Pokémon Leaf Green and Fire Red are officially coming to Nintendo Switch

It's official, Nintendo and Game Freak are finally bringing back Pokémon Leaf Green and Fire Red. However, unlike the majority of other classic game re-releases on the Switch, these titles will not be part of the Switch Online virtual console system and will instead be sold as standalone games on the eShop. 

Pokémon Leaf Green and Fire Red return next week, on the 27th of February for the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. Before you get too excited, this is a simple re-release, with no graphical upgrades or Quality-of-Life updates, so you will be re-living the GameBoy Advanced experience, the same as it was over 20 years ago.

The games will both be made available on the Switch eShop at 2PM next Friday. Pre-orders are already live, but you'll have to shell out $19.99 for each game. On top of that, there is no confirmed online multiplayer functionality for trades or battles, so you will have to rely on local wireless in order to make trades or battle friends.

Considering how legendary both of these games are, it is a shame to see a lack of online functionality in particular, as it would make filling the Pokedex a lot easier for players. The price tag is also somewhat questionable given that this is a simple ROM of a game from 2004, with minimal work done to update it.

KitGuru Says: As much as I loved these games back in the day, the lack of online trade functionality is off-putting. Fans may be able to get around this if the games support Pokémon Home transfers, but I would still far prefer seeing online trade functionality in-game, rather than needing to mess around with phone apps. 

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