Pokémon Fire Red is basically the classic Red version but with a fresh coat of paint—better sprites, smoother gameplay, and that sweet GBA color palette. You start off in Pallet Town, pick your first Pokémon (I always go with Charmander, but hey, no judgment), and then it’s the same nostalgic trip through Kanto, just way prettier.

The Sevii Islands are new, too—extra stuff to explore after you beat the Elite Four, which is nice because the post-game in the original was kinda thin. And yeah, it’s still got that grind—leveling up your team takes time—but that’s part of the charm. If you missed out on the originals or just want to relive them without squinting at a Game Boy screen, this is the way to do it.