhanced remake route for a direct return to Johto, with updated graphics and sound, touchscreen features, and the Pokéwalker accessory. | Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi (official game page) |
| Crystal | Classic Johto adventure with a choice of boy or girl player character, animated Pokémon introductions, graphical improvements, and the Battle Tower. | Game Boy Color (official game page) |
| Gold / Silver | The original Johto pair, for players who want the first release rather than a remake. | Original release platform not stated on the cited page; Virtual Console versions were released for Nintendo 3DS family systems in 2017 (official game page) |
These platform details identify the games’ historical releases, not what you can buy or play on your present-day system. Current availability, prices, used-copy condition, and compatibility with a particular device need to be checked separately.
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- Embark on a new Pokémon adventure
- Catch, battle, and train Pokémon in the Paldea Region, a vast land filled with lakes, towering peaks, wastelands, small towns, and sprawling cities.
- Choose either Sprigatito, Fuecoco, or Quaxly, to be your first partner Pokémon before setting off on your journey through Paldea.
- Embark on an independent study called the Treasure Hunt to gain new experiences, meet new people, and find your very own treasure.
Want a current Pokémon adventure instead? Try Pokémon Legends: Z-A
Pokémon Legends: Z-A is an available modern Pokémon game, but it is not a Johto substitute: its setting is Lumiose City. Its official page highlights Mega Evolution, wild zones, and the Z-A Royale. Consider it if you want a different contemporary adventure while you wait, rather than a return to Johto. See the official Pokémon Legends: Z-A page.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Has a new Johto game been announced?
The Pokémon Day roundup published by The Pokémon Company International on February 27, 2026, announced Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves for Nintendo Switch 2, with a planned global simultaneous launch in 2027. It did not announce a new Johto game. That announcement does not establish that a Johto game will never be announced. Read the official Pokémon Day 2026 roundup.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Live the life of a Pokémon Trainer in the streets of Lumiose City!
- For the first time in the Pokémon RPG series, command your Pokémon in real-time battles
- Use the power of Mega Evolution in battle and take on rampaging Rogue Mega-Evolved Pokémon
- Compete in the Z-A Royale each night to test your skills and try to become the strongest Pokémon Trainer
- Visit shops, restaurants, and places called wild zones—where Pokémon roam free—all centered around Prism Tower
Rank #4
- Catch, battle, and trade Pokémon on an all-new adventure in the Galar region
- Choose from three new partner Pokémon and encounter never-before-seen Pokémon
- Unravel the mystery behind the Legendary Pokémon Zacian and Zamazenta!
- Team up with other Trainers to participate in Max Raid Battles***!
- Battle wild Dynamax Pokémon in Max Raid Battles and try catching them***
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.
