Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver are getting another moment in the spotlight as part of Pokémon’s 30th anniversary celebrations. This time, the beloved Nintendo DS games are returning in the form of a special collector’s pin set based on their original Japanese packaging.
The Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver pin set is expected to ship from the Japanese Pokémon Center in February 2027. For longtime fans of the Johto adventures, it is a small but nostalgic throwback to one of the most popular generations in the franchise.
Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver Get Anniversary Pins
The collector’s set contains two pins. One recreates the Japanese packaging for Pokémon HeartGold, complete with Ho-Oh on the front. The other features Pokémon SoulSilver and its legendary mascot, Lugia.
Rather than simply placing the legendary Pokémon on regular pins, the designs recreate the actual game packaging. A sparkle and glossy effect has also been added to give them a more premium appearance.
Even the backs continue the Pokémon theme, with Poké Ball-inspired pin backs.
Both pins are being sold together as a set. Fans will therefore not have to choose between Ho-Oh and Lugia.
Release Planned for February 2027
The Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver pin set currently has a mid-February 2027 shipping window through the Japanese Pokémon Center.
An initial presale has already taken place. However, additional pre-orders are expected to become available before the February release.
Collectors interested in securing the set may therefore want to keep an eye on the Japanese Pokémon Center as the release gets closer.
HeartGold and SoulSilver Remain Fan Favorites
Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver originally launched for Nintendo DS in Japan in 2009. The games were remakes of Pokémon Gold and Silver, bringing the Johto region into a much more modern generation of Pokémon.
Both games expanded heavily on the originals while retaining many of their most memorable features. Players could explore Johto before eventually traveling back to Kanto, effectively giving the games two major regions to explore.
The ability to have a Pokémon follow the player also became one of the games’ most recognizable features.
More than 15 years later, HeartGold and SoulSilver remain among the most fondly remembered Pokémon releases from the Nintendo DS era.
Pokémon Looks Back During Its 30th Anniversary
Pokémon’s 30th anniversary has created plenty of opportunities for the franchise to revisit its history. Classic games and merchandise are receiving renewed attention while newer Pokémon projects continue moving the series forward.
HeartGold and SoulSilver are particularly strong choices for anniversary merchandise. They represent both the original Game Boy era through Gold and Silver and the hugely successful Nintendo DS generation that followed.
The new pins also continue the idea of recreating classic Pokémon game packaging as collectibles, following similar merchandise based on older releases such as FireRed and LeafGreen.
Not the HeartGold and SoulSilver Return Fans Are Waiting For
Of course, a pair of pins probably isn’t the HeartGold and SoulSilver announcement many players have been hoping to see.
Calls for modern ports, remasters or another way to officially play the DS classics on current Nintendo hardware have continued for years. Anniversary merchandise does not solve that problem.
Still, for collectors who grew up exploring Johto, seeing Ho-Oh and Lugia back on those familiar boxes should deliver a healthy dose of nostalgia.
And with Pokémon’s 30th anniversary celebrations continuing, there is still plenty of time for more surprises.
