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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →The main Pokémon games set in Hoenn are Pokémon Ruby, Pokémon Sapphire, Pokémon Emerald, Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire. Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald were released for Game Boy Advance; Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire are Nintendo 3DS-family remakes. The best choice depends on whether you want the original paired versions, Emerald’s Battle Frontier, or the remakes’ updated presentation and added features.
Which Pokémon games are set in Hoenn?
Hoenn’s principal main-series releases fall into three groups: the original pair, a separate expanded version, and a pair of remakes. The Pokémon Company’s official Ruby and Sapphire overview describes the original Game Boy Advance adventure, while its Emerald page covers the expanded version. Nintendo’s Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire launch announcement identifies the 3DS remakes.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Pokemon Emerald Version (Renewed) | $348.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Pokemon Brilliant Diamond - Nintendo Switch Brilliant Diamond Edition | $58.28 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Pokémon Legends: Arceus - US Version | $54.25 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee! - Nintendo Switch | $53.87 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Pokemon Shining Pearl - For Nintendo Switch | $49.85 | Buy on Amazon |
| Release | Platform | What sets it apart |
|---|---|---|
| Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire | Game Boy Advance | Paired versions set in Hoenn, with different villainous-team stories and Pokémon availability. |
| Pokémon Emerald | Game Boy Advance | A separate version with both Team Magma and Team Aqua in the story and the Battle Frontier. |
| Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire | Nintendo 3DS / 2DS family | Remakes based on Ruby and Sapphire, with enhanced graphics and additional features. |
This guide covers those five named versions, not every spin-off or other Pokémon game that features Hoenn.
How Ruby and Sapphire differ
Ruby and Sapphire share Hoenn and the broad adventure, but the opposing team and legendary Pokémon at the center of each version differ. In Ruby, Team Magma seeks to expand the land and pursues Groudon. In Sapphire, Team Aqua seeks to expand the sea and pursues Kyogre. The versions also differ in which Pokémon appear, so version choice affects more than the title screen.
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- This renewed game will not come with the original case or manual; cartridge only. It has been cleaned, tested, and is in nice condition.
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The official overview highlights features introduced with these Game Boy Advance releases, including Pokémon Abilities, Double Battles, Pokémon Contests and Secret Bases. It also describes the pair as the series’ first Game Boy Advance software. The Japanese release date for both games was 21 November 2002; that date is specific to Japan, not a worldwide launch date.
What Emerald adds
Pokémon Emerald is a separate Game Boy Advance version based on the Ruby and Sapphire story, not a remake. Its expanded plot brings both Team Magma and Team Aqua into the conflict, with Groudon and Kyogre drawn into the same crisis.
Rank #2
- Revisit the Sinnoh region from the original Pokémon Diamond Version game and set off to try and become the Champion of the Pokémon League
- The Pokémon Brilliant Diamond game brings new life to this remade classic with added features
- Explore the Grand Underground to dig up items and Pokémon Fossils, build a Secret Base, and more.
- Test your style and rhythm in a Super Contest Show
- A reimagined adventure, now for the Nintendo Switch system
Its signature post-story challenge is the Battle Frontier, a group of seven facilities that test different battle skills. For players who want an extra combat-focused challenge in the original GBA style, Emerald is the distinct option among the three original releases. The Pokémon Company lists its Japanese release date as 16 September 2004.
What Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire add
Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire are Nintendo 3DS-family remakes based on the original pair. Nintendo describes enhanced graphics and added content. The highlighted features include Mega Evolutions, Primal Reversions for Groudon and Kyogre, the ability to soar around Hoenn, Pokémon-Amie, Pokémon Contest Spectaculars and Super-Secret Bases. These are features of the remakes; they should not be mistaken for a list of features exclusive to them across the entire Pokémon series.
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- Action meets RPG in this new take on the Pokémon series
- Study Pokémon behaviors, sneak up on them, and toss a well-aimed Poké Ball to catch them
- Unleash moves in the speedy agile style or the powerful strong style in battles
- Travel to the Hisui region—the Sinnoh of old—and build the region’s first Pokédex
- Learn about the Mythical Pokémon Arceus, the key to this mysterious tale
The version emphasis follows the original pairing: Omega Ruby foregrounds Team Magma, while Alpha Sapphire foregrounds Team Aqua. Nintendo Japan lists the remakes’ release date as 21 November 2014. For a regional example, Nintendo UK lists Alpha Sapphire as released on 28 November 2014, illustrating why a precise launch date should be labeled by market.
Which Hoenn release should you choose?
| If you want… | Consider… | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The original paired GBA adventure | Ruby or Sapphire | They share the region but differ in the villainous team story and Pokémon availability. |
| Both villainous teams and a dedicated extra battle challenge | Emerald | It brings Team Magma and Team Aqua into one expanded story and adds the seven-facility Battle Frontier. |
| A 3DS-family version with updated graphics and newer features | Omega Ruby or Alpha Sapphire | They remake the paired games and add features such as Mega Evolution, Primal Reversion and soaring. |
For a quick version-story decision, choose the Magma-focused Ruby or Omega Ruby, or the Aqua-focused Sapphire or Alpha Sapphire. Emerald instead features both teams.
Rank #4
- Don the role of a Pokémon Trainer as you travel through Kanto
- Discover a new species of Pokémon with the Pokémon Lets Go series
- Catch Pokémon in the wild using a gentle throwing motion with either a Joy-Con controller or a Poké Ball Plus accessory, which will light up, vibrate, and make sounds to bring your adventure to life
- See the world in style by customizing Pikachu and your Trainer with a selection of outfits
- Connect to Pokémon GO* to transfer caught Kanto-region Pokémon, including Alolan and Shiny forms, as well as the newly discovered Pokémon, Meltan, from that game to this one
Can you buy or use the 3DS remakes digitally today?
Nintendo says purchases on the Nintendo 3DS-family eShop ended on 27 March 2023. That is the end of new digital purchases through that store; it is separate from the later end of certain online services. Nintendo’s Japanese 3DS service notice says internet-based exchange and friend voice chat ended on 9 April 2024. These notices describe different service changes, not the same shutdown. Physical-copy availability and condition vary by seller and listing.
For older Game Boy Advance releases, access likewise depends on having a compatible game and hardware; the titles in this guide were released for GBA, not as modern releases. Check the specific device, cartridge and seller listing before buying a used copy.
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- Journey to the Sinnoh region in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl!
- Embark on an adventure through the Sinnoh region with Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl on Nintendo Switch, coming on 19th November, 2021!
- Adventures in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl will take place in the Sinnoh region. Rich in nature and with towering Mount Coronet at its heart, Sinnoh is a land of many myths passed down through the ages. You’ll visit many different locations in the Sinnoh region, while striving to become the Champion of the Pokémon League.
- The original story has been faithfully reproduced, and the sense of scale in the originals’ towns and routes has been carefully preserved. People who played Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl can revisit familiar places and relive familiar scenes once more. For those setting out through Sinnoh for the first time, plenty of new encounters and surprises await.
- These remakes include easy-to-understand, player-friendly conveniences of the modern Pokémon series, plus up-close-and-personal Pokémon battle scenes.
Release dates and sales context
Release dates vary by region, so avoid treating a Japanese or UK date as the global date. The dates established here are Japan’s 21 November 2002 for Ruby and Sapphire, Japan’s 16 September 2004 for Emerald, Japan’s 21 November 2014 for Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, and the UK’s 28 November 2014 for Alpha Sapphire.
Nintendo’s six-month results report for the period ending 30 September 2004 said Ruby and Sapphire had sold more than 13 million units worldwide by that reporting period. This is a historical sales figure reported in 2004, not a current lifetime total.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
