Legacy Games, Modern Expectations
Boy, what a week it’s been. I’ve been in the midterm trenches, and as much as I’d love to believe that weekends are the perfect time to chip away at my gaming backlog, this one might still belong to school.
It hasn’t been a quiet week for Nintendo either. The Pokémon Company recently announced that Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen are releasing on Pokémon Day, February 27, 2026, and I genuinely cannot wait to revisit Kanto on the Nintendo Switch. In my view, FireRed and LeafGreen remain the definitive way to experience Kanto, refining the originals while preserving what made them special, and I’m thrilled they’re becoming more accessible at a reasonable price. Preorders are already live on the Nintendo eShop.
Ready to Jump Back Into Kanto?
Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen are available digitally for $19.99 each. If you’re planning to pick up one (or both), you can grab Nintendo eShop credit below and preload instantly.
Please note that some external links on this page are affiliate links, which means if you click them and make a purchase we may receive a small percentage of the sale.
I’ve said it before in other articles, but FireRed and LeafGreen becoming accessible again is a big deal. Nostalgia aside, having a legitimate way to purchase and play these games in 2026 matters in a way that goes beyond sentiment. Authentic cartridges are increasingly difficult to find, and if you do track one down, you can expect to pay hundreds of dollars for a clean copy. By addressing that friction point, Nintendo is making longtime players feel heard, and it sets the stage for future ports of titles like Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald as well.
I know I’ll be enjoying FireRed and LeafGreen while I patiently wait for Pokémon Pokopia in March. I’ve got to find some way to satisfy that Pokémon itch. If you’re jumping in, who are you choosing as your starter? I’m planning a Shiny Badge Quest in FireRed, and I’m genuinely torn between Bulbasaur and Charmander.
On another front, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition on the Nintendo Switch 2 received a patch this week enabling 60 FPS gameplay. Longtime readers know I’ve been slowly working through Skyrim in my spare time, tackling a game that has lingered in my backlog for years. I’ve never actually finished it, and I would really like to change that, ideally before more Bethesda titles arrive on the platform.
With Skyrim now running at 60 FPS, I’m cautiously optimistic that titles like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle could follow suit. I’m not going to claim that every game must run at 60 FPS, but I do believe players should have options. If the hardware can support both a performance mode and a visual fidelity mode, then giving players that choice feels right.
So, what’s on your gaming backlog, and what are you hoping to finally cross off this weekend?
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.
