Two different products
Pokémon HeartGold vs SoulSilver
HeartGold and SoulSilver are Nintendo’s 2009 Nintendo DS remakes of Gold and Silver. SoulGold on this domain is a 2026 GBA ROM hack by rahtak.
HeartGold vs SoulSilver (official remakes)
Per Bulbapedia, HeartGold and SoulSilver are paired DS remakes. Version mascots are Ho-Oh (HeartGold) and Lugia (SoulSilver). Story structure is shared; version-exclusive Pokémon and the version legendary path differ. Buy those games from Nintendo if you want the official remakes.
Where SoulGold fits
Pokémon SoulGold is not SoulSilver and not a DS ROM. It is an Emerald-based GBA hack: Johto only, nine starters, Hidden Grottos, Mega Evolutions, and a Hackdex patch. Searches for “heart gold vs soul gold” often mix the remake pair with this hack’s name.
| HeartGold / SoulSilver | SoulGold (this site) | |
|---|---|---|
| Publisher | Nintendo / Game Freak | Fan hack by rahtak |
| Platform | Nintendo DS | GBA (Emerald base) |
| Kanto | Yes, in the official remakes | No (official FAQ) |
| Starters | Three Johto starters | Nine, plus Gachapon |
Also see SoulGold vs Heart & Soul and Gold vs HeartGold. To play the hack, download the official patch.