Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen Players Stunned By Secret Item After 20 Years

Unless you live under a rock, it’s apparent that the 30th anniversary of Pokémon is underway. In addition to tons of merch available for the decades-old franchise, we also got a host of game announcements.

Over on social media platforms like X, fans have taken to sharing some lesser-known secrets. This one in particular has stunned fans, even lapsed ones who only played FireRed and LeafGreen at launch.

Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen Still Have Some Surprises

Including Details People Never Talked About As Openly

In case you haven’t played FireRed and LeafGreen before, there are tons of secrets to Kanto. A lot of fans have even invented some from the very first original Game Boy titles; a phenomenon that has continued through the present. While there might not be a secret Mew under a truck, you can get one of the best items in the game.

Here’s the full rundown: “To trainers currently playing FRLG. If you use the Dowsing Machine on the ground directly beneath where Snorlax was sleeping, you can obtain Leftovers! It’s an incredibly useful item that automatically recovers HP each turn, so be sure to grab it!”

You can find the exact location in the X post below:

Fans have had their minds blown by the news: “WHAT. How am I just learning this now after over 20 years??” Another writes: “I’lll never forget seeing this for the first time. My friend who used to come to my house after school, & we’d only progress together in FR/LG. We both finally caught Snorlax, I look over at his GBA SP, and all I see is the item finder ping. Blew. My. Mind. No clue how he knew.”

I have to admit, despite playing through every single Pokémon game and remake, I wasn’t aware of this particular secret find. Back when FireRed and LeafGreen came out, there wasn’t a ton of chatter about it in many circles, but now that they’re available as fresh new games in 2026, there’s been a lot of information dug up about them that superfans have been sitting on for ages.

There’s also additional context to these games. As one fan points out, pachinko parlor culture (which asks players to exchange prizes in a different area) in Japan even influenced one particular building: “Back in the day, I used to wonder why the rocket game corner had the prize exchange counter and the building separate, but now that I’m an adult, I get why.”

Pokémon’s 30th Anniversary Is Well Underway

There’s Plenty More Coming

We’re deep into the 30th anniversary of Pokémon now, and fans seem to be having a blast. In addition to the reception for existing live service games and their 30th-anniversary events, we also have a re-release to play and a new generation to look forward to. Expect lots of news throughout the year, drip-feeding new Pokémon and regional details.

It’s a shame we have to wait until 2027 to see what Gen 10 of Pokémon has to offer, but as long as the game is stable at launch on the Switch 2, I think everyone can forgive the long march to next year.