Pokémon FireRed / LeafGreen

Return to Kanto, but without the painful compromises of the eight-bit era – that is exactly what Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen offer, the definitive way to experience the very first generation of the most famous series in the world today.

It is a remake of the original Pokémon Red and Green/Blue, built on the advanced third-generation engine. That means not only more colorful and detailed graphics, but above all a host of quality-of-life improvements players came to expect later on: a better interface, smoother controls and mechanics the original games did not yet have. Kanto, Pallet Town and the first 151 Pokémon come alive here in a form that ages far more gracefully than the original.

The series is developed by the studio Game Freak, and FireRed/LeafGreen showed how cleverly it can renovate its own classic – preserving the soul and structure of the original journey for badges and the Elite Four, while dressing it in a modern coat. For newcomers it is an ideal entry point; for those who remember, pleasant nostalgia without the frustration.

What is more, bonus content was added – the Sevii Islands archipelago, which extends the story and links it to the events of the third generation, so even seasoned trainers got new reasons to explore. Thanks to compatibility with other games of the time, the options for trading and completing the Pokédex expanded as well.

In the end FireRed and LeafGreen rank among the most beloved remakes ever and are today the most accessible way to play the thing that started it all.

Why play it: The original Kanto in the best possible form – a first-generation classic stripped of its archaic ills and enriched with modern comforts.