Why 2026 is the Best Time to Play Old Pokémon Games

2026 marks 30 years of Pokémon and in the absence of a new mainline set of RPGs there has never been a better time to look back to one of the most well regarded eras of the series: the Pokémon titles for Game Boy Advance. Whether it’s the Switch and Switch 2 release of FireRed and LeafGreen, rumored releases of Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, or your original cartridges, classic Pokémon should be on your radar in 2026. For new and old fans, here’s why you should play an old Pokémon game over any modern title for the series’ 30th anniversary.