Three classic Pokemon games are now playable on Android with this unofficial port

Published Jul 30, 2026, 9:34 AM EDT I've been covering Android and other mobile technology for close to ten years now, with a specific interest in phone accessories, e-readers, and what makes each individual phone different from another. I delight in looking at the phone market from as many angles as possible, and while my opinions may be odd, at times, they're always from the heart as much as the head. I have a background in the mobile accessories world, which explains my odd enthusiasm for cases and things that clip onto smartphones. I worked for Digital Trends from 2017 to 2025. Sign in to your Android Police account Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow are now playable on Android, thanks to an unofficial port available on Github. Using Gen1Recomp, you can play any of the three first Pokémon games natively on Android, and it even adds the ability to easily mod the games to add 3D visuals and other changes. An emulation classic can now run natively But it might not last long Credit: Android Authority The Pokémon games are some of the first games anyone tries when first getting into emulating older game systems, and there are a few reasons for that. One, they're extremely low-demand, and can run on almost any modern tech. Two, they're a big part of many people's childhoods and serve as a big dollop of nostalgia. And three, they're just really darn good. It was only a matter of time before someone did the necessary work to make the three oldest Pokémon games playable without the need for an emulator — and that's exactly what bryanthaboi has offered with Gen1Recomp. The game is available to download for Windows, MacOS, Linux, and yes, Android. You'll also need a ROM file from one of the three games in order to extract the graphics and game data, but precious little else is needed to get the game working. All you do is install the APK on your phone, select the ROM file using the game's file browser, and it's ready to roll. You can play it just as it was originally intended, but if you're looking for something a little more novel, then Gen1Recomp has you covered too. Credit: Android Authority Thanks to a built-in mod manager, you can download zipped mod files and install them without the usual faff that modding a ROM would entail. For instance, our compatriots at Android Authority are using a mod that adds 3D voxel-style graphics to the game. But there's a word of caution in this tale: Nintendo is always watching for things like this. Nintendo's lawyers are notoriously litigious, and won't hesitate to go after projects like this. So the sad truth is that this project may not be long for this world. So download it while you can, as long as you have a legally obtained ROM file.