Pokemon FireRed vs LeafGreen is mostly a question of which Kanto Pokemon you can catch. FireRed has 22 Pokemon that LeafGreen lacks in the wild, and LeafGreen has 23 that FireRed lacks. The Gym Leaders and the story are the same in both.
Which Pokemon only one version has
!A screenshot from Pokemon FireRed
FireRed's list includes Growlithe, Scyther, Electabuzz and Skarmory. LeafGreen's includes Vulpix, Magmar, Pinsir and Mantine. Both lists mix Kanto Pokemon with later ones from Johto.
| Only in FireRed | Only in LeafGreen | |---|---| | Ekans | Sandshrew | | Arbok | Sandslash | | Oddish | Vulpix | | Gloom | Ninetales | | Vileplume | Bellsprout | | Bellossom | Weepinbell | | Psyduck | Victreebel | | Golduck | Slowpoke | | Growlithe | Slowbro | | Arcanine | Slowking | | Shellder | Staryu | | Cloyster | Starmie | | Scyther | Magmar | | Scizor | Magby | | Electabuzz | Pinsir | | Elekid | Azurill | | Wooper | Marill | | Quagsire | Azumarill | | Murkrow | Misdreavus | | Qwilfish | Sneasel | | Delibird | Remoraid | | Skarmory | Octillery | | | Mantine |
The same eight gyms in both games
!A screenshot from Pokemon LeafGreen
Brock and Misty open the run in both versions, and no Gym Leader changes between them. If you have played Red or Blue, the layout of the Kanto road will be familiar, even if the Pokemon on it are not.
The Game Corner prize and three NPC trades
!A screenshot from Pokemon FireRed
The Celadon Game Corner sells Scyther in FireRed and Pinsir in LeafGreen, so the game that has one in the wild has the other for coins. The in-game trades change as well. On Route 18 the man who offers a Lickitung wants a Golduck in FireRed and a Slowbro in LeafGreen. On Route 11 the Nidorino and Nidorina trade runs in opposite directions, and the Underground Path trade swaps the two Nidoran.
Which one should you buy?
Buy FireRed if you want Growlithe and Scyther in the wild. Buy LeafGreen if you want Vulpix and Pinsir. Both give you the same Kanto story, so choose the roster. We would take FireRed, because Scyther in the wild beats paying coins for Pinsir (the Game Corner has always taken its cut).
FireRed vs LeafGreen FAQ
Can you finish the Pokedex in one version?
No. Each game has wild Pokemon the other lacks, so you trade or play both.
Does the story change between FireRed and LeafGreen?
No. The story and the Gym Leaders are the same, and only the Pokemon you meet change.
