What if I told you that Pokemon Red, Blue, Yellow, Gold, and Silver are now playable on the Super Nintendo? No, this isn’t an official Nintendo release or a simple emulator – it’s an impressive hardware modification that brings the classic Game Boy adventures to SNES cartridges with full trading functionality intact.
YouTube creator Jeremy from Below Average Gaming has successfully “ported” the first two generations of Pokemon games to SNES cartridges, complete with working link ports for trading. This project represents a unique solution to Pokemon’s notable absence from Nintendo’s 16-bit console, combining Super Game Boy internals with custom hardware modifications.
For years, retro gaming enthusiasts wondered why Pokemon never made its official debut on the SNES, despite the console’s technical superiority over the Game Boy. This fan project not only answers that question but demonstrates what might have been possible with Nintendo’s blessing.
Pokemon’s absence from the SNES wasn’t due to technical limitations but strategic business decisions. When Pokemon Red and Green launched in Japan in 1996, the Game Boy was Nintendo’s handheld platform of choice, and the series was designed around portable gameplay and trading between players.
The Super Game Boy, released in 1994, technically allowed Game Boy games to run on SNES, but Pokemon’s developers focused exclusively on the portable experience. By the time Pokemon became a global phenomenon in 1998-1999, Nintendo was already shifting focus to the Nintendo 64 and upcoming Game Boy Advance.
Interestingly, Nintendo did release Pokemon Stadium for N64 in 1999, which allowed players to battle with their Pokemon transferred from Game Boy cartridges. However, this was more of a companion experience rather than a true port of the main series games to home consoles.
The decision to keep Pokemon handheld-focused continued throughout the series’ history, with main entries remaining on portable platforms until recently. This makes the Below Average Gaming project particularly significant as it bridges a gap Nintendo never officially addressed.
The technical achievement behind these Pokemon SNES cartridges is nothing short of impressive. Jeremy essentially repurposes Super Game Boy hardware and components into custom SNES cartridges, creating a self-contained system that plays Pokemon games natively on the console.
The core components include modified Super Game Boy boards, custom-designed PCBs for trading functionality, and clever wiring solutions to fit everything within standard SNES cartridge dimensions. Each cartridge contains the necessary hardware to run Game Boy games while maintaining compatibility with SNES controllers and video output.
One critical technical challenge is the 2.5% speed difference between Game Boy and Super Game Boy hardware. This requires clock speed correction using modifications developed by the hardware community, ensuring games run at their intended speed without audio or gameplay issues.
The trading functionality represents another impressive feat. Jeremy designed custom link ports that connect to the cartridge’s internal hardware, allowing players to trade Pokemon between cartridges just like the original Game Boy versions. This requires additional boards and sophisticated wiring to implement the link cable protocol within SNES cartridge constraints.
Super Game Boy: A SNES accessory released by Nintendo in 1994 that allowed Game Boy cartridges to be played on the Super Nintendo, featuring color palettes and border customizations.
The project successfully brings five classic Pokemon titles to the SNES platform:
Each cartridge functions as a self-contained unit, requiring no additional hardware beyond the SNES console itself. The games display with proper coloration, sound, and gameplay mechanics identical to their Game Boy counterparts, but now playable on television screens through the SNES.
The ability to trade Pokemon between these SNES cartridges maintains one of the franchise’s core mechanics that made the original games so compelling. Players can complete their Pokedex just as they would have on the original Game Boy systems, preserving the social aspect that defined early Pokemon experiences.
Jeremy, the creator behind Below Average Gaming, has established himself as a respected figure in the retro gaming modification community. His YouTube channel features numerous hardware modification projects, with particular focus on bringing portable gaming experiences to home consoles in innovative ways.
Prior to this Pokemon project, Jeremy gained recognition for other Game Boy-to-SNES modifications, consistently demonstrating deep technical knowledge and creative problem-solving skills. His approach combines precise engineering with accessible explanations, making complex hardware modifications understandable to his audience.
The Pokemon SNES cartridges represent some of Jeremy’s most ambitious work, requiring multiple iterations to perfect the trading functionality and ensure reliable operation. His transparency about the process, including failures and learning experiences, has helped build trust within the retro gaming community.
The reception from the retro gaming community has been overwhelmingly positive. On Reddit’s r/snes and r/pokemon communities, users have praised both the technical achievement and the preservation of Pokemon’s core gameplay mechanics.
Many community members have expressed nostalgia for playing Pokemon on television screens, something they never experienced during the games’ original release. The project has sparked discussions about what other Game Boy classics might benefit from similar treatment.
Hardware enthusiasts have particularly appreciated Jeremy’s detailed documentation of the technical process, which provides valuable insights for others interested in similar projects. The trading functionality, in particular, has been highlighted as an impressive feat of engineering within the constraints of SNES cartridge dimensions.
The project has also renewed interest in the technical capabilities of the Super Game Boy hardware, with many discovering for the first time just how versatile Nintendo’s 1994 accessory truly was when properly utilized.
The Below Average Gaming Pokemon SNES cartridges represent more than just a technical achievement – they’re a testament to the dedication and creativity of the retro gaming community. This project bridges a historical gap in Nintendo’s console lineup, allowing fans to experience classic Pokemon games in a way Nintendo never officially provided.
While these cartridges aren’t commercially available and require significant technical expertise to create, they demonstrate the enduring appeal of classic Pokemon games and the innovative spirit of the modding community. For those interested in retro gaming projects, this project showcases what’s possible with dedication, technical knowledge, and creative problem-solving.
As we continue to see Nintendo platform innovations, projects like these remind us of the rich history behind gaming franchises and the passionate communities that keep classic experiences alive through innovation and preservation efforts.
