Pokémon Golden Shield

Gohan's Tips
Nov 16
2 min read

Author: cos_mino.

PROGRESS: Project Version 1.0 - 11/15/2025 (Completed)

It is a modern NDS ROM hack that answers a fascinating question: What if the classic Johto journey happened with the Pokémon of Galar? This hack completely swaps the original HeartGold Pokédex for the one from Pokémon Sword and Shield, meaning you'll build your team, battle trainers, and challenge Gym Leaders using a roster of Generation 8 Pokémon. The story remains faithful to the beloved original, but has been updated to match the new Pokédex. With a modern battle engine that includes moves, items, and abilities up to Generation 9, reusable TMs, and the removal of most HM roadblocks, this is the ultimate way to experience a completely fresh and modern version of the Johto region.

🛑Features:

➡️Full Galar Pokédex Swap: The game's core feature. The entire original Johto Pokédex and all wild encounters have been replaced with the Pokédex from Pokémon Sword and Shield, offering a completely new teambuilding experience.

➡️Updated Trainer Rosters: Every trainer in the game, from random route trainers to Gym Leaders and the Elite Four, has had their teams updated to exclusively feature Pokémon from the Galar (Sword & Shield) Pokédex.

➡️Modern Battle Engine (Up to Gen 9): The game is powered by the modern "hg-engine," which includes a host of new moves, items, and abilities from all the way up to Generation 9.

➡️Faithful Johto Story: The beloved story of the Johto region remains faithful to the original HeartGold and SoulSilver, with script changes made only where necessary to match the new roster of Pokémon. The hack is complete up until the post-game.

➡️Reusable TMs: All TMs in the game can be used an unlimited number of times, just like in modern Pokémon games.

➡️HM Obstacles Removed: The necessity for most HM moves to progress has been removed. You will still need to use Surf and Fly, but you get early access to Rock Climb, and other HM roadblocks are gone.

➡️Full Documentation: The game comes with complete documentation that details the new Pokédex, all wild Pokémon encounter locations, boss trainer teams, Headbutt encounters, item locations, and more.

➡️Native Hardware Compatibility: The hack is designed to be fully compatible with native hardware, meaning you can play it on a homebrewed 3DS console or other compatible hardware, not just an emulator.

➡️Aesthetic Touch-Ups: The game includes small graphical and GUI (Graphical User Interface) changes to make the menus and overall feel of the game closer to the style of the Generation 8 games.

SCREENSHOTS