This Is the Best Way to Play Older Pokémon Games

The appeal of older Pokémon games, released on the Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance, is hard to deny. However, it’s not uncommon for longtime fans to feel put off due to the limitations of the technology of that time. While they may seem very different from modern Pokémon games, some modern rule sets can make them a lot more fun.

Older Pokémon Games Feel a Bit Dated

The hardware of the first Pokémon games had weak processing power and could only display a small range of colors. This led to simpler graphics and a world that was less exciting to look at, and affected how Pokémon moves were shown.

Strong moves like Earthquake, which could hit all Pokémon in battle, were represented by basic animations lacking the detail and impact of newer games. Some people may spend time playing retro games, but it feels like the grind of old school Pokémon is a waste of time sometimes.

These limitations were made worse by the games’ slower speed. Unlike newer games that let players run or move faster, older games only allowed walking, which made traveling across large maps take much longer. There was also no experience-sharing feature, meaning leveling up a full team required a lot of grinding through wild Pokémon battles, which could feel very tedious.

The battle system in older Pokémon games was strategic but much simpler than what we see today. Type advantages were extremely important, often deciding who won or lost, and there were fewer ways to use deeper strategies beyond just using the right elemental weaknesses. Overall, battles were more straightforward, with fewer chances for complex planning.

Going back to older games can feel like a chore due to all these constraints. It’s not as fun just to sit there and use the strongest attack to take on every enemy. However, it can be a lot more fun when you look at the modern rules that have been added to games and ROMs made to support those rule sets.

So if you’re having trouble playing the older games because of the dated technology, you should use a modern ruleset. In fact, playing with something like Nuzlocke rules is a lot more fun than the regular game.

Playing With Nuzlocke Rules Is Actually Really Fun

The Nuzlocke challenge is a set of self-imposed rules for playing Pokémon games that changes the experience in big ways. Its main rules sound simple, but they get pretty difficult. Here’s a breakdown:

• Players can only catch the first wild Pokémon in each new area.
  • If you kill it by accident or are unable to catch it, then no new Pokémon for you.
  • No catching Pokémon you already have.
• If a Pokémon faints in battle, it is considered “dead” and must be released or stored away forever.
• You cannot run away from battles.
• You must give every Pokémon a personal name
• You must be at a certain level before fighting Gym leaders, and you cannot become overpowered.

This makes you much more invested in the game and your Pokémon. Trainers can no longer just try out any Pokémon they want; every battle is important and could have consequences later. Since players can only catch one Pokémon per area, they must think carefully about how to build their team, often learning to appreciate even weaker Pokémon for how they might help.

A player might initially ignore a low-level Rattata but later grow deeply attached to it, only to feel truly depressed if it dies in battle. This emotional connection gives you a bigger reason to keep playing, turning Pokémon from replaceable tools into unique team members with their own stories and personalities. Giving Pokémon nicknames makes this bond even stronger, making their wins feel more satisfying and their losses genuinely painful.

Additionally, the permadeath rule adds constant tension to every battle. Even fights against weak wild Pokémon can feel dangerous because a single mistake or unlucky critical hit could mean losing a team member forever.

Trust me when I say the last battles are the toughest and can feel movie-worthy. I once finished a run with four of my main team members dead, and I felt a certain kind of sadness that their sacrifices led to victory.

The Right Emulator Makes All the Difference

Emulation gives an easy and convenient way to play older Pokémon games again, but picking the right emulator makes a big difference in how reliable the experience is. Picking a bad emulator or hacked ROM could lead to broken saved games.

The number of emulators available depends on the platform, with Android and iOS having the most choices for Game Boy Advance games, despite rules on emulation. Free GBA emulators, easily found on app stores like Google Play, offer a simple but usable way to play ROMs.

For a solid free option, take a look at multi-system emulator RetroArch. I use My Boy!, but you can use My Boy! Lite to get the basic features like loading ROMs and playing the game, often with a turbo button to speed things up. However, free versions usually come with restrictions. These might include annoying ads that pop up during gameplay, a limited number of save slots (sometimes only one), and caps on features like fast-forwarding speeds.

While My Boy! is a popular choice for GBA emulation, other options like John GBA Lite have similar features with small differences in design and functionality.

Still, to better educate you, I would say that plenty of ROMs on the internet are made for challenges like a Nuzlocke. There are a few options, and some of them are really strict. If you’re taking that route, I’d suggest preferring the lighter ones that just stop you from leveling up too much.

That way, you don’t have to search for guides to see what level you should be for different areas to keep it fair. I usually avoid those ROMs because the save data can be unreliable. It’d be a shame for progress to be ruined by a bad save.

Play Pokémon With New Rules if You’re Going to Play Them Again

Replaying older Pokémon games can be much better by trying out different ways of playing that add new challenges and strategic depth to these familiar titles. Instead of sticking to the usual playthrough, where you carefully build a well-balanced team to beat the Elite Four, try a challenge.

One well-liked option is the Monotype challenge. In this style, you limit yourself to using Pokémon of just one type. This instantly changes how teams are built, requiring a strong understanding of type matchups and the strengths and weaknesses of individual Pokémon.

Suddenly, Pokémon that are usually ignored might become crucial, and moves that were once overlooked might become important. This focus makes the game harder and helps players learn much more about what a specific type can do.

Another fun variation is the Current Gen Only challenge. This means restricting the team to Pokémon that were introduced in a single generation. For example, you might use only Generation II Pokémon while playing a Generation IV game.

For a completely unpredictable experience, you can try the Pokémon Roulette method. This involves randomly choosing the team before starting the game, using a random number generator or picking Pokémon names out of a hat.

This removes any planned team-building and puts the player in a situation where they must adapt and improvise. The random selection could give them a team of strong Pokémon or a group of seemingly weak ones.

The challenge shifts from careful preparation to making the most of whatever Pokémon are available to beat whatever obstacles come up. This unpredictable style is a lot harder than the above, and I’ve never been able to do a full run with it.

Even though they are self-imposed, these alternative ways of playing make older Pokémon games much more replayable. They bring new life to the games and make you think outside the box, explore new strategies, and gain a deeper understanding of the Pokémon battle system.