Pokémon Omega Ruby / Alpha Sapphire

For players who grew up on the Game Boy Advance, 2014 was a homecoming. Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire are full-fledged remakes of the classic 2002 titles Ruby and Sapphire, taking us back to the tropical Hoenn region, this time in the full polygonal splendor of the sixth generation.

Game Freak wasn't interested in a mere fresh coat of paint. Hoenn came alive in 3D visuals following on from X and Y, complete with Mega Evolutions, the Fairy type, and a modern interface. The old battle models, animations, and map were completely reworked, so a region that longtime fans carried in their heads as a pixelated landscape suddenly breathes with depth and color.

The remake also added entirely new content. The Delta Episode story arc expands the original narrative with a dramatic chapter involving a legendary Pokémon and a cosmic threat, giving the return to Hoenn its own reason to exist. Collectors were delighted by the DexNav, a clever tool for tracking down rare Pokémon with special abilities, and fans of exploration got to fly across the region on the back of a legendary dragon via Soaring.

Mechanically, the game benefits from everything the sixth generation introduced, but adds specific novelties for Hoenn, including the so-called Primal forms of the legendary Kyogre and Groudon. This transformation elevates the clashes with these mythical beings to a new level of spectacle and power.

Commercially it was a huge success, and the remake ranks among the best-selling games on the 3DS, with sales topping fourteen million copies. For a generation that experienced Hoenn for the first time on a small glowing screen with no backlight, it's a gift full of both nostalgia and modern comfort.

Why play it: It's a nostalgic return to Hoenn in a modern coat with all the comforts of the sixth generation. For those who remember Ruby and Sapphire as well as for newcomers wanting the classic without compromise.