About a month ago, driven by a wave of nostalgia, I decided to unearth my collection of classic Pokémon games and revisit them one by one. Spreading out cartridges for Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, and 3DS, a powerful sense of reminiscence washed over me as I powered them up, reconnecting with digital companions from years past. These games were like miniature time capsules, transporting me back to specific periods and places in my life.
Image alt text: Nostalgic Pokemon Emerald box art, a classic GBA title that represents the golden age of handheld online Pokemon experiences.
There was Pokémon Emerald (2005), a game synonymous with my post-college days and deep dive into competitive Pokémon battling, even in its early online forms. Pokémon Platinum (2008), one of the first titles I reviewed as a gaming journalist, marking my entry into covering the world of online gaming communities surrounding Pokémon. And Pokémon Ultra Sun (2017), initially feeling like a slight disappointment but now, as the last game to feature every Pokémon, stands as a poignant reminder of the classic, comprehensive Pokémon experience before online features fully matured.
My reflective mood resurfaced after the recent Pokémon Direct, which many hoped would herald the return of the original Game Boy Pokémon games to modern online platforms. Instead, the focus remained largely on Scarlet and Violet‘s expansions and the intriguing Pokémon Sleep. Yet, the enduring appeal of online connectivity with classic Pokémon experiences persists, offering a compelling antidote to any lingering dissatisfaction from newer titles’ technical shortcomings.
Connecting to Pokémon’s Legacy Online
The enduring fascination with online Pokémon experiences became especially evident with the re-release of Pokémon Red and Blue on the Nintendo 3DS. This watershed moment made the original games accessible to a new generation online, bridging the gap across platforms. Crucially, it linked these classics to newer generations through Pokémon Home, establishing a crucial online continuity. This was significant because the original Game Boy titles had been effectively disconnected from the main series’ evolving online ecosystem since Ruby and Sapphire.
Before their 2016 re-release on the 3DS eShop, I viewed the original Game Boy games as nostalgic relics, somewhat disconnected from the ongoing online narrative of the franchise. Pokémon, in many ways, has subtly functioned as a live-service game from its inception, with each generation acting like an expansion in online multiplayer worlds like Destiny or World of Warcraft. My Sword and Shield team included a Hydreigon caught in Pokémon Black and a Sceptile raised in Pokémon Emerald, showcasing a unique online continuity that transcended individual game releases. This interconnectedness is a key reason why “Dexit” was such a disruptive moment for the community – it fractured that cherished sense of online continuity that had defined the series for so long.
Image alt text: Pokemon Red and Blue icons on the Nintendo 3DS home screen, representing the re-emergence of classic online-compatible Pokemon games on modern handhelds.
The original games now serve as a vital anchor in an increasingly expansive and interconnected online Pokémon universe.
With their re-integration into the mainline series’ online ecosystem, I experienced the original Pokémon generation with fresh eyes, appreciating their classic charm in a new online context. The graphics, once considered dated, now possessed a retro style thanks to Ken Sugimori’s iconic art. Blue’s snide remarks became endearing, especially compared to later, more uniformly friendly rivals (though Hop from Sword and Shield remains a personal favorite for his earnest efforts). And importantly, the Pokémon I caught could now be transferred and used in online battles and trades across different games.
As time progresses, these original games increasingly feel like a foundational anchor for a series that has expanded into a vast online world. Disenchanted with newer installments, many veteran fans are turning to classics like Pokémon Fire Red and Heart Gold, frequently broadcasting their playthroughs on platforms like Twitch, showcasing the enduring appeal of retro online Pokémon experiences. Randomizers and other alternative playstyles are more popular than ever, fostering a diverse online community around these older games. It’s a testament to a larger, thriving ecosystem where long-time fans express their passion for the series through shared online experiences.
However, the looming closure of the Nintendo 3DS eShop presents a significant challenge. Once it goes offline, a substantial portion of Pokémon games, including many that facilitated early online interactions, will become commercially unavailable, making a considerable segment of Pokémon’s online culture and history difficult, if not impossible, to access officially.
Preserving a Rich Online Legacy
Therefore, it is imperative for Pokémon’s developers to prioritize preserving the franchise’s rich history within Nintendo Switch Online, ideally with continued Pokémon Home support. NSO’s recent addition of Game Boy Advance games is particularly encouraging, as the GBA era gave us some of the most beloved Pokémon titles, such as Pokémon Emerald and its renowned Battle Frontier, which while not directly online in its original form, has inspired countless online competitive communities. With Game Boy and GBA games on Nintendo Switch Online, the platform would host six out of nine Pokémon generations, offering a comprehensive online retro Pokémon library.
Could this also include Game Boy Connectivity support on Pokémon Stadium 1? While seemingly improbable, the recent removal of a disclaimer regarding Pokémon transfer limitations in Stadium has ignited speculation among fans. Perhaps online connectivity for these classic stadium battles is not entirely out of reach.
Image alt text: Pokemon Stadium game cartridge, a title that pioneered online-adjacent Pokemon battles on home consoles and fostered early online community discussions.
The wholesome, interconnected ecosystem that underpins Pokémon’s success is at risk of becoming largely inaccessible online due to these preservation challenges. More importantly, the initial three generations of Pokémon offer unique and wonderful experiences in their own right, experiences that have shaped the online Pokémon landscape we know today. Now is the perfect time for a new generation to discover why these games are timeless classics and to explore the rich online communities built around them, both past and present.
Kat Bailey is a Director, News at IGN as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat.
Related reads:Nintendo Switch Games May Require Memory Cards to Experience All Content
