Pokémon Crystal Version

Pokemon Crystal is an enhanced version of Pokemon Gold and Silver and a role-playing game played from a top-down perspective. As in the earlier versions, the player explores the Johto region, catches and…

85 14 December 2000

Adventure Role-playing (RPG) Action Fantasy Kids

Pokémon Crystal Version is an adventure developed by Game Freak, released 14 December 2000 on Nintendo 3DS and Game Boy Color.

Verified 21 Aug 2026 Sources: IGDB , Wikipedia

What Pokémon Crystal Version is

Pokémon Crystal Version is an adventure game developed by Game Freak and released in 2000. It was published by Gradiente. It is available on Nintendo 3DS and Game Boy Color.

The premise, in the publisher's words

In Pokemon Crystal, the player begins as a young Trainer in the Johto region, receiving a first partner Pokemon from Professor Elm before setting out on a journey. Traveling through Johto's towns and wilds, the player catches and trains Pokemon while aiming to earn the region's eight Gym Badges and take on its most skilled Trainers. A determined rival, who took one of Professor Elm's Pokemon, resurfaces throughout the adventure to challenge the player, and the criminal organization Team Rocket reappears with plans of its own. The player explores a world full of wild Pokemon while uncovering the region's secrets.

Description from the publisher · source

How it plays

It is played from a bird view / isometric perspective. Its themes are action, fantasy and kids. It supports multiplayer. Local play supports 2 players. Available modes: Multiplayer and Single player.

Where it sits in the Pokémon series

Pokémon Crystal Version is the 32nd of 306 entries we hold in the Pokémon series. The next entry was Pokémon Stadium 2 in 2000. Its critic score of 85 is 11 points above the series average of 74. The highest-rated entry is Super Smash Bros. Melee at 100.

See all 306 Pokémon games in release order →

How it was received

Pokémon Crystal Version holds a critic score of 85 out of 100. That places it above 82% of the 7,525 rated adventure games in our database, which average 72. Games released in 2000 averaged 72, so it scored 13 points above the year average. Player ratings track closely with critics at 87, across 428 votes.

How long it takes, and what that costs

A full completion run takes around 125 hrs.

What it launched against

Pokémon Crystal Version launched on 14 December 2000, within three weeks of Phantasy Star Online, Tales of Destiny II, Pokémon Stadium 2 and Quake III: Team Arena. It reviewed better than 3 of the 4.

Released around the same time: Phantasy Star Online, Tales of Destiny II, Pokémon Stadium 2, Quake III: Team Arena.

Cheats and codes

We have not confirmed any working cheat codes for Pokémon Crystal Version yet. Rather than reprint a list we have not tested, this section stays empty until one is verified.

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