How to Restart Your Game in Pokémon Y: A Step-by-Step Guide
Sometimes, you may want to restart your journey in Pokémon Y. Whether you’re looking to start fresh with a new team or you want to experience the game from the beginning with different choices, restarting your save file is simple, but you need to follow the correct steps to avoid any frustration. In this blog, we’ll walk you through how to restart your game in Pokémon Y safely and without losing important data. Let’s dive in!
Why Restart Pokémon Y?
Before jumping into how to restart, you may be wondering why you would want to do this in the first place. Here are a few reasons why players decide to restart their game:
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Trying a New Team: If you’ve grown tired of your current Pokémon team, restarting the game gives you the chance to pick new Pokémon and train a completely fresh lineup.
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New Game Experience: Sometimes players want to relive the experience of playing the game as if it were their first time again, perhaps making different choices, catching other Pokémon, or experiencing the story in a new way.
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Fixing Mistakes: If you’ve accidentally made a mistake, such as saving over an important part of the game, restarting might seem like the only way to go back to a point where you can fix things.
Methods to Restart Pokémon Y
There are two main methods for restarting your game, and you can choose which one works best for you based on your situation. Below are the steps for each method.
Method 1: Through the In-Game Menu (Soft Reset)
If you are looking for a quick way to reset your game, and you haven’t started playing too far, you can use the soft reset feature. This method is faster and allows you to restart the game from the beginning.
Here’s how to do it:
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Press and Hold Buttons: While you’re in the game, press the following buttons at the same time: L + R + Start.
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Confirm Reset: Your game will automatically restart and return you to the title screen.
This method is best if you want to start over and you haven’t made significant progress in the game yet.
Method 2: Deleting Your Save Data
If you’ve progressed a fair amount in Pokémon Y and want to completely start from scratch, you’ll need to delete your saved data. Here’s how:
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Go to the Nintendo 3DS Home Menu: Press the Home button on your 3DS to exit to the Home Menu.
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Find Pokémon Y: Highlight the Pokémon Y icon, but do not open the game yet.
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Open the Options Menu: Hold down the Up button on the D-pad, and then press the A, B, and X buttons at the same time.
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Delete Save Data: After holding these buttons, a prompt will appear asking you if you want to delete your saved data. Confirm by selecting “Yes.”
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Start a New Game: Once the data is deleted, launch Pokémon Y again, and you’ll be able to start fresh with a new save file.
Important Notes Before Restarting
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Backup Your Data: If you want to keep your old save data for future reference, consider using Pokémon Bank or transferring your Pokémon to a safe spot before deleting your data.
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Game Progress: Deleting your save will erase all progress, including Pokémon, items, and the story. Make sure you’re ready to start completely over!
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Compatibility with Other Games: The method to reset the game is consistent across different versions of Pokémon on the Nintendo 3DS, but be aware that restarting a game might not be possible on all devices or in all situations.
After Restarting: What’s Next?
Now that your game is restarted, it’s time to dive back into the adventure! You’ll begin the game with a fresh slate, so consider the following:
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Pick Your Starter Pokémon: The first choice you'll make is which starter Pokémon to choose. Take your time to think about the type advantages and how each Pokémon will help you throughout your journey.
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Catch 'Em All: As you venture through the world of Pokémon Y, remember that part of the fun is catching all the Pokémon you can. Get out there and start building your team!
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Explore Kalos: Pokémon Y is set in the Kalos region, and there’s a lot to discover. Take your time exploring, and be sure to talk to everyone for helpful items, moves, and Pokémon trades.
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New Experience: Now that you're starting over, try different strategies for team building, battling, and completing the Pokédex.
Conclusion
Whether you're starting fresh to try a new team, reliving the game’s early experiences, or fixing mistakes from a previous save, restarting Pokémon Y is an easy process. Just follow the methods outlined above and you’ll be back on your journey in no time.
Have you ever restarted your Pokémon Y game? What was your reasoning, and how did it impact your gameplay experience? Share your thoughts in the comments below!