Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen Launch on Nintendo Switch eShop: How to Choose the Right Version
Nintendo and The Pokémon Company have delighted fans by releasing Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen on the Nintendo Switch eShop.
Available immediately following the annual Pokémon Presents event on February 27, these beloved remakes of the original Pokémon Red and Green games are accessible to a whole new generation of players, alongside a specially themed edition released for the Japanese market.
As with the original Game Boy Advance titles developed by Game Freak, the modern Nintendo Switch versions of FireRed and LeafGreen bring back the classic adventure set in the Kanto region, offering updated gameplay, visuals, and quality-of-life features while staying true to the experience that defined an era of Pokémon history.
The re-release comes after years of speculation and fervent requests from the community, marking another milestone in the franchise's storied legacy. Longtime fans may recall the tough decision they faced decades ago—choosing between two versions, each boasting unique Pokémon that could only be caught in one title or the other.
That choice is just as critical for players purchasing the games via the eShop, as Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen continue the tradition of version-exclusive monster distribution. Pokémon FireRed includes these version-exclusive species: Ekans, Arbok, Oddish, Gloom, Vileplume, Psyduck, Golduck, Growlithe, Arcanine, Shellder, Cloyster, Scyther, Electabuzz, Bellossom, Wooper, Quagsire, Murkrow, Qwilfish, Scizor, Delibird, Skarmory, Elekid, and the Attack Forme of Deoxys. Pokémon LeafGreen, on the other hand, features these unique catches: Sandshrew, Sandslash, Vulpix, Ninetales, Bellsprout, Weepinbell, Victreebel, Slowpoke, Slowbro, Staryu, Starmie, Magmar, Pinsir, Marill, Azumarill, Slowking, Misdreavus, Sneasel, Remoraid, Octillery, Mantine, Magby, Azurill, and the Defence Forme of Deoxys. While veteran players may be familiar with these differences from earlier generations, it's important to remember that completing your Pokédex in either version will require trading.
The Nintendo Switch release supports local wireless trading through the Pokémon Center’s Wireless Club feature, mirroring the original wireless functions, but does not include WiFi trading.
Players will need to trade with friends locally to obtain version-exclusive Pokémon. The developers at Game Freak continue to honor the traditions that made Pokémon a worldwide phenomenon.
The continued emphasis on strategic exclusives and player cooperation ensures that the community spirit remains intact.
"The magic of Pokémon has always come from the connections players make, both in-game and beyond," representatives from The Pokémon Company have summarized in recent messaging about the franchise’s enduring appeal. With the Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen Switch eShop launch, the iconic journey in Kanto is ready for another round.
Whether you opt for FireRed or LeafGreen, be sure to consider which exclusives matter most to your team—and remember to link up with fellow trainers to catch them all.
Available immediately following the annual Pokémon Presents event on February 27, these beloved remakes of the original Pokémon Red and Green games are accessible to a whole new generation of players, alongside a specially themed edition released for the Japanese market.
As with the original Game Boy Advance titles developed by Game Freak, the modern Nintendo Switch versions of FireRed and LeafGreen bring back the classic adventure set in the Kanto region, offering updated gameplay, visuals, and quality-of-life features while staying true to the experience that defined an era of Pokémon history.
The re-release comes after years of speculation and fervent requests from the community, marking another milestone in the franchise's storied legacy. Longtime fans may recall the tough decision they faced decades ago—choosing between two versions, each boasting unique Pokémon that could only be caught in one title or the other.
That choice is just as critical for players purchasing the games via the eShop, as Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen continue the tradition of version-exclusive monster distribution. Pokémon FireRed includes these version-exclusive species: Ekans, Arbok, Oddish, Gloom, Vileplume, Psyduck, Golduck, Growlithe, Arcanine, Shellder, Cloyster, Scyther, Electabuzz, Bellossom, Wooper, Quagsire, Murkrow, Qwilfish, Scizor, Delibird, Skarmory, Elekid, and the Attack Forme of Deoxys. Pokémon LeafGreen, on the other hand, features these unique catches: Sandshrew, Sandslash, Vulpix, Ninetales, Bellsprout, Weepinbell, Victreebel, Slowpoke, Slowbro, Staryu, Starmie, Magmar, Pinsir, Marill, Azumarill, Slowking, Misdreavus, Sneasel, Remoraid, Octillery, Mantine, Magby, Azurill, and the Defence Forme of Deoxys. While veteran players may be familiar with these differences from earlier generations, it's important to remember that completing your Pokédex in either version will require trading.
The Nintendo Switch release supports local wireless trading through the Pokémon Center’s Wireless Club feature, mirroring the original wireless functions, but does not include WiFi trading.
Players will need to trade with friends locally to obtain version-exclusive Pokémon. The developers at Game Freak continue to honor the traditions that made Pokémon a worldwide phenomenon.
The continued emphasis on strategic exclusives and player cooperation ensures that the community spirit remains intact.
"The magic of Pokémon has always come from the connections players make, both in-game and beyond," representatives from The Pokémon Company have summarized in recent messaging about the franchise’s enduring appeal. With the Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen Switch eShop launch, the iconic journey in Kanto is ready for another round.
Whether you opt for FireRed or LeafGreen, be sure to consider which exclusives matter most to your team—and remember to link up with fellow trainers to catch them all.
