Pokémon SoulGold Gives Players An Expanded Johto Region

Published Jul 27, 2026, 12:00 PM EDT James is a gaming writer from London who has spent thousands of hours exploring titles from every genre. Though he has a particular affinity for multiplayer titles like World of Warcraft, Destiny 2 and League of Legends, he has also put thousands of hours into single-player experiences, from deep RPGs to epic PC strategies. When he's not playing or writing, he can usually be found supporting his beloved Brentford FC. There's no doubt that the Pokémon franchise is as popular as it has ever been, with tons of different ways for fans and players to get involved in the fun. One way, of course, is the myriad video games now on offer, which cover all kinds of different bases since the original releases dropped all the way back in 1996. Your own favorites will likely come down to which ones you played growing up, but there is generally a consensus on which ones are very good, and which ones don't quite hit the heights. Of those, Emerald is still very much appreciated by the community, and if you do plan on playing it again any time soon, there's a fan version that you should probably be aware of. Twitter: Gohan's Tips Over on Twitter/X, the user Gohan's Tips shared a post detailing the release of ROM hack Pokémon SoulGold, a Johto-focused expansion of Pokémon Emerald. That's already a compelling enough premise, but there are plenty of other reasons to give it a go before you decide on another version of the game. In sharing their approach to the release, and what fans can expect from it, developer RahTak shared the following insight: "It is a Johto-focused expansion hack based on an unofficial expansion port of Heart and Soul. It delivers a traditional Pokémon adventure through an expanded Johto region featuring fresh tile sets, boss battles, multi-ability post-game mechanics, battle facilities, and extensive quality-of-life updates." So what does that all mean specifically? There are now boss fights with Legendary Pokémon with multiple health bars, with a guaranteed catch using any ball once it is defeated. There's also a significant post-game where you can learn new abilities, as well as nine starters to choose from and new Mega Evolutions for Typhlosion, Meowscarada, and Primarina. At the same time, all Mega Evolutions are available, with megastones turned into type-generic stones, and battle facilities with Pokémon from all generations. Very excitingly, there is also a brand new achievement system, with over 100 trophies to chase, complete with milestone rewards. As you would expect from a game of this type, it's also totally free to download. You'll just need to make sure you have a legitimate copy of the game at home to keep everything above board. It's also a great bet for a fun time while we wait to hear more about Pokémon Winds and Waves, with news expected on that later this year. Released 2027 Developer(s) Game Freak Publisher(s) The Pokemon Company, Nintendo Multiplayer Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer Prequel(s) Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Franchise Pokemon Number of Players Single-player