For 27 years, Pokémon games have captured the hearts and minds of players of all ages. After playing through all of them, we’ve picked out the top 15+ Pokémon games and ranked them.
Pokémon is one of the most influential franchises ever, covering TV shows, movies, games, toys, and collectible cards. It started in 1996 and has made over $100 billion, making it the most profitable franchise ever.
A big part of this success comes from the video games. There are over 100 Pokémon games, and they’ve sold half a billion copies. Picking and ranking the best ones was not an easy task.
Pokemon GO
Niantic’s Pokemon GO has changed mobile gaming since it came out for iOS and Android in July 2016. By early 2019, it had reached a billion downloads worldwide and made $3 billion.
Playing this popular game on your phone while you’re out and about is a big draw for many people. The idea of seeing your favorite Pokemon “in real life” excites even the most serious fans.
The game is also updated regularly with new events, Community Days to catch rare Pokemon, and special tasks throughout the year. It’s not a traditional Pokemon game, but it’s a fun and easy game to play on the go.
Pokemon Crystal
Pokemon Crystal, released in 2001, improved on what Pokemon Gold and Silver started. These games took the best parts of the first Pokemon games and made them even better.
This generation added some important new features: you could play as a girl, the Pokemon moved in battle, the colors were brighter, and you could breed Pokemon and grow berries. It also introduced two new Pokemon types and items that are still important in battles today.
However, like the first Pokemon games, Crystal can be a bit hard to play now. It’s better than Red and Blue but still has problems with leveling up your Pokemon, a less exciting list of Pokemon, and a version of the Kanto region that isn’t as good as it could be.
Pokemon Sword & Shield
Released in November 2019 for the Nintendo Switch, Pokemon Sword & Shield introduced a new region called Galar, inspired by the United Kingdom. The game also brought a new battle feature called Dynamax and Gigantamax.
The Galarian Pokedex added many new Pokemon, as well as special regional forms for familiar ones like Ponyta, Corsola, and Weezing.
However, many players were upset because the National Dex was removed, making hundreds of Pokemon unavailable for the first time in a main series game. Despite this, Sword and Shield are still enjoyable games that fans like to revisit occasionally.
Pokemon Sun & Moon
In Pokémon Sun and Moon, players travel to the Alola region, which is inspired by Hawaii. Instead of the usual Gym battles, players take on special challenges called trials.
The Pokedex, which is the guidebook for Pokémon, is replaced by the Rotomdex, a Pokémon that helps as a guide. Pokémon can also use powerful moves called Z-Moves once per battle, making for some exciting moments.
Overall, these games are a great addition to the series and bring some fresh changes. However, the beginning of the game can feel slow, a problem that the sequel improves on.
Pokemon Ranger
Some fans say Pokemon games are boring and don’t change much. But sometimes, the series comes out with really unique games. Pokemon Ranger is a great example and one of the best games for the DS.
In Pokemon Ranger, players catch Pokemon by drawing circles with the DS stylus. This was a fun and creative use of the DS’s touchscreen.
Sadly, the series has mostly ended because the Nintendo Switch’s touchscreen isn’t good for this type of game. Even so, we hope this amazing game can come back someday in some way.
Pokemon FireRed & LeafGreen
As mentioned before, Generation 1 of Pokémon is famous but has some problems that can make it frustrating to play. However, there’s a great way to enjoy the Kanto region in 2023. Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen are remakes of Gen 1 released in 2004. They fix most of the original problems while keeping the charm.
Almost every important update from Generations 2 and 3 is in FireRed and LeafGreen. GameFreak also added new areas like the Sevii Islands, the Vs. Seeker expanded the story, and much more. There are so many updates that it would take another 1,000 words to list them all.
If you want to enjoy Kanto at its best, these games are perfect. They show what a good remake should be, and we hope future remakes will be more like these and less like Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.
Pokemon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire
In 2014, the games Ruby and Sapphire from 2002 were remade for the Nintendo 3DS as Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. These new versions changed the old 2D-pixel style to a more modern look.
One of the exciting features for fans was Mega Evolution, a special upgrade for certain Pokemon. This feature was first seen in Pokemon X & Y. In Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, several popular Pokemon from the third generation, like the starter Pokemon, Altaria, Salamence, and Rayquaza, could Mega Evolve.
The Delta Episode, a special part of the game after the main story, was very popular. It had a fun ending featuring the Pokemon Deoxys, which made long-time fans happy. However, many players were disappointed that the Battle Frontier, a popular feature from the earlier game Pokemon Emerald, was not included in these remakes.
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky
Although critics didn’t love Explorers of Sky when it first came out, it is still a favorite among Pokémon fans. This game, released in 2009 for the DS, is an improved version of Explorers of Time & Darkness. It added many new features to the popular roguelike series.
Explorers of Sky introduced new items that looked like others and added more Pokémon, including Shaymin Village, Spinda’s Café, four new starter Pokémon, and Special Episodes. The Special Episodes were especially liked because they added emotional backstories and redemption arcs to the story.
Even today, many consider Explorers of Sky to have one of the best stories in any Pokémon game. It might not be for everyone, but for those who loved it, it became an instant classic.
Pokemon Black & White
Pokemon Black and White for the Nintendo DS came out in the West in March 2011. Many people say it has one of the best stories in the series. The game takes place in the Unova region, where players have to fight against Team Plasma, a group that wants to cause trouble.
The game introduced 150 new Pokemon, the biggest addition to the Pokemon list since Ruby and Sapphire in 2002 for the Game Boy Advance.
With great sprite artwork and possibly the best story in the series, there are many reasons to play Black and White. However, it has some downsides, like not being able to use older Pokemon until after finishing the main game, and many new Pokemon designs that feel uncreative and add little to the game.
Pokemon Scarlet & Violet
Pokemon Scarlet & Violet are seen as really important for the Pokemon series. They’re the first open-world games, which means you can explore freely without limits. These games also set records when they were released.
The games take place in the Paldea region. You can go anywhere you want at your speed. There are three main stories: Gym Battles, Titan Pokemon to beat, and taking down Team Star Leaders. Plus, there’s lots to do after you finish the main game.
When the games first came out, some issues made it hard to enjoy. But overall, they’re a strong addition to the series. The switch to open-world gameplay is a big deal for Pokemon. The Area Zero part of the game after you finish is amazing.
Pokemon Black 2 & White 2
In 2012, Pokemon Black 2 and White 2 were released as sequels to the original Black and White games on the Nintendo DS. They continued the story in the Unova region, taking place two years after the events of the first games.
These new games introduced new places to explore and added three new Gym Leaders and a brand-new Champion. Like before, there were extra places to visit after finishing the main story, like the Skyarrow Bridge and the Battle Institute.
On the review site Metacritic, players gave the games a score of 7.7 out of 10, and critics gave them a score of 80. People had mixed feelings about going back to the Unova region.
A direct sequel is a great idea and it’s a shame Game Freak hasn’t done it again. Unova has always been a region with lots of personality, great storytelling, and wonderful characters, so it was a good choice to make a sequel. They didn’t change much in terms of gameplay, but Black & White 2 are still some of the best games in the series.
Pokemon Platinum
Pokemon Platinum is the ultimate game of Gen IV. It combines Pokemon Diamond and Pearl into one great experience.
You play in the Sinnoh region and try to save the world from Team Galactic boss, Cyrus. The story has lots of surprises that keep you interested.
Platinum has a great story, an iconic Elite Four, and fun gameplay. It also adds Looker, the Distortion World, and other improvements that make it the best Gen 4 game.
Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness
Five years after the Colosseum, Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness takes place. It’s about a new Trainer named Michael. He’s determined to stop Team Cipher from taking over the world.
In the game, there are new Pokemon to rescue and Shadow Lugia is a big part of the story. The final battle is one of the most exciting events in all of Pokemon games – it’s epic!
It’s been 17 years since Pokemon XD was released. Fans want Nintendo to remake or remaster these two GameCube games. We’re hoping for it too! Please, Nintendo.
Pokemon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon
Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon came out in November 2017. They brought back the Alola region, which is inspired by Hawaii. This time, the games had a different story compared to the earlier ones.
The games added five new Pokemon and some new Z-Moves. They also improved the Rotomdex. Now, it could become friendly with the player and even find items through something called the Roto Loto. This feature made Rotom more powerful.
Ultra Sun & Moon fixed a lot of problems with the original games, like the pacing. They also expanded on Ultra Beasts and added a real endgame feature called Ultra Warp Rides. These changes made the games much better.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus
Pokémon Legends Arceus was a big change that many Pokémon fans were hoping for. The game takes players back in time to an ancient Sinnoh region called Hisui. Here, you explore different environments and create the first Pokédex.
What made this game exciting was how you interact with wild Pokémon. You could sneak up and catch them, run away from strong Alpha Pokémon that could attack you, or just watch Pokémon in their natural habitat.
This is one of the best Pokémon games and shows that Game Freak can still make new and interesting games. It might not be the most beautiful game, but the gameplay and story are great. Hopefully, we get more Legends games in the future that build on what Arceus started.
Pokemon Emerald
Pokemon Emerald is the best version of Gen III, just as Platinum is for Gen IV. It has the Battle Frontier and lets you catch Rayquaza.
In Emerald, there are two bad guy teams, Team Aqua, and Team Magma, fighting to wake up Groudon and Kyogre. So, players have to work extra hard to save the Hoenn region.
Even though Omega Ruby and Sapphire came later, Emerald’s old-school 2D graphics and midi-style music make it nostalgic. It almost deserves the top spot, but not quite.
Pokemon HeartGold & SoulSilver
Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver were remakes released in 2010 for the Nintendo DS. They were based on the 1999 Game Boy Color games, Gold and Silver, which were the first to introduce Generation 2 of Pokemon.
These remakes tell the story of the Johto region and also allow players to explore the Kanto region from the original Red, Blue, and Yellow games after finishing the main story. This makes them much bigger than newer games like Sword & Shield, which have fewer things to do after the main story.
HeartGold and SoulSilver are the most complete games in the Pokemon series so far. They offer a lot of content, legendary Pokemon to catch, and an exciting ending where you battle Red on top of Mt. Silver. These are amazing games that every Pokemon fan should try.
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