Nearly twenty years after their release, Diamond, Pearl and Platinum still play very well on Nintendo’s handheld consoles. But there are a few pitfalls to know about: which console to choose, counterfeit cartridges, the end of online play, and the long road to bring your Pokémon to the Switch.
Good news: the saves on DS cartridges do not depend on a battery, unlike Game Boy games. A genuine cartridge should therefore keep its save, and the game’s clock follows the console’s.
Diamond, Pearl and Platinum have not been re-released on Switch. For a modern version, there is the remake Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, faithful to Diamond and Pearl.
🎮Which console?
| Console | Compatible | GBA slot (Pal Park, inserting) |
|---|---|---|
| Nintendo DS and DS Lite | Yes | Yes |
| DSi and DSi XL | Yes | No |
| 3DS, 2DS, New 3DS and their variants | Yes | No |
⚠️Beware of counterfeits
Fake Pokémon DS cartridges are very common, especially for Platinum. They often cause saving problems. A few clues:
- A label with dull colors, off-center or with sloppy typography.
- No serial number or engraved logo on the back of the cartridge.
- A price well below the usual market price.
- A save that fails or disappears.
Preferably buy from trusted sellers, and test the save as soon as you buy.
📶Online play
Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, which powered the GTS, online battles and remote trades, shut down in May 2014. Local trades and battles in the Union Room still work, with two consoles and two cartridges. Unofficial servers, created by fans, have taken over for online play; Nintendo does not support them.
🔁Transferring your Pokémon to the Switch
- From Diamond, Pearl or Platinum to Pokémon Black, White, Black 2 or White 2, using Poké Transfer (you need two DS consoles).
- From the fifth generation to Pokémon Bank, with the Poké Transporter app on 3DS.
- From Pokémon Bank to Pokémon HOME, on Switch or smartphone.
For everything about trades between fourth-generation games, see Wi-Fi, GTS and trading.
