Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver on Switch 2 seems to be a matter of when, not if

Until a few months ago, I didn't believe it was possible to actually grow older Pokémon game on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 due to how often this has come up in recent years among fans, but nothing has ever been added to NSO. Enter Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen on Pokemon Day, which finally achieved what many fans, myself included, had hoped for. While it's great to have Gen 3 Kanto remakes on Switch and Switch 2, these titles have seemingly opened the floodgates, as data miners discovered that data for Pokemon Ruby, Sapphireand Emerald on Switch was available. Now, Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver should be next.

Don't get me wrong, I love my time with PokopiaGen 3 Kanto remakes, and Pokemon championand knowing that Gen 3 games will also be released on Switch at some point makes me happy. But I also think if there was ever a good time to re-release Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver for modern systems it would be now. Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver are very iconic games, after a whopping 16 years, and I think it's time for them to come to Switch and Switch 2.

Why Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver are prime candidates for Switch ports

There are a few reasons why I think so Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver should be next in line for the Switch and Switch 2 ports after Ruby, Sapphireand Emerald. These are:

• Pokemon FireRed sold out Leaf green on Switch and Switch 2, and both were consistently in the top three spots in the Best Sellers section of the Nintendo eShop for weeks after their release. Their low price tag certainly helped, but there's no reason not to do the same with other games.

• The latest leaks suggest that all Pokémon games currently being produced are new releases, not remakes. Among them is a new one Pokemon Legends game set in Galar, if leaks are to be believed. Many fans wanted a new Johto game even earlier Pokemon Legends: ZA come out, let alone now.

• There were theories about it Pokémon Johto remakes were supposed to be released sometime during Gen 9's era, but this never happened. As of now, the latest Johto games in the series Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilverwhich came out way back in 2010.

If there are none Pokémon remakes in Gen 10 and next Pokemon Legends game takes place in Galar, it may be another five years or more before the next game allows fans to return to Johto. As such, Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver being ported to Switch and Switch 2 could be a win-win: fans would finally be able to go back to Johto, and there would be even more Pokémon games on modern Nintendo consoles to make it easier to catch them all.

It would be a good deal for The Pokemon Company as well, given the sales of Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen. Not only that, but reissue Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver on Switch would have another pretty big bright side. Pokemon winds and waves will be released in late 2027, according to the latest leaks, which could mean some major releases for a long time.

Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver can be good for Gen 10 plans

Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver could fill that void for both The Pokemon Company and fans. To be honest, I'd rather have new mainline games with longer development times if older titles are re-released in the meantime, and I think that would be healthier for everyone.

The only scenario where you don't let go Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver for modern consoles may be preferable to The Pokemon Company is about the leaked multi-region Pokémon MMO that lets players explore all Japanese-inspired regions is coming out sooner than you might think. If so, this game, assuming it's actually made, would revisit Johto, and it would most likely generate quite a bit of hype when it's revealed. However, as this is leaked to be in pre-production at the moment, it may be a release too long after 2030, and at that point it may still be beneficial to re-release Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver meanwhile as a hype catalyst.