Fifteen years after the originals, Diamond and Pearl return on Switch in 2021 as Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. Developed by studio ILCA, this remake faithfully retraces the 2006 adventure in a “chibi” style, with a few additions and a few omissions. Here is what you need to know if you’re familiar with the originals.
Full guide: the walkthrough, the Grand Underground, Ramanas Park, legendary Pokémon and the postgame are all covered in our guide to Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.
Released on November 19, 2021, these remakes follow Diamond and Pearl, not Platinum: Giratina, the Distortion World and the Battle Frontier do not appear in their Platinum form.
The map, the cities, the Trainers and the story are almost identical to 2006: our walkthrough guides remain a good basis, but some details, such as the items or the Pokémon on certain routes, differ.
✅What stays faithful
- The map of Sinnoh, its cities and its routes, square for square, in 3D.
- The story, the Gym Leaders, Team Galactic and Cynthia.
- Super Contests, the Great Marsh, the Pokétch (with new apps) and Honey Trees.
✨What changes
| In the remake | Instead of |
|---|---|
| The Grand Underground: an expanded Underground, with caves where wild Pokémon live in plain sight | The Underground |
| Ramanas Park, where you catch legendary Pokémon from other regions using Slates | Pal Park and GBA cartridges |
| HMs replaced by wild Pokémon called up from the Pokétch | Utility Pokémon |
| The Exp. Share always active, for the whole team | The held Exp. Share |
| The Battle Tower alone, for the competitive postgame | The Battle Tower (Diamond and Pearl) |
🎁Mythical Pokémon
The event items from the originals were redistributed in the remake: the Oak’s Letter for Shaymin (February and March 2022) and the Member Card for Darkrai (April 2022). An update added the Azure Flute, provided you have a Pokémon Legends: Arceus save in which Arceus has been caught: the Hall of Origin finally opens. These distributions have now ended.
⚖️Originals or remake?
- The remake: more accessible, faster, playable on Switch, ideal for discovering Sinnoh.
- Platinum: the most complete fourth-generation experience, with Giratina, the Battle Frontier and a more varied regional Pokédex.
- Diamond and Pearl: for nostalgia and collecting.
Finally, Sinnoh’s past is played out in Pokémon Legends: Arceus (2022). For the secrets of the originals, read Glitches and secrets.
