Omega Ruby vs Alpha Sapphire: Which to Buy (2026)
By Dexhaul Team · October 9, 2026 · 5 min read
The choice comes down to one question: Team Magma or Team Aqua?
Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire are enhanced remakes of the 2003 Game Boy Advance originals, rebuilt for the Nintendo 3DS. According to the official Pokémon site, both launched in North America on November 21, 2014.
Buy Omega Ruby to challenge Team Magma and catch Primal Groudon. Buy Alpha Sapphire for Team Aqua and Primal Kyogre. The rest of the Hoenn adventure, including Mega Evolution and the Delta Episode post-game, is shared between both versions.
At a glance
| Omega Ruby | Alpha Sapphire | |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Nintendo 3DS | Nintendo 3DS |
| NA release | November 21, 2014 | November 21, 2014 |
| Original MSRP | $39.99 | $39.99 |
| Box legendary | Primal Groudon | Primal Kyogre |
| Villain team | Team Magma | Team Aqua |
| Soaring companion | Mega Latios | Mega Latias |
| Key route exclusives | Zangoose, Solrock, Mawile, Seedot line | Seviper, Lunatone, Sableye, Lotad line |
| Observed used price (Oct 9, 2026) | from $24.91 USD | from $39.99 USD |
On this page 5 sections
Where Omega Ruby wins
Primal Groudon and Team Magma
Omega Ruby's villain team, Team Magma, wants to expand Hoenn's landmass by awakening Groudon. The story climax pits you against Primal Groudon, whose Ground/Fire Primal Reversion and Desolate Land ability are among the most aggressive legendary forms in the generation. Players who enjoy a fire-and-rock aesthetic and Ground-type champion runs tend to gravitate toward this version.
Version-exclusive Pokémon
The version exclusives listed at Serebii give Omega Ruby Zangoose (Route 114), Solrock (Meteor Falls), Mawile (Granite Cave), and the Seedot evolutionary line. Zangoose vs Seviper is one of the oldest version-exclusive rivalries in the series, and Mawile's Steel/Fairy typing makes it a useful pick for competitive team-builders who want it without trading.
Lower entry price in 2026
Omega Ruby consistently lists lower than Alpha Sapphire in the used market. Loose cartridge copies observed on DexHaul on October 9, 2026 start from $24.91 USD, compared to $39.99 for Alpha Sapphire. For players who just want to experience Hoenn on a budget, Omega Ruby is the clearer value pick this year.
Where Alpha Sapphire wins
Primal Kyogre and Team Aqua
Alpha Sapphire's story antagonist is Team Aqua, whose goal is to flood the world by awakening Kyogre. Primal Kyogre's Primordial Sea ability summons heavy rain that cannot be overridden by most other weather effects.
Water-type trainers and players who enjoy coastal, oceanic aesthetics consistently prefer the Sapphire side. The blue color scheme of the packaging is a factor for display collectors too.
Version-exclusive Pokémon and Latias
Alpha Sapphire gives you Seviper (Route 114), Lunatone (Meteor Falls), Sableye (Granite Cave), and the Lotad line. Sableye's Ghost/Dark dual typing makes it immune to three types with no weaknesses until Fairy was introduced, and Lunatone has a dedicated collector following for its lunar-themed design. When soaring on the Eon Flute post-game, Alpha Sapphire's companion is Mega Latias rather than Mega Latios.
The deciding question
Both versions run the same 130-hour Hoenn experience. Every gym leader, every rival encounter, and the entire Elite Four are identical. The ORAS engine added features missing from the 2003 originals: over 20 new Mega Evolutions, the Soaring mechanic (flying freely over Hoenn on Latios or Latias), updated Contest Spectaculars, and the DexNav for tracking hidden-ability wild encounters.
The biggest shared surprise for new players is the Delta Episode. Both versions include this post-game story expansion, which culminates in a battle against Deoxys and the chance to catch Rayquaza and unlock its Mega Evolution.
Rayquaza is consistently the most searched ORAS Pokémon, and neither version gates you from it. If your main goal is Mega Rayquaza, the cover legendary does not matter.
Pick the legendary you want to own.
For players working through the main story: choose based on whether Team Magma (volcanic, Ground/Rock flavor) or Team Aqua (maritime, Water flavor) sounds more fun. That difference shapes about a quarter of the game's story scenes.
For collectors buying on the used market in 2026: Omega Ruby offers the lower floor price. Alpha Sapphire tends to trade a few dollars higher, possibly reflecting Primal Kyogre's enduring popularity as a competitive reference point and the blue aesthetic. Both are worth owning.
The Pokémon retro game collector guide covers how to assess condition and authenticity for 3DS cartridges, and the fake-detection guide runs through cartridge label checks before you buy used. If you want both without hunting two separate listings, the sealed Double Pack is a single-purchase option at a significant premium.
For gift-givers: either version makes an accessible holiday pick for a 3DS owner who hasn't played Hoenn. Compare it with other version-choice Pokémon purchases in the Brilliant Diamond vs Shining Pearl guide and the Gold vs Silver guide to see if a different generation fits better.
Frequently asked questions
Is Omega Ruby or Alpha Sapphire better?
Neither is objectively better. Omega Ruby suits players who prefer Team Magma's fire-and-rock theme and the lower used price.
Alpha Sapphire suits Water-type fans, Primal Kyogre collectors, and players drawn to the ocean setting. Both deliver the same Hoenn adventure and the same post-game Delta Episode.
Can you get both Groudon and Kyogre in one game?
No: Groudon is only catchable in Omega Ruby and Kyogre only in Alpha Sapphire without trading. Both can be traded between versions. A limited Mystery Gift Eon Ticket event also let players catch the rival game's Lati@s, though that event is no longer active.
What Pokémon are exclusive to Omega Ruby?
Key Omega Ruby route exclusives include Zangoose, Solrock, Mawile, and the Seedot line (Seedot, Nuzleaf, Shiftry). The full breakdown is at Serebii's ORAS version exclusives page. Alpha Sapphire's equivalents are Seviper, Lunatone, Sableye, and the Lotad line.
Do Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire work on Nintendo Switch?
No. Both titles are Nintendo 3DS cartridges and require a 3DS, 3DS XL, 2DS, New 3DS, New 3DS XL, or New 2DS XL to play. Neither has been ported to Nintendo Switch.
Which version is more expensive right now?
Based on listings observed October 9, 2026, Alpha Sapphire tends to list a few dollars higher than Omega Ruby for comparable conditions. Both are available from independent shops on DexHaul's video games collection with prices varying by condition (loose cartridge, complete in box, or factory sealed).
Browse Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire, and the Double Pack across independent shops at DexHaul's Pokémon video games collection, updated with live stock from sellers worldwide. DexHaul is independent and unofficial, not affiliated with Nintendo, Game Freak, or The Pokémon Company.
Catch 'em all
More Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire finds from independent shops.