Pokemon FireRed & LeafGreen on Nintendo Switch! Reliving the Kanto Adventure
Pokemon FireRed & LeafGreen are coming to Nintendo Switch on February 27, 2026. Here's everything we know, plus a 30-something dad's nostalgic trip down memory lane.
Yesterday (February 20), a surprise announcement appeared on the Nintendo eShop. Pokemon FireRed & LeafGreen are coming to Nintendo Switch! The release date is February 27, timed to coincide with Pokemon Day -- the 30th anniversary of the franchise.
The moment I heard the news, my heart skipped a beat. I'm a dad in my 30s getting this excited over a game, and even I'm surprised at myself.
Pokemon: Childhood Memories
Pokemon. I first discovered it through the anime as a kid. I can still vividly picture myself sitting in front of the TV, breathlessly following Ash and Pikachu on their adventures.
And then learning that you could actually catch, train, and battle the Pokemon from the show in a video game -- the sheer excitement of that realization! Even as a little kid, I remember feeling this incredible sense of wonder: "Something this amazing exists!"
The games came in multiple versions -- Red, Green, and Blue -- each featuring Charizard, Venusaur, or Blastoise on the cover. They look cool even now, but imagine how they looked through a child's eyes. Just holding a Game Boy felt like holding the entire world in your hands.
Fast Forward: Now I'm a Dad Playing Pokemon with My Kid
Time flew. Gold & Silver, Ruby & Sapphire, Diamond & Pearl, Black & White -- through countless Pokemon generations, the hardware evolved from Game Boy to DS to 3DS to Nintendo Switch, with Switch 2 now on the horizon.
And here I am, a dad who gets to enjoy Pokemon with his own kid.
I'll be honest -- I still love Pokemon and play the latest games. But somehow... even though the graphics have improved dramatically and the games have evolved in every way, the pixel-art Pokemon games from my childhood hold a deeper place in my heart. There's an attachment to those early games that newer titles just can't replicate. I'd been longing to play them again.
But the reality was... I no longer had a Game Boy at home, and retro gaming hardware has gotten so expensive on the secondhand market that buying one felt impractical. So those games stayed locked away in my memories.
FireRed & LeafGreen, Reunited on Nintendo Switch!
And now they're coming to Nintendo Switch! I genuinely can't contain my excitement.
Pokemon FireRed & LeafGreen were originally released in 2004 for the Game Boy Advance (GBA). They were remakes of the original 1996 Pokemon Red & Green -- the very first remakes in the entire Pokemon franchise. The games faithfully recreated the Kanto region adventure with upgraded GBA graphics while adding the Sevii Islands, a brand-new area with expanded story content.
Now this classic is being revived on Nintendo Switch -- specifically, the GBA version faithfully reproduced for Switch.
Release Details
Here's what we know about the Nintendo Switch release:
- Release date: February 27, 2026 (Friday) -- Pokemon 30th Anniversary "Pokemon Day"
- Availability: Playable immediately after the Pokemon Presents broadcast ends at 11 PM (local time)
- Price: $14.99 each (FireRed and LeafGreen sold separately)
- Languages: English and Japanese
- No subscription required: Can be purchased and played without Nintendo Switch Online
- Pokemon HOME: Compatible
- Multiplayer: Local wireless only (no online play)
Additionally, a special physical edition featuring a GBA-style reproduction package and a glass Poke Ball display piece has been announced for collectors.
No Korean Language Option -- But I'm Making the Best of It
I live in Korea, and unfortunately there's no Korean language version. Since the original game never supported Korean, the Switch release only offers English and Japanese.
But I'm choosing to see this as an opportunity. I'm planning to play the English version -- since I already know the story, it doubles as a fun way to practice English. Learning Pokemon names and move names, reading in-game dialogue -- it's a two-for-one deal.
Reliving That Magic
Sure, compared to modern Pokemon games, this one has pixel-art graphics and a retro feel. But for me, that's precisely what makes it special. It's a time machine back to childhood.
Meeting Professor Oak in Pallet Town, choosing your first Pokemon, battling your rival for the first time, encountering new Pokemon in the tall grass... Traveling across Kanto's eight gyms, collecting badges, thwarting Team Rocket, and finally challenging the Champion -- the thought of walking that entire journey again fills me with emotion.
Less than a week to go. I can barely wait!
If you grew up with Pokemon like I did, why not take this chance to revisit the Kanto region? And if you have kids, playing together and telling them "This is what Dad played when he was your age" is a pretty special experience in itself.
Pokemon FireRed & LeafGreen launch on the Nintendo eShop on February 27, 2026, priced at $14.99 each.