Pokémon Heart & Soul Is The Perfect Pokémon Game

Published Jul 30, 2026, 6:30 AM EDT Known as 'Cyberpunk 2077's' biggest fan, Angharad is a Welsh games writer who thrives in anything related to digital storytelling. If a video game explores the intricacies and horrors of womanhood, she is there. Thanks to previous work at GAMINGbible, GameByte, The Loadout, Game Luster, Angharad has built a strong understanding of both the digital world and what fans want from it and is eager to share her thoughts and expertise with readers. We may be approaching Generation 10 of the Pokémon saga, but with many fans still reminiscing about some of the more classic generations, it is no wonder that many recent ROM hacks take us back to those beloved days. That is the case for Pokémon Heart & Soul, a ROM hack that brings back the iconic region of Johto, all whilst blending the best features of both Gen 2 and Gen 4. "Not only is Heart & Soul (HnS) a first-of-its-kind, fully completed, playtested, and largely faithful GSC remake/HGSS demake, it's also completely open source, and is intended to be a base for a new generation of Johto ROM hacks," its user shared over on r/PokemonROMhacks. Pokémon Heart & Soul Is A "Love Letter" To Gen 2 Game Freak Featuring Pokémon from some of the earlier generations, including their evolutions, Pokémon Heart & Soul welcomes a full Johto story, as well as the chance to travel to Kanto post-game. Taking the Generation 2 Johto region story and rebuilding it using a Modern Emerald decompilation engine is no easy task, but one that this creator has managed. As such, players can expect hours of brand-new content, including 16 Gym Leaders, two safari zones, and a revamped pull system, which will make gambling on some of your favorite Pokémon that little bit more challenging. Not only that, but with its developer encouraging others to expand on their ROM hack by making it open source, it is clear that this project will continue to grow, which seems to be for the best considering one user over on r/PokemonROMhacks said it was "my favorite way to play Gen 2 now." "Man, oh man, did I have a fun time with this ROM hack," they shared. "Might be my favorite way to play Gen 2 now. For those that are interested, Pokémon Silver was my first ever Pokémon game growing up, so Gen 2 has a very special place in my heart. I've had a hard time getting into the current gen games, but have really appreciated it when modders remake the older Gens with updated QoL from the current gens. Special thanks to the creator u/Desperate-Low784. The fact that you essentially remade the ENTIRE game from Emerald really shows your passion and drive to make a quality product." You Can Download And Play Heart & Soul Now Game Freak Available to download now for absolutely free, Pokémon Heart & Soul is a love letter to the early days of Pokémon. As such, other fans soon took to the Reddit thread to share their own thoughts on this exciting project. "Playing it right now and it's amazingly good. Might even be the best way to play Johto," one comment read. "The best feature is the surfing sprites, though, I was grinning ear to ear when I jumped into water and saw I was floating on Quagsire's back." Another said, "Might be my favorite Johto-based hack period. It truly feels like it was supposed to have come out right after Fire Red/Leaf Green." So, if you are a fan of the classics, and want a brand-new project to dive into whilst waiting for Pokémon Winds and Waves, it seems as though Pokémon Heart & Soul may just be the way forward. Released May 1, 2005 ESRB E For Everyone Developer(s) Game Freak Publisher(s) The Pokemon Company, Nintendo Multiplayer Local Multiplayer Franchise Pokemon