Pokémon Fans Point Out Biggest Difference Between FireRed and LeafGreen

Pokémon fans are amping up for the surprise release of LeafGreen & FireRed, but picking a version can be a challenge. Thankfully, players have stepped up to point out the most important differences between the two games.

When Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen were released in January 2004, they updated the original Red & Green games for the Game Boy. Dropping in Gen III, they got a big update to graphics and large expansions to the storyline.

Additionally, like so many Pokémon games, FireRed & LeafGreen have differences in gameplay, cosmetics, and Pokedex options. This means that picking the wrong version could lock you out of obtaining specific options.

To help players ensure they grab the right version ahead of the February 27, 2026, launch date, fans have taken to social media, sharing key differences.

Fans List Version-Exclusive Pokémon in FireRed & LeafGreen

In a social media post shared by Light, the Pokémon content creator reminds fans that the version they pick will directly impact what they have access to as far as wild encounters throughout Kanto. Some of these version exclusives will be a make-or-break for players.

As shared by Light and confirmed on Serebii.net, below are the version exclusives for each version:

FireRed

• Ekans
• Arbok
• Oddish
• Gloom
• Vileplume
• Bellossom
• Psyduck
• Golduck
• Growlithe
• Arcanine
• Shellder
• Cloyster
• Electabuzz
• Elekid
• Scyther
• Scizor
• Wooper
• Quagsire
• Murkrow
• Qwilfish
• Delibird
• Skarmory
• Deoxys (Attack Form)

LeafGreen

• Sandshrew
• Sandslash
• Vulpix
• Ninetails
• Bellsprout
• Weepinbell
• Victreebel
• Slowpoke
• Slowbro
• Slowking
• Staryu
• Magmar
• Magby
• Pinsir
• Azurill
• Marill
• Azumarill
• Misdreavus
• Sneasel
• Remoriad
• Octillery
• Mantine
• Deoxys (Defense Form)

It is particularly important for players to pay attention to which version they buy when selecting between Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen because it hasn’t been explained how players will trade between versions to get missing Pokedex entries. Thankfully, players won’t need to worry about finishing the dex, as there is no Shiny Charm in FireRed & LeafGreen.

Despite this, knowing which Pokémon are available in each game will be critical to selecting, especially if trading is never made available in the ported Game Boy Advance games.