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Pokemon Emerald Version
It just would be nice for Nintendo and Game Freak to supply the other demand next time: the demand of something actually more different, or at least palpably new, for our hard earned. Let the pitchfork laden debate begin.
A fine addition to the Pokemon line-up. It is able to take everything good about Ruby and Sapphire and improve on it, both enhancing the original Ruby and Sapphire feature as well as adding new ones.
Of course, no amount of polish can change the fact that this is still a Pokémon game, and it carries the same flaws consistent to the series. It's certainly a respectable time sink, but-despite the evolutions to the core gameplay-it continues to offer extremely little to win over holdouts. However, it is an ideal starting point for new initiates to the Pokémon franchise.
10
Ivanch03
Bendita locura… es al juego que más horas he dedicado nunca… Pokémon esmeralda es todo lo que está bien en esta vida.
9
AMATRONIX
My favPokemon game all time...good map, good Pokémon's, nice lore for a child game.. The final of the story it's beautiful. The legendaries are 10/10.
10
thunderbolt73
It's the best way to play one of the best pokemon generations on one of the best nintendo consoles. You can't go wrong with this one!

Pokemon Emerald Version

Released On: 
Apr 30, 2005
Metascore
Generally Favorable
76
User score
Generally Favorable
8.8
My Score
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Metascore
Generally Favorable
68% Positive
19 Reviews
32% Mixed
9 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
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95
VGPub
A fine addition to the Pokemon line-up. It is able to take everything good about Ruby and Sapphire and improve on it, both enhancing the original Ruby and Sapphire feature as well as adding new ones.
80
GameSpy
If you've never played a Pokémon game before but have always wanted to try it, this is the version to get.
User score
Generally Favorable
86% Positive
1094 Ratings
10% Mixed
131 Ratings
4% Negative
49 Ratings
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  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
Mar 2, 2026
10
Ivanch03
Bendita locura… es al juego que más horas he dedicado nunca… Pokémon esmeralda es todo lo que está bien en esta vida.
Dec 30, 2025
10
thunderbolt73
It's the best way to play one of the best pokemon generations on one of the best nintendo consoles. You can't go wrong with this one!
80
Games Radar
Pokemon's winning concept refuses to crumble with age, and Emerald is as much fun as our old friends Red and Blue were back in 1998. [NGC Pocket]
78
Game Informer
There simply aren't enough changes to make this a must-buy. [July 2005, p.126]
75
Da Gameboyz
For those new to the series the deep RPG play will hook you for at least 30 hours or so and the on screen sights and sound get the job done.
60
Eurogamer
It just would be nice for Nintendo and Game Freak to supply the other demand next time: the demand of something actually more different, or at least palpably new, for our hard earned. Let the pitchfork laden debate begin.
See All 28 Critic Reviews
Oct 14, 2025
10
Faus251
[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]
Apr 18, 2025
7
eMTG
Pokemon emerald is my favourite pokemon ever... and the best I can say is that it is good. Not great, just good. Starting with some positives, Hoenn has one of my favourite maps in all of pokemon. The new designs are great and unique (although there are standout designs in every generation, so this isn't saying much) and the improvements from Ruby, Saphire and all the previous games are there. The gym leaders especially are improved, with Watson, Norman and Tate/Liza actually having functioning teams. This is also the hardest pokemon game I have ever played (not saying much), and while it is not for me, the battle frontier is a huge add to the region with Steven in the postgame being cool as well. That being said, there still are some problems. While this is definitely not a fair complaint due to the time it came out, the lack of a physical special split and the forced use of HMs are brutal. It leaves so many cool pokemon to the sidelines and makes the game more tedious. The movesets of the pokemon, while an improvement, are still awful, leaving pokemon like Shiftry to be completely useless. The plot is bad, with the evil teams being completely ridiculous to the point of absurdity, and Wallace as champion is a sharp downgrade from Steven. However, those are just nitpicks, and wouldn't be so bad if not for one issue. Remember how I said this is one of the hardest pokemon games? It is still far to easy for anyone not just getting into video games. It still feels like Baby's first RPG rather than an actual challenge of any capacity, and that is coming from someone bad at RPGs. Here are all the challenging pokemon in the game. Wattsons magneton (if you pick treeko and don't get any fighting/ground type), Flannery's torkoal (if you have no water or rock types), norman's slaking and linoone, all of tate and liza's pokemon, Juan's Kingdra, Glacia's Walrein, Drake's Salamence and Kingdra, and Wallace's Milotic and Ludicolo. That seems like a lot, but that is only 14 pokemon out of potential hundreds you can fight on your journey in go knows how many hours. And this is assuming you are placing any sort of restrictions on yourself, cause if your are not, that number shrinks even lower. This game just doesn't have that back and forth of struggling against a challenge and the joy of overcoming it. It only provides the latter, but without a challenge, playing the game just feels boring after a while. This game does so much well, and when compared to all other pokemon games, it has aged beautifully. But when compared to the grander scope of all games, all it can be is good. Would recommend the game if you are not an experienced gamer, but if you are, Pokemon Emerald is not the game for you.
Nov 16, 2024
7
ZAMPAGAMER
Muy buen juego de Pokémon, la **** Pokédex es bastante variada para lo que había en esa época, y la dificultad es más que aceptable. Además, destaca por su buen apartado visual, que está bastante chulo, la verdad.Aunque, para mí, hay muy pocas batallas contra el rival y los líderes de gimnasio; en su mayoría, son bastante sencillos. Además, algo que también veo como algo malo es que cambiaran a Máximo por Plubio, el cual, al ser principalmente un líder de gimnasio, tiene un equipo que se vence prácticamente con el Pokémon que le haga counter. Esto decepciona un poco, teniendo en cuenta el buen Alto Mando que lo precede. Pero, por lo general, todo está muy bien en los demás aspectos.
Feb 26, 2024
4
SnowTea
A very Non existent story, I don’t see how this game is so highly rated, but it’s the same with Pokemon games that came before this as well #SaveSoil
Aug 8, 2020
4
evelio28
[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]
See All 163 User Reviews
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SummaryThe Hoenn region is unstable -- Rayquaza has awakened! Your skills as a Trainer will be challenged like they've never been challenged before as you try to maintain the balance between Kyogre & Groudon. Prove your skills by earning badges & gaining access to Battle Frontier -- The front line of Pokémon battling that offers a whole new lev... Read More
Rated Efor Everyone
  • Game Boy Advance
Apr 30, 2005
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