Pokémon HeartGold is basically the Gold/Silver remakes we all wanted—but better. You start in New Bark Town (classic), pick your starter (Cyndaquil forever), and immediately notice your Pokémon actually follows you around like a little buddy. That alone makes it feel way more personal than older games.

Johto’s got this cozy vibe—small towns, weirdly tall grass, and trainers who still say dumb stuff like "I like shorts!" But don’t sleep on it; the gym leaders hit harder than you’d expect, especially Whitney’s Miltank (seriously, that thing’s a nightmare).

Oh, and after you beat the Elite Four? Kanto opens up. Yeah, the whole first-gen region. It’s like getting two games in one, just with way better sprites and smoother battles. If you’ve got a DS and any nostalgia for Pokémon, this is the one to play.