Pokémon’s 30th Anniversary Is the Perfect Time to Bring the Classics Back
As we approach Pokémon’s 30th anniversary, it feels like the perfect moment for the franchise to revisit its roots. Perhaps it’s wishful thinking, but I think it’s time for Pokémon Red, Pokémon Blue, Pokémon Yellow, Pokémon Gold, Pokémon Silver, and Pokémon Crystal to be re-released for a modern audience on the Nintendo Switch 2
Pokémon has done this before. For Pokemon’s 20th anniversary, these classic titles were made available on the Virtual Console for Nintendo 3DS, giving longtime fans a nostalgic return to Kanto and Johto while introducing a new generation to the series’ beginnings. Now that online services for the 3DS have been discontinued, those versions are effectively locked away. That makes the case stronger than ever for Pokémon to bring these games forward to the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2.
But why stop with the original Game Boy and Game Boy Color era? Several Game Boy Advance titles feel just as deserving of a modern re-release—most notably Pokémon FireRed, Pokémon LeafGreen, Pokémon Ruby, Pokémon Sapphire, and Pokémon Emerald. These games refined the classic Pokémon formula with improved visuals, expanded mechanics, and some of the most beloved regions in the series. On Nintendo Switch 2 hardware, they would feel especially at home.
I also don’t see Nintendo folding these classic Pokémon titles into the Nintendo Switch Online catalog. Historically, Pokémon has been treated differently from other retro Nintendo franchises. When the Game Boy and Game Boy Color games returned for the 20th anniversary, they were sold individually at a discounted price rather than bundled into a subscription.
If Pokémon does celebrate its 30th anniversary with
re-releases, I expect a similar approach. Game Boy and Game Boy Color titles
could reasonably launch at around $10 each, while Game Boy Advance games might
land closer to $15. It’s a strategy that respects Pokémon’s premium status
while still making these formative adventures accessible again.
For a franchise built on nostalgia, discovery, and generational hand-offs, bringing these classics back feels less like a question of if and more like when. If Pokémon does revive these early adventures, would you be excited to jump back into the series’ nostalgic roots?
About the Author
Scott (Scotty) Greenhalgh is the founder and owner of Input Lag, an independent Nintendo-focused publication. Scotty brings a player-first perspective informed by years of hands-on experience with Nintendo games to his reviews, rankings, and editorial coverage. His writing focuses on how games feel to play, their long-term value, and the impact Nintendo’s creative and business decisions have on players.
Outside of Input Lag, he also creates Pokémon-focused content online under the name Gr3atScotty.
