Original vs remake vs hack
Should You Play Pokémon Gold or HeartGold?
Pokémon Gold is the 1999 Game Boy Color original. HeartGold is Nintendo’s DS remake. SoulGold is a separate fan GBA hack.
If you mean official games
Play Gold if you want the original Game Boy Color release. Play HeartGold (or SoulSilver) if you want Nintendo’s DS remake with following Pokémon, the Pokéathlon, and the updated Johto/Kanto structure described on Bulbapedia.
If you meant this hack
Pokémon SoulGold does not replace Gold or HeartGold. It is an Emerald-based Johto expansion with its own FAQ, nine starters, and no Kanto. Start at the download page only after you know you want the hack, not the official cartridge.
Quick choice guide
| Game | Platform | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Pokémon Gold | Game Boy Color | The original Johto adventure and its period-era mechanics |
| Pokémon HeartGold | Nintendo DS | A first-party remake with updated systems and the Johto/Kanto journey |
| Pokémon SoulGold | GBA emulator or hardware | A fan-made, Emerald-based Johto expansion with nine starters and Mega Evolutions |
Side by side
| Gold | HeartGold | SoulGold | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Released | 1999 (Japan), 2000–2001 elsewhere | 2009 (Japan), 2010 elsewhere | 2026 fan hack, v1.2 on 2026-10-03 |
| Made by | Game Freak / Nintendo | Game Freak / Nintendo | rahtak (fan project) |
| Regions | Johto, then Kanto | Johto, then Kanto | Expanded Johto only |
| Pokémon | 251 | Generations 1–4 | All generations, regional forms, Paradox Pokémon |
| Starters | 3 | 3 | 9, plus Gachapon for the rest |
| Mechanics | Gen 2: no abilities, no natures | Gen 4: abilities, natures, physical/special split | Modern expansion mechanics, Megas, innates |
| Difficulty | Fixed | Fixed | Hard mode and optional level caps |
| How to get it | Original cartridge or official re-release | DS cartridge | Free Hackdex patch on your own Emerald ROM |
Which order to play them in
- New to Johto: start with HeartGold or SoulSilver. They are the most complete official version of the region, with Kanto included.
- Nostalgia or a challenge run: Gold, which is short and quick to finish compared with modern games.
- Already finished an official Johto game: SoulGold. It keeps the Johto story beats and adds modern Pokémon, Megas, Hidden Grottos, and a large postgame.
What to compare before downloading
Gold and HeartGold are official Nintendo releases; SoulGold is an unofficial patch distributed through Hackdex. They are not interchangeable ROMs, saves, or platforms. If your search is about the official remake pair, use the HeartGold vs SoulSilver comparison. If you specifically want the fan hack, read the SoulGold FAQ and patch instructions first.