Pokémon Heart & Soul

Gohan's Tips
Sep 27
2 min read

Updated: Nov 30

Author: lildill01.

PROGRESS: Current Version: 1.2: (November 22, 2025)

Pokémon Heart & Soul brings the classic Johto Region and its iconic story to the world of modern GBA decomp hacking. Built on the Modern Emerald decomp, this project offers a fresh take on the GSC/HGSS experience, blending key aspects of the Gen 2 and Gen 4 games, while incorporating many modern QoL features, as well as some familiar Gen 3 mechanics. Not only is Heart & Soul (HnS) a first-of-its-kind, fully completed, playtested, and largely faithful GSC remake / HGSS demake, it's also completely open source, and is intended to be a base for a new generation of Johto rom hacks.

🛑Features:

➡️A Complete & Faithful Johto GBA Experience: This is a full remake of the Johto story and Kanto post-game, blending elements from both GSC and HGSS, including the Eusine and Kimono Girls questlines. It is a complete, playtested game from start to finish.

➡️Open Source Decomp Base: A first-of-its-kind, this hack is built on the Modern Emerald decomp and is completely open source, intended to be a base for future Johto ROM hacks.

➡️Toggleable Modern Mechanics: You can choose your experience. The Physical/Special Split and the Fairy Type are both in the game and can be toggled on or off at any time.

➡️Following Pokémon: Your lead Pokémon will follow you on your adventure through Johto and Kanto.

➡️No HM Slaves Needed: HMs do not need to be taught to a Pokémon to be used in the overworld.

➡️Expanded Pokédex (Gen 1-3+): The game features Pokémon from the first three generations, plus their later-generation evolutions (like Magnezone, Electivire, etc.).

➡️Vastly Improved Level Curve: The infamous and frustrating level curve of the original Johto games has been greatly improved for a smoother gameplay experience.

➡️Day/Night System with Dynamic Encounters: The game features a full day/night system with changing overworld palettes and different Pokémon encounters depending on the time of day.

➡️HGSS Music & Unique Surf Sprites: The game features the beloved soundtrack from HeartGold and SoulSilver, as well as custom overworld sprites for different surfing Pokémon.

➡️Customizable Shiny Rate: You can choose and set your own shiny encounter rate.

➡️Quality of Life Upgrades: Includes toggleable AutoRun and FastSurf, a quick-run button combo for wild battles, and ball prompts for faster catching. ➡️Overworld Encounter Previews: Overworld Pokémon sprites appear on routes to show you the notable wild encounters in that area.

➡️Progression-Based Events: Timekeeping is based on story progression, not real-world days of the week, so you never have to wait for specific events.

➡️16 Gym Leader Rematches: You can re-battle all 16 Gym Leaders from Johto and Kanto.

SCREENSHOTS