Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen set the standard for remakes of the classic Pokemon games, and after beating either one on Switch, it’s normal to want to continue that run. Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver are the next logical step, but perhaps Hoenn fans want to go straight there with Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. Figuring out the hardware isn’t the hardest step because, of all Pokemon game pairs there are, Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire are probably the most balanced of the bunch.
Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen have some clear exclusive content that help easily choose which two to pick. Pokemon HeartGold‘s exclusive Pokemon are generally better and more popular than SoulSilver, so that’s an even easier choice. But Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire‘s selection of exclusive Pokemon really represents a divide down the middle between past versions.
Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen’s Rare Exclusives Are Not Equal (And One Version is Much Better Than The Other)
Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen have two rare exclusives that are supposed to be balanced, but one is more accessible and powerful.
Playing Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire in 2026
The release of Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen on Switch is an easy enough catalyst to incentivize playing through every region. If not Johto, then Hoenn is the best next stop (or Kanto –> Johto –> Hoenn). If that wasn’t enough, Pokemon Winds and Waves is coming in 2027, and I’d bet early 2027 at that. In other words, within a year, a new generation of Pokemon could be here, and playing through all the games before then is a great way to revisit childhood nostalgia.
Of course, figuring out how to play these older games is difficult. It’s not just figuring out the hardware and/or hopefully having that Nintendo 3DS cartridge handy, but there’s a price factor. Pokemon games only get more expensive as they age, not cheaper, and the same can be said of Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire despite being younger than many classic games. Still, it’s worth noting that a datamine of Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen suggested that the OG Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald could come to Switch some day. That’s pure nostalgia and the most classic way to experience the games, but of course, Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire are great too. The biggest issue, of course, is deciding which version to play, and the exclusive Pokemon do not make it any easier.
Find all 10 pairs
Find all 10 pairs
Both Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire have 20 Pokemon unique to their respective rosters. Outside their game, the only way to obtain them is through trades, and yet, most of these Pokemon are not ones players trade forever. Perhaps you have a friend you can trade back and forth with, just to register it in the Pokedex, but saying goodbye to most of these Pokemon is impossible.
Pokemon Omega Ruby Version Exclusive Pokemon
- Seedot
- Nuzleaf
- Shiftry
- Mawile
- Zangoose
- Solrock
- Groudon
- Kabuto
- Kabutops
- Ho-Oh
- Shieldon
- Bastiodon
- Palkia
- Throh
- Archen
- Archeops
- Tornadus (Incarnate Forme)
- Reshiram
- Skrelp
- Dragalge
Pokemon Alpha Sapphire Version Exclusive Pokemon
- Lotad
- Lombre
- Ludicolo
- Sableye
- Seviper
- Lunatone
- Kyogre
- Omanyte
- Omastar
- Lugia
- Cranidos
- Rampardos
- Dialga
- Sawk
- Tirtouga
- Carracosta
- Thundurus (Incarnate Forme)
- Zekrom
- Clauncher
- Clawitzer
Why It’s Not Easy to Pick Between Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
PSA: Don’t Forget About Rayquaza When Deciding to Play Pokemon HeartGold or SoulSilver
Anyone planning to play Pokemon HeartGold or SoulSilver after FireRed and LeafGreen should keep Deoxys in mind when choosing which to play.
In general, there’s always going to be some exclusive Pokemon that come down to preference, but usually there are a few Pokemon that help establish one game over the other as better, or at least preferred. As an example, Pokemon HeartGold‘s Growlithe/Arcanine and Mankey/Primeape just clear their exclusive “counterparts” in Meowth/Persian and Vulpix/Ninetales in Pokemon SoulSilver in terms of popularity. The same cannot really be said about the pairs in Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire.
In terms of the basics, we pit the Shiftry line, Mawile, Zangoose, and Solrock against their counterparts in the Ludicolo line, Sableye, Sevipe, and Lunatone. That just comes down to preference, and it’s possible that preference swings either way. The same can pretty much be said for every exclusive Pokemon here. We have the box art legendaries, Groudon and Kyogre, but they’re older legendaries now so they don’t have as much sway as brand new box art legendaries. We have three exclusive Fossil Pokemon lines pitted against one another: Kabuto/Kabutops, Archen/Arheops, Shieldon/Bastiodon vs. Omanyte/Omastar, Tirtouga/Carrascosta, and Cranidos/Rampardos. The same boils-down-to-preference, yet the can swing-either-way approach applies there too.
Throh vs. Sawk is a nothingburger, really, and while Dragalge probably edges out Clawitzer in terms of popularity, it’s not necessarily a Pokemon that determines which version is better. Then, all the legendaries are just pairs: Ho-Oh vs. Lugia, Palkia vs. Dialga, Tornadus vs. Thundurus, and Reshiram vs. Zekrom.
When it counts, when it would really determine a “better version,” Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire are essentially a level playing field. There’s a good chance someone loves one of these Pokemon enough, just one, that determines which they play, and that’s completely fair. It’s just interesting to see how balanced this is, which is likely always the goal, but it is firmly executed here to encourage trading and social play.
Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire Sales Have Shown the Preferred, But Better is Still Hard to Say
Now, popular opinion and sales do not equate to better quality, but fans have already determined which version sells better. For whatever reason, Pokemon games with a red hue or markings, down to little icons or off-shade hues like Pink, sell worse than their counterparts. There are a few notable exceptions, like Pokemon FireRed outselling Pokemon LeafGreen, but this holds true for the most part across the franchise.
Taken from Japanese sales and extrapolated outward, Alpha Sapphire sold 1.6 million copies to Omega Ruby‘s 1.4 million, and the OG Sapphire sold 2.6 million copies to Ruby‘s 2.5 million. Now, exclusive Pokemon probably play a small role in this and the sales difference is small in the grand scheme of things, but it results in an interesting outcome.
Pokemon Alpha Sapphire is the better-selling game, but barely, while each game has strong, unique, preferential pairings. That makes it impossible to say, especially with the slight difference in sales, which Hoenn remake is better. And honestly? That’s how it should be, that should be the goal of every generation.
- Released
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November 21, 2014
- ESRB
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