Pokémon Red. Pokémon Gold. Pokémon FireRed. Pokémon Emerald. The greatest RPG franchise ever made spans Game Boy, GBC, and GBA — and every single title runs at 100% on the R36S. We tested all 20+ classic Pokémon games. Here's the complete verdict.
Lab-Tested · Gamer-Verified · Expert-Curated by the iGC Team — www.handheldgameconsoles.games
⚡ 30-Second Answer
R36S — $79.99
All generations preloaded
GB/GBC/GBA: 100%
Gen 1 through Gen 3 perfect
Save states — never lose
your Pokémon progress again
$79.99 all-in
6,860 reviews · ⭐4.69
🎮 Every Pokémon Game on R36S — All Preloaded
- Pokémon Red ✅
- Pokémon Blue ✅
- Pokémon Yellow ✅
- Pokémon Pinball ✅
- Pokémon Trading Card Game ✅
- Pokémon Gold ✅
- Pokémon Silver ✅
- Pokémon Crystal ✅
- Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire ✅
- Pokémon FireRed ✅
- Pokémon LeafGreen ✅
- Pokémon Ruby ✅
- Pokémon Sapphire ✅
- Pokémon Emerald ✅
- Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red ✅
- Dragon Warrior Monsters (GBC) ✅
- Monster Rancher (GBC) ✅
- Digimon (GBC/GBA) ✅
- Medabots (GBA) ✅
- Boktai (GBA) ✅
⭐ Why R36S is Perfect for Pokémon Gaming
Save before every legendary encounter. Soft reset without losing progress. Save before the Elite Four. Never lose your Pokémon journey to a dead battery again. Save states transform the Pokémon experience.
Hold fast forward to speed through random battles and level grinding. Train your team 3x faster than on original hardware. Pokémon grinding sessions that took hours now take minutes.
The R36S 3.5" IPS screen shows Pokémon sprites in vivid color with full backlight. Gen 1 sprites look crisp. Gen 3 GBA graphics look stunning. Far better than the original Game Boy's green LCD.
Switch from Pokémon Red to Pokémon Emerald in seconds. No cartridge swapping. No separate devices. Every Pokémon game from 1996-2004 in your pocket, all preloaded.
📊 Device Comparison for Pokémon Gaming
| Feature | R36S 🏆 | Original GBA SP | Miyoo Mini+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price (2026) | $79.99 (new) | $80-150 (used) | ~$69 |
| Gen 1 (Red/Blue/Yellow) | ✅ 100% | ⚠️ GBA only | ✅ 100% |
| Gen 2 (Gold/Silver/Crystal) | ✅ 100% | ⚠️ GBA only | ✅ 100% |
| Gen 3 (FireRed/Emerald) | ✅ 100% | ✅ 100% | ✅ 100% |
| Save States | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Fast Forward | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Pokémon Games Preloaded | ✅ All preloaded | ❌ 1 cartridge | ❌ None |
| iGC Pokémon Score | 10/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 |
📋 Step-by-Step: How to Play Pokémon on R36S
🏆 iGC Verdict: Best Handheld for Pokémon 2026
For Pokémon fans, the R36S is the definitive handheld. Every Gen 1, Gen 2, and Gen 3 Pokémon title runs at 100%. All games come preloaded. Save states mean you never lose progress. Fast forward makes grinding bearable. The IPS screen makes Pokémon sprites look better than ever. At $79.99, it's the best Pokémon gaming device available.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
The R36S at $79.99 is the best retro handheld for Pokémon in 2026. It runs all Gen 1 (Red/Blue/Yellow), Gen 2 (Gold/Silver/Crystal), and Gen 3 (FireRed/Emerald/Ruby/Sapphire) Pokémon games at 100% compatibility. All titles come preloaded with save states and fast forward support.
Yes. Pokémon FireRed, LeafGreen, Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald all run at 100% on the R36S via GBA emulation. All five Gen 3 titles come preloaded. Performance is perfect — identical to original GBA hardware.
Yes. The R36S supports save states on all Pokémon games. Press Select+R1 to save anywhere — before legendary encounters, before the Elite Four, mid-route. You can also soft reset by loading a save state if a legendary encounter goes wrong. This is a massive upgrade over original hardware.
Yes. Fast forward mode speeds up all Pokémon games. Hold the fast forward button during random battles and grinding sessions to level up 3x faster than on original hardware. This makes Pokémon grinding significantly more enjoyable.
Yes. The iGC R36S ships with Pokémon games preloaded across GB (Gen 1), GBC (Gen 2), and GBA (Gen 3) sections. No downloads or setup required. Power on, navigate to your preferred generation, and start your Pokémon journey in under 30 seconds.
