Games
Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl: Sinnoh remade on Switch
Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are the 2021 Nintendo Switch remakes of the 2006 Diamond and Pearl, set in Sinnoh and following the original story, map and gym order closely. They add no new species; the versions differ in the cover legendary, Dialga or Palkia, and in a set of exclusive species, and the old Underground is rebuilt as the Grand Underground, with hideaways where species from outside the original Sinnoh Pokédex appear. Both are sold for Switch and run on Switch 2, online trades and battles need Nintendo Switch Online, and Pokémon HOME connects to them.
Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, both versions, against the 2006 originals. Drafted 8 Nov 2026.
Eight gyms in the Diamond and Pearl order, then Cynthia
The route follows the 2006 games, not Platinum. Roark (Rock) in Oreburgh, Gardenia (Grass) in Eterna, Maylene (Fighting) in Veilstone, Crasher Wake (Water) in Pastoria, Fantina (Ghost) in Hearthome, Byron (Steel) in Canalave, Candice (Ice) in Snowpoint and Volkner (Electric) in Sunyshore. Team Galactic, led by Cyrus, runs the story, which peaks at Spear Pillar on Mount Coronet with the version legendary. The Elite Four are Aaron (Bug), Bertha (Ground), Flint (Fire) and Lucian (Psychic), and the champion is Cynthia, whose team is the strongest of any Sinnoh battle before the postgame.
The versions split a legendary and a set of species lines
Brilliant Diamond has Dialga and Shining Pearl has Palkia. Among the exclusive lines, Brilliant Diamond has Murkrow, Larvitar and Stunky, and Shining Pearl has Misdreavus, Bagon and Glameow. The Grand Underground hideaways also divide by version, and Ramanas Park offers Raikou, Entei, Suicune and Ho-Oh in Brilliant Diamond and Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres and Lugia in Shining Pearl. The Sinnoh Pokédex is 151 entries and the National Pokédex unlocks in the postgame. Trade evolutions such as Haunter, Machoke and Kadabra need a trade, done locally or online with Nintendo Switch Online. The Union Room is the in-game place to set it up.
Turtwig, Chimchar and Piplup, then Roark in Oreburgh
The starters come from Professor Rowan's briefcase at Lake Verity in the opening scene: Turtwig (Grass, evolving into Torterra, Grass and Ground), Chimchar (Fire, evolving into Infernape, Fire and Fighting) and Piplup (Water, evolving into Empoleon, Water and Steel). The first hour goes from Twinleaf Town through Sandgem and Jubilife to Oreburgh. Roark's Rock team is easy for Turtwig and Piplup. Chimchar's answer is a Fighting move once it evolves, or a caught partner from Route 203 or the mine. The Experience Share is always on, so the whole party levels together, and the game is easier than the original as a result.
The postgame opens the National Pokédex and Ramanas Park
After the League the National Pokédex unlocks and the region's second half opens: the Battle Zone, the Fight Area and the Battle Tower, which takes the place of the Battle Frontier. Elite Four and Cynthia rematches use much stronger teams. Ramanas Park lets the player catch legendaries from other regions by placing slates found in the Grand Underground. Giratina waits in Turnback Cave, Heatran in Stark Mountain and Regigigas in Snowpoint Temple once the three Regis are in the party.
The 2006 map runs on modern battle rules
The battles use the Generation VIII rules: 18 types with Fairy, current move data, and the physical and special split that Diamond and Pearl introduced in the first place. Older species like Clefairy and Togekiss carry their Fairy typing. HMs are gone from the party: the Pokétch app calls a wild Pokémon to cut, surf or climb. There is no Dynamax, Z-Move or Mega Evolution. The Grand Underground replaces the old tunnel network with digging, Secret Bases and hideaways, themed caverns where species appear by type and by the number of badges. Super Contest Shows replace the old Super Contests.
There is no DLC; save data from other games adds gifts
There was no paid downloadable content. Free updates fixed bugs and added link features. Save data bonuses were tied to other Switch games: Mew from a Let's Go save, Jirachi from a Sword or Shield save, and the Azure Flute, which leads to Arceus, from a Legends: Arceus save. Pokémon HOME support arrived in 2022 and moves Pokémon both ways, for species the game includes. Darkrai and Shaymin were distributed through items with set end dates, which have passed. The Grand Underground, Ramanas Park and the Battle Tower are all in the base game, so the full postgame needs no extra purchase.
Buy either version new; both run on Switch 2
Both versions are sold on cartridge and in the Nintendo eShop for Switch, Switch Lite and Switch 2. The two are near identical, so the cover legendary and the exclusive species are the deciding factor. For a player who wants Platinum's changes, such as the Distortion World story and the revised Pokédex, these remakes follow Diamond and Pearl instead. Online trades and the Union Room's online mode need Nintendo Switch Online. A full run to Cynthia is around 25 to 30 hours.
| Order | City | Leader | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oreburgh City | Roark | Rock |
| 2 | Eterna City | Gardenia | Grass |
| 3 | Veilstone City | Maylene | Fighting |
| 4 | Pastoria City | Crasher Wake | Water |
| 5 | Hearthome City | Fantina | Ghost |
| 6 | Canalave City | Byron | Steel |
| 7 | Snowpoint City | Candice | Ice |
| 8 | Sunyshore City | Volkner | Electric |
| Brilliant Diamond | Shining Pearl |
|---|---|
| Dialga | Palkia |
| Murkrow, Honchkrow | Misdreavus, Mismagius |
| Larvitar, Pupitar, Tyranitar | Bagon, Shelgon, Salamence |
| Stunky, Skuntank | Glameow, Purugly |
| Cranidos, Rampardos | Shieldon, Bastiodon |
Stunky against Glameow and Cranidos against Shieldon confirmed on the official features page (bdsp-features), 8 Nov 2026. Dialga and Palkia, Murkrow and Misdreavus, Larvitar and Bagon still from memory.
5 checks before you act
- Choose a starter at Lake Verity with Roark's Rock team in mind
- Catch a Fighting or Water partner before Oreburgh if Chimchar is the pick
- Leave the Experience Share on, or plan to over-level
- Open the Pokétch and learn the hidden-move app
- Load any Let's Go, Sword, Shield or Legends: Arceus save on the same console for the gifts
Read next
Sources read for this page
- ReadGame knowledge from memoryundated
- ReadBrilliant Diamond Shining Pearl version-group metadataread 7 Nov 2026
- ReadPokémon HOME: Moveread 8 Nov 2026
- ReadOfficial Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl website: Featuresread 8 Nov 2026
- ReadOfficial Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl website: other games save bonusread 8 Nov 2026
- ReadNintendo Australia: Pokémon HOME can now be linked with more Pokémon games (31 May 2022)read 8 Nov 2026
- ReadNintendo Store: Pokémon Brilliant Diamondread 8 Nov 2026