Play Pokémon HeartGold Version (US edition · English) Online

A simple errand for Professor Elm opens a much larger journey through Johto. After choosing Chikorita, Cyndaquil or Totodile, you explore a region of old towers, coastal towns and routes whose wild Pokémon change with the time of day. Your leading Pokémon walks beside you, making the team feel present beyond the battle screen. Catching new partners and choosing their moves prepares you for eight Gym Leaders, Team Rocket’s return and the Pokémon League. Victory there opens the way to Kanto and another set of Gyms, so building a versatile team remains useful well beyond the first championship. The touch-screen menu keeps your Bag and party close at hand, the Pokégear supplies maps and calls, and the Pokéathlon offers sporting events between battles. This is a Nintendo DS reimagining of the original Johto adventure. HeartGold brings Ho-Oh’s encounter at the Bell Tower into the main story and includes wild Growlithe and Spinarak, which SoulSilver does not offer. Lugia is still obtainable later, so the cover Pokémon changes the order of the legendary encounters rather than excluding the other entirely.