Pokémon Ruby / Sapphire / Emerald

A new generation, a new region, a whole new ocean of possibilities — Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald brought the series to the Hoenn region, a land full of water, islands and two feuding teams bent on ruling both land and sea.

The third generation introduced several changes that still shape the series today. Chief among them are Abilities — passive traits that fundamentally alter how Pokémon behave in battle — and Natures, which influence stat growth and open the door to deeper breeding and competitive tuning. Double battles were added as well, turning fights into a more tactical game of pairing up your team.

Hoenn itself is a distinctive region packed with bodies of water, surfing and diving, giving exploration a different rhythm than previous generations. The battles here are so well balanced that this era became one of the most beloved among fans.

Of the three versions, Emerald is the most complete. It combines content from both Ruby and Sapphire, refines the story, and above all adds the Battle Frontier — a set of demanding combat challenges that turns the game into a paradise for anyone who wants to test their tactics to the bone.

Once again, the series was developed by Game Freak, and the third generation is now seen as an important milestone that laid the foundations for modern competitive battle mechanics. For many players, Hoenn remains a matter of the heart.

Why play it: A beloved Pokémon era with a finely tuned battle system — and in the form of Emerald with its Battle Frontier, it offers the most complete third-generation experience.