User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1029 Ratings

User score distribution:
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
  1. Nov 21, 2014
    10
    amazing, this game brings back memories of the gen 3 trio. the exp share is again over powered and makes an unwanted return. alot of the starting trainers seem to have full restores which is a bit ridiculous for the starting area. The music is still awesome, and all the trainers we remember are still here. This game is definitely a must own.
  2. Jan 25, 2016
    9
    One of my favourite games as a child in Ruby remade so well when it first came out I played it non-stop until I completed it I haven't played it much recently but it is still a wonderful game and I'm glad it was made.
  3. Dec 19, 2014
    10
    Before ORAS, Emerald was the best Pokemon game I have played (haven't played B/W and B2/W2 so can't comment on those). Compared to X and Y, ORAS is better on all levels (except for character customization, I guess). Super Training and Pokemon-amie make a return, which is cool. The soundtrack is miles better than that of X and Y, and the main villains are more appealing than TeamBefore ORAS, Emerald was the best Pokemon game I have played (haven't played B/W and B2/W2 so can't comment on those). Compared to X and Y, ORAS is better on all levels (except for character customization, I guess). Super Training and Pokemon-amie make a return, which is cool. The soundtrack is miles better than that of X and Y, and the main villains are more appealing than Team Flare...although that's not saying much. The "Nav" features are also really neat, especially Dex Nav which makes completing the Pokedex much more interesting. Contest Spectaculars are a good change of pace from battling, and Super Secret Bases will entertain any Animal Crossing fan. For the most part, ORAS does not utilize 3D, except for a select few locations and during battles. Unfortunately, the game's frame rate usually takes a massive plunge if 3D is on during battles. This is probably due to hardware limitations, so I can't really complain too much. HM's still exist, which kinda sucks, but they've been around since the very beginning of the franchise. And at least some of them, like Waterfall, Surf, and Strength are actually useful in battle. Now I was originally going to give ORAS a 9.5/10 because HM's can still get a little annoying, but it seems I can't do that here...Oh well. I'll be lenient and give these games a perfect ten outta ten. Not that it matters, because the score is irrelevant compared to the actual review. Expand
  4. Mar 5, 2018
    8
    A remake of one of my most played and favourite games of all time. If GameFreak wants to bring an experience comparable to what the original brought, this game should better be very good. And it is. The core game is great. It has, like all other Pokémon games, an excellent battle system, a good story with even more content than the original, tons and tons of side things to do, and greatA remake of one of my most played and favourite games of all time. If GameFreak wants to bring an experience comparable to what the original brought, this game should better be very good. And it is. The core game is great. It has, like all other Pokémon games, an excellent battle system, a good story with even more content than the original, tons and tons of side things to do, and great music overall. The thing is, the original games hold so much nostalgia that I miss playing those... All in all a must-have Pokémon title, especially if you've never played the GBA games before. Expand
  5. Aug 11, 2018
    10
    The 3ds era was amazing and did wonders to many nintendo series, but specially for pokemon and fire emblem. It brought many gems, and Omega Ruby, fitting for its name, is one of them.

    A sweet post-game story. Fixing problems the original Ruby had, pokenav, amie, and so much to do it's one of the best pokemon games up until this point, only surpassed by its sucessors in the following gen.
  6. Dec 10, 2014
    9
    This is a very good remake of the old and nostalgic games. Plus, u have many legendaries and mega evolutions to obtain during the post game. The graphics are absolutely stunning
  7. Nov 28, 2014
    8
    I didn't love the original gen 3 but I love the remake. Quite a bit has changed since the original games on the Game Boy Advanced such as environments. Great game
    8/10
  8. Nov 25, 2014
    10
    This is my favorite Pokemon game of all time. It adds so many features that it might as well be its own generation. Music was great too. The nostalgia from the originals was so great, but anyone who hasn't played the original will still love this.
  9. Feb 15, 2015
    10
    This game perfectly brings back my fond memories of pokemon emerald. It also improves upon Pokemon X, and steals hours of my life, from running around and collecting badges, to going around and collecting flags from people's bases.
  10. Dec 26, 2014
    10
    Pokemon Omega Ruby is a very delightful return to an often-forgotten generation of Pokemon games. The remakes do everything I expected and more. They brought Hoenn back to life. Though it uses the same engine as Pokemon X and Y, this game still seems prettier. It may be nostalgia, or maybe it's the close comfort of the game.
    Speaking of the comfort, this game's world is both large and
    Pokemon Omega Ruby is a very delightful return to an often-forgotten generation of Pokemon games. The remakes do everything I expected and more. They brought Hoenn back to life. Though it uses the same engine as Pokemon X and Y, this game still seems prettier. It may be nostalgia, or maybe it's the close comfort of the game.
    Speaking of the comfort, this game's world is both large and small. The region itself is huge, but the world inside it is very close. Having a dad helps.
    I choose Mudkip, which to me is the best choice, so the game was mildly easy to complete. For those who found X and Y too easy because of the exp. share, it's back here. But you can turn it off, which most certainly is the better way to play.
    Expand
  11. Mar 7, 2015
    9
    Great game. There are a lot of new features. My favourite is 3D graphics. Some of them are old, but upgraded like PokéNav, now PokéNav Plus. But there are some things that I don't like. First and the most important is the Battle Resort. It was changed to a Battle Maison. I was really sad. Second thing is smaller, but still bad. Safari zone is changed. But game is still one of best PokémonGreat game. There are a lot of new features. My favourite is 3D graphics. Some of them are old, but upgraded like PokéNav, now PokéNav Plus. But there are some things that I don't like. First and the most important is the Battle Resort. It was changed to a Battle Maison. I was really sad. Second thing is smaller, but still bad. Safari zone is changed. But game is still one of best Pokémon games I played. Expand
  12. Mar 22, 2015
    9
    #TooMuchWater
    On a serious note; the game is amazing. Truly a fantastic remake of the original games: Ruby and Sapphire!
    Great nostalgia; with added features that were really fun to play through!
  13. Aug 16, 2016
    10
    A perfect mixture between the old style Hoenn and the modernisation Kalos brought along with it, Omega ruby would have it's faults under a microscope but they just don't hold up against all the great things this game provides. The story introduces new elements flawlessly in a simple yet fun manner, whilst Game Freak once again catch on to trends and add little details with make us fansA perfect mixture between the old style Hoenn and the modernisation Kalos brought along with it, Omega ruby would have it's faults under a microscope but they just don't hold up against all the great things this game provides. The story introduces new elements flawlessly in a simple yet fun manner, whilst Game Freak once again catch on to trends and add little details with make us fans just a little bit more content, an example being the battle resort taking the perfect shape for chain breeding, it's a small detail put in as an appreciation towards more avid trainers who make the most of the games every feature. Over all Omega ruby provides new players with an excellent introduction to pokemon as a whole , and once again gives us long time fans another game to enjoy till the very end. Expand
  14. Feb 10, 2015
    8
    Another very solid entry to the Pokemon franchise. I am always nervous of remakes, there is plenty of room to go wrong. I played Ruby quite a lot and got into the competitive scene with it. I remember a long struggle to breed an HP Fire Metagross - by long I mean months and months. For a competitive player, the game stands as a demonstration of how well Gamefreak has tweaked access toAnother very solid entry to the Pokemon franchise. I am always nervous of remakes, there is plenty of room to go wrong. I played Ruby quite a lot and got into the competitive scene with it. I remember a long struggle to breed an HP Fire Metagross - by long I mean months and months. For a competitive player, the game stands as a demonstration of how well Gamefreak has tweaked access to competitive quality Pokemon. It will still take work to stack you team with flawless breeds and 5IV legendaries, but now it's a somewhat more realistic amount of work. The game itself is no kind of revolution, keeping the mechanics of XY, adding a rough handful of new egg and tutor moves, keeping the same charm of Hoenn from Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald. The thing is, Pokemon never needs a revolutionary change, just subtle adjustment. The lack of the Battle Frontier is truly heartbreaking, but there are signs in-game that it will make a return in future entries. Expand
  15. Jun 9, 2016
    10
    Pros:
    Its Pokemon.
    They added a language selection. Now I can use Pokemon to help study Japanese.

    Cons:
    As a remake you may have sort of played this one before, minus newer features.

    Overall:
    Its Pokemon. You already know what you are getting into. Nintendo made yet another quality game while keeping it fresh. 10/10
  16. Jul 4, 2015
    8
    Very fun game to play - I was hesitating between an 8 and a 9, and had to drop it down a bit due to a weak postgame. Well, it's not the weakest postgame (I'm looking at you, Pokemon XY), but it isn't really enough. I did thoroughly enjoy playing through the game though, and I felt that I'd be able to get some decent replayability value from this game. Hmm, I've put around 75 hours intoVery fun game to play - I was hesitating between an 8 and a 9, and had to drop it down a bit due to a weak postgame. Well, it's not the weakest postgame (I'm looking at you, Pokemon XY), but it isn't really enough. I did thoroughly enjoy playing through the game though, and I felt that I'd be able to get some decent replayability value from this game. Hmm, I've put around 75 hours into Omega Ruby so far, and I don't plan on putting too many more until my pokemon-mood arrives again. I guess an improvement for the future would be that the battles occur faster, or with the option of auto-battle, found in a variety of turn based RPGs, such as SMT IV, Etrian Odyssey IV, Demon Gaze, Persona 3 and 4, Fire Emblem Awakening, SMT Strange Journey, and Conception II. Anyways, buy this game if you're a pokemon fan!

    Gameplay: 8.5/10
    Story: 8/10
    Music: 9/10
    Presentation: 8.5/10
    Length: 8.5/10
    Overall: 8.5/10
    Expand
  17. Nov 17, 2015
    8
    Impossível admitir que os gráficos e novas aventuras presentes nos games sejam maravilhosos (mesmo sendo uma pequena queda em relação aos games XY), mas a facilidade dos novos games deixou a coisa muito ''sem sal''. Voar para rotas, encurtar a história e até mesmo o esquecido fato de que os remakes anteriores traziam um gadget externo são fatos que me impedem de classificar esses games comImpossível admitir que os gráficos e novas aventuras presentes nos games sejam maravilhosos (mesmo sendo uma pequena queda em relação aos games XY), mas a facilidade dos novos games deixou a coisa muito ''sem sal''. Voar para rotas, encurtar a história e até mesmo o esquecido fato de que os remakes anteriores traziam um gadget externo são fatos que me impedem de classificar esses games com um 10. A Nintendo está perdendo a magia dos Pokémons de evento que conquistou e abusou em DPPtHGSS. Os eventos da IV Gen abriam espaço para novas áreas, histórias e interação, enquanto isso continuou baixo na VI Gen. Inaceitável que boa parte dos lendários dos outros games (Dialga/Palkia, Zekrom/Reshiram...) estejam sendo entregues de forma tão mastigada pelo game sem uma história ou evento dentro do cartucho mesmo. A melhor novidade do game com certeza é a possibilidade de voar pelo continente montado pelo Latios/Latias, isso foi um enorme passo (que precisa ser mantido nas próximas gerações) para uma sensação maior de realidade dentro do jogo. Seria muito bom se expandissem fisicamente o continente, para que essa sensação fosse mais abrangente e realista ainda. Expand
  18. Nov 25, 2014
    9
    I am really loving this game. Its certainly something I'm going to clock many hours into.

    Pros + Stunning Graphics + Nostalgic + Tons of content + Excitement + It feels energetic + Battle music sounds GBA-like to capture that original feel + Stream lined story. Not over the top. + Secret bases! + Legendary Pokemon are introduced later into the game making you work to those
    I am really loving this game. Its certainly something I'm going to clock many hours into.

    Pros
    + Stunning Graphics
    + Nostalgic
    + Tons of content
    + Excitement
    + It feels energetic
    + Battle music sounds GBA-like to capture that original feel
    + Stream lined story. Not over the top.
    + Secret bases!
    + Legendary Pokemon are introduced later into the game making you work to those rewards.

    Cons
    - XP Share. (it feels like its on easy mode)

    Mutual
    +- Alot of mega stones. Yes there is alot of variety with evolutions, but I cant help but think there could have been a lot more to work on instead of more mega forms.

    Overall
    So much fun, very engaging. Highly recommend!!
    Expand
  19. Jan 23, 2016
    9
    Whew. What can I say? I haven't played a Pokémon game since Pokémon Black, which I found to be somewhat of a disappointment and kind of scared me away from the series for a while. 4 years and something months later, I try out Omega Ruby and was pleasantly surprised to see the direction the games have gone in, restoring my faith in Gamefreak and the Pokémon series.

    There is much more
    Whew. What can I say? I haven't played a Pokémon game since Pokémon Black, which I found to be somewhat of a disappointment and kind of scared me away from the series for a while. 4 years and something months later, I try out Omega Ruby and was pleasantly surprised to see the direction the games have gone in, restoring my faith in Gamefreak and the Pokémon series.

    There is much more focus on story now than there used to be, which is great to see. Story is at the heart of an RPG. The visuals of the game are stunning, using the same 6th gen engine as X and Y with some additional mega evolutions. Mega evolution is centralised as part of the story, and it's implemented well into the lore. The updated movepool is also appreciated, and the Fairy type added in 6th gen helps counter the Dragon type, which was before somewhat overpowered. Battles go fast and smoothly and some of the moves really give you a sense of impact with the visuals and how fast the HP bar goes down. The 3D is also appreciated. And the Delta episode... Adds more story on top of an already storyful game! Love it.

    My only real complaint with the game would because of that overpowered Exp Share... It's cool to be able to raise an entire team needing only to battle trainers and have minimum grinding, but when it's taking you up 10 levels higher than your opponents consistently, it kinda takes away the challenge. If you're looking for a challenge, you won't find it until post game. If only it was a little weaker and equally split the experience instead.

    Overall, brilliant game and I'd highly recommend it to any RPG fan or any Pokémon fan wanting to jump back into the series.
    Expand
  20. Dec 4, 2014
    9
    It's the game with the best story yet. You truly feel compelled to catch all the Pokemon out there, you truly feel like you're saving the world and hey, it's always nice to have some new mega evolutions. Some of them are overpowered. My only complaint is the post-game. It's empty.
  21. Dec 10, 2014
    9
    I absolutely love this game, and I know I'm going to spend a lot of time in Hoenn, trying to catch them all, visiting secret bases and berry hunting. Things like DexNav, Soaring and Mirage Spots really do make this one of the most fun Pokemon games ever to be released IMO. Unfortunately, it's not 10/10, because of few things:

    - It's TOO EASY. Way, way too easy. And I don't get why. Even
    I absolutely love this game, and I know I'm going to spend a lot of time in Hoenn, trying to catch them all, visiting secret bases and berry hunting. Things like DexNav, Soaring and Mirage Spots really do make this one of the most fun Pokemon games ever to be released IMO. Unfortunately, it's not 10/10, because of few things:

    - It's TOO EASY. Way, way too easy. And I don't get why. Even as a kid playing Pokemon Gold on my GameBoy I had more in me than what it takes to beat newest Pokemon games. This franchise desperately needs a difficulty setting, or at least a new game+ mode. If you're not going to play online or rock the battle institute/maison to the core, there is even no point in training at all. Exp Share is not really a problem here - the problem is the fact that every trainer in this game has underleveled pokemon and very bad strategies. Why don't they use hold/battle items, why don't they switch out their monsters to mix things up sometimes? The real bad thing here is that beating the game absolutely does not get new players ready for multiplayer, and that's a really solid game design flaw.

    - There is no Battle Frontier. There should be. The game itself is even hinting it, but seeing the support that X/Y got I wouldn't hold my breath for any dlc. A lot of people were waiting for that, and for a good reason. BF might have been great bridge between beating the game and multiplayer. A lot better one than Battle Maison is, at least.

    - You can't rematch gym leaders. This is just a bummer - they are registered in trainer's eye like the other trainers you can rematch, so why the hell?...

    Still, the game is great. Music and plot is really spot-on, especially in Delta Episode. So even though I have some serious bad things to say about Hoenn remakes, I cannot simply get it a score lower than 9. After all, all the disappointments I've mentioned got easily lost among all the magic of the 3rd gen region. I just really hope, that someday we'll get a Pokemon game that has no "buts" like this one.
    Expand
  22. Jan 12, 2015
    8
    Pokemon was my first game back in 1998, and I've kept up with the series ever since. I put around 800 hours between my Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald games back in the day. As such my score is likely a bit inflated due to my love of the series and the nostalgia factor that remakes imbue in me. (I teared up at the start screen, for example) I purchased both versions, but Omega Ruby was thePokemon was my first game back in 1998, and I've kept up with the series ever since. I put around 800 hours between my Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald games back in the day. As such my score is likely a bit inflated due to my love of the series and the nostalgia factor that remakes imbue in me. (I teared up at the start screen, for example) I purchased both versions, but Omega Ruby was the first I completed, and this review serves to cover both games. Considering all the base content from Ruby and Sapphire is present, there isn't much to say about that which wasn't already said back in 2003. What can be said is that the improvements made provided a great experience. The addition of the Dexnav and its ability to capture special Pokemon in shaking grass greatly adds to the variety in moves that can be used throughout the game. Not only are there the hundreds of moves for the various Pokemon which were already available, but now hidden abilities and egg moves are accessible during the story portion of the game. The addition of the route capture completion map actually inspired me to catch every Pokemon on each route, something I haven't done for a long time. One of the things I was most impressed by was the additions to the story in ORAS. The main series Pokemon games flirted with heavier story in X and Y, and it came back in full force for ORAS. Team Magma and Team Aqua are both much more fleshed out, and the admins are much more like their manga counterparts than before. The addition of "Episode Delta" after the Elite Four also was a pleasant surprise, and one which I didn't expect myself to enjoy so much. The Hoenn region looks great in 3D, and even the water routes didn't seem as monotonous as Ruby and Sapphire. It may just be my mind playing tricks on me due to the 3D, but that's the feeling I gathered from it. Saving the best for last, the always loved secret bases return with a bang. This time players can stay online through the 3DS and visit other player's bases which can be arranged to be mini-gyms of sorts. I can't describe how many times I would be trekking up a route and pop into a secret base to shake things up with an unfamiliar battle. Overall I think the additions to the games made them worthy of being true remakes to Ruby and Sapphire. Expand
  23. Jan 10, 2015
    9
    I played the original on the gba and never liked it and when i got this remake i thought il give it a try and i was very happy with i like all the new megas i enjoyed secert bases and the overlook of the world was fantastic to see compared to ruby and sapphire still had a few things that bugged me thought they could of cut down the hm uses to 5 i dont like having a hm slave on my team butI played the original on the gba and never liked it and when i got this remake i thought il give it a try and i was very happy with i like all the new megas i enjoyed secert bases and the overlook of the world was fantastic to see compared to ruby and sapphire still had a few things that bugged me thought they could of cut down the hm uses to 5 i dont like having a hm slave on my team but overall i really enjoyed it now if they would remake red and blue in 3d Expand
  24. Nov 26, 2014
    9
    Better than XY by far. XY was okay at best. I liked it but the exploration was rather nonexistent, the story was a little bit better.
    In the other hand, OR AS managed to take Pokemon back in track. Great exploration, great story, fair challenge.
    Even if you are not into Pokemon, OR AS is a great game. period.
  25. Dec 8, 2014
    8
    Great remake of the original GBA games. Graphics and sound have been updated and some areas are completely different, making it a fresh experience even for veteran players.
  26. Nov 30, 2014
    10
    I have played almost every single Pokemon game and can sincerely say this is my favorite one. Not only does it bring great nostalgia but it immerses you in the experience better than any other Pokemon game IMO. The music is really good, the story line is amazing, especially the delta episode, and to me, it almost felt like you were in one of the Pokemon movies. If you are a fan of Pokemon,I have played almost every single Pokemon game and can sincerely say this is my favorite one. Not only does it bring great nostalgia but it immerses you in the experience better than any other Pokemon game IMO. The music is really good, the story line is amazing, especially the delta episode, and to me, it almost felt like you were in one of the Pokemon movies. If you are a fan of Pokemon, I strongly suggest buying this game. Expand
  27. Dec 2, 2014
    9
    Great game and graphics I definitely recommend buying, I like the original a lot but I think this just beats it but it would not be my favourite of the new pokemon games.
  28. Dec 28, 2014
    8
    I think that despite the op exp share and some annoying design desicions "like giving you latios for free" or not having the ability to customize your character "like clothing" this game is a welcome addition to the pokemon formula. There are much more mega evolutions that can vary multiplayer and singleplayer . Although except for some double battles there are no tripple battles or otherI think that despite the op exp share and some annoying design desicions "like giving you latios for free" or not having the ability to customize your character "like clothing" this game is a welcome addition to the pokemon formula. There are much more mega evolutions that can vary multiplayer and singleplayer . Although except for some double battles there are no tripple battles or other modes in the singleplayer which is a shame because X and Y had them hyped!!!!! Expand
  29. May 1, 2017
    9
    Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire are remakes of Pokemon's third generation of games; Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire. You have the same great core gameplay you've come to expect from Game Freak, but the thing that really stands out is this story.

    Although it has the same plot as the earlier games, the story is still incredibly powerful and suspenseful, especially near the end. There are
    Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire are remakes of Pokemon's third generation of games; Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire. You have the same great core gameplay you've come to expect from Game Freak, but the thing that really stands out is this story.

    Although it has the same plot as the earlier games, the story is still incredibly powerful and suspenseful, especially near the end. There are plenty of cutscenes with just awe-inspiring graphics I never knew the 3DS was capable of. These cutscenes progress the story very well, and are crucial to the game's plot unlike other games' unnecessary filler cutscenes.

    The grand finale of the game is quite spectacular, and it leaves you with a great feeling that you saved Hoenn and you are now the Pokemon Champion. But after the credits, there's MORE content. You're greeted with a post-game scenario, while not as strong as the main plot, is still great fun.

    Generation 4 will always have a special place in my heart in terms of my favourite Pokemon game(s), but without a doubt, Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire is one of the best and well-made Pokemon game by miles. A must-have for any 3DS owners.
    Expand
  30. Jan 29, 2015
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Probably the best Pokémon game I've ever played. Ok, I should mention that I moved from Pokémon Diamond version to this version (because I passed almost 500 of hours on Ruby version before the internal battery died). I'm certainly more impressed by the game than someone who played Pokémon X/Y but this game is really awesome. The graphics are really magnificent (for a portable game console), there are plenty of new options (or not for X/Y players) like playing with your own pokémons, training them with minigames or also actually flying with Latios. The mega evolutions are really amazing (except for Aggron which is too fat and ugly I think). Two things I don't like in this version : first, the Exp. share is really cheated because it make your pokemons progress too quikly without fighting by giving xp to all the pokémons of your team (I know we can deactivate it). And second, the fact that every legendary pokémons are catchable in Hoenn regardless they are from Sinnoh, Kanto or any other region (That allow people who can't get Suicune or dialga without any code anymore to get them I know). That being said, I highly recommend this game either you are new with Pokémon or a big fan Expand
Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 61 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 55 out of 61
  2. Negative: 0 out of 61
  1. CD-Action
    Feb 7, 2015
    85
    If you haven’t played Pokémons since the first Game Boy, give Omega Ruby a try, because there’s just no way you’re going to be disappointed with it. It’s the same game you remember, just better. [01/2015, p.75]
  2. Jan 28, 2015
    85
    A much better experience than what was expected. The change in the rhythm and the emphasis in the story elements manage to captivate the player in a way that the Game Boy Advance versions couldn’t.
  3. Jan 19, 2015
    80
    If you have any interest at all in Pokémon this game will surpass your expectations.