Looking to jump into the world of Pokémon but don’t know where to start? Here’s our ranked list of every Pokémon game (plus spin-offs and remakes) to consider.
For more than 25 years, developer Game Freak has found a way to reinvent the Pokémon franchise for each new generation of gamers. Both brand-new Pokémon trainers and seasoned Pokémon masters are captivated by these cute (and sometimes scary) little monsters. Maybe it’s the drive to catch ’em all that keeps players coming back. Or perhaps it’s how adorable these little pocket monsters can be. Whatever the reason, players continue to return to or start exploring the Pokémon franchise. Between new main series titles that bring new regions and Pokémon into the mix, like Pokemon Legends: Arceus or the upcoming duo Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, remakes, and spinoffs, there’s a massive library of Pokémon to choose from. Everyone has their favorites, but some are arguably better than others. We divided every Pokémon game into a couple of categories and ranked them accordingly. Further reading
Since Game Freak has been around for so long and has produced so many different versions of Pokémon, we decided to share which Pokémon games we think would be best for newcomers. We’ve also included some of the best spin-off Pokémon games and Pokémon game remakes so new players can explore the vast world of Pokémon in different ways. It’s important to remember that, in the world of Pokémon, “best” and “worst” are relative. Every entry on this list is great, but if you’re looking for a good entry into the universe, these are what we suggest. Starter Pokémon: Chikorita, Cyndaquil, Totodile
Pokémon Gold and Silver added 100 Pokémon to the original 151, including arguably the best trio of starters Pokémon has seen. Beyond adding to the Pokédex, generation two made great strides in multiple areas over the original. For starters, you now had to think about the time of day when trying to catch new Pokémon, as the day/night cycle smartly added a layer of depth to your time spent in the long grass. Gold and Silver added the Kanto region to the map, connecting Johto with the landmass that started the phenomenon. With 16 gym leaders to best, Gold and Silver remain the deepest, lengthiest Pokémon games ever created. Adding to the systems seen in Pokémon Yellow, generation two leaned into dual types, allowing you to make a more varied and strategically diverse team to bring into battle. The Johto region happens to be our favorite to explore as well and has the best legendary birds (Lugia and Ho-Oh). This installment also added the three legendary dog Pokémon — Raikou, Suicune, and Entei — which could be found roaming throughout Johto after an initial static encounter. We’d be remiss not to mention HeartGold and SoulSilver, the enhanced DS remakes of Gold and Silver, but we’ll get to that in our remake-specific section below. Starter Pokémon (Blue/Red): Charmander, Squirtle, Bulbasaur
Starter Pokémon (Yellow): Pikachu
Partly due to nostalgia, partly due to how these games still feel great today, generation one’s trio of excellent Pokémon games take our second spot. To this day, generation one has the best collection of Pokémon. We’ll never forget the original 151 nor Ash’s first adventure. From the opening moments in Pallet Town to choosing your first starter, racking up gym badges, fighting off Team Rocket, and defeating the Elite Four, Pokémon Red and Blue just feel right. Sure, some of the deeper mechanics the series is known for now aren’t present in the original games, but there’s something about their streamlined identity that still brings a smile to our faces. Pokémon Yellow brought the series to full color, and having Pikachu by our side made us truly feel like we were Ash on a journey to catch ’em all. Generation one will always hold a special place in our hearts. It’s magical. Starter Pokémon: Treecko, Torchic, Mudkip
Generation three is when Pokémon games really started to lean into natures, EV systems, and IV systems, emphasizing not only the species but the specific member of that species in your party. The power of the best Game Boy Advance games made each model of the now 386 Pokémon more vibrant. While we think the 135 new Pokémon as a group didn’t compare to the 100 added in gen two, Ruby and Sapphire had one of the neater regions. The Hoenn island region felt larger than previous regions and was generally a more interesting area to explore. A pair of stellar gen three remakes, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, are available on Nintendo 3DS. Starter Pokémon: Rowlet, Cyndaquil, Oshawott
There is some question as to whether Pokemon Legends: Arceus is technically a mainline title. Regardless of how you feel, there is no doubt that this is an ambitious and fresh take on the series. We praised Pokémon Legends: Arceus in our review for the way it, “…makes bold changes to the tried-and-true formula, successfully kicking off Pokémon’s long-needed reinvention.” Capturing and battling Pokémon meets a Breath of the Wild-like open world in a game that may shape the future of the series for years to come. It’s helped back a bit by the Nintendo Switch’s technical limitations, but the Pokédex system and outstanding battling make this a can’t miss Pokémon entry. Starter Pokémon: Grookey, Scorbunny, Sobble
The latest Pokémon games are the first mainline titles released as a Nintendo Switch game, and Game Freak has finally realized our longtime dream of having a fully 3D Pokémon adventure on a home console. In the British-themed Galar region, you can venture into the new Wild area and capture monsters, or follow the set pathways from town to town that have been in the series since the very beginning. Either way, Pokémon are now just out and about instead of being hidden in randomized encounters, so frustration is greatly reduced. With 400 Pokémon to catch and the addition of the Dynamax system to power up your monsters, Pokémon Sword and Shield can keep you busy for hours. However, the removal of longtime monsters from the game, including Psyduck and Squirtle, does mean you can’t catch ‘em all this time. Fortunately, with the arrival of the game’s Isle of Armor DLC and Crown Tundra DLC, you’ll have a chance to see new environments in the Galar region, catch new Pokémon, and battle new foes. Starter Pokémon: Rowlet, Litten, Popplio
Sun and Moon and the enhanced Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon switched up the standard Pokémon progression a bit. Set across the islands of Alola, Sun and Moon introduced players to Team Skull and the Aether Foundation, a group dedicated to protecting Pokémon. Rather than progressing through various towns’ gyms, you had to complete island trials, which typically included a small dungeon and a battle with a powerful Pokémon. Afterward, you’d be able to battle the island’s Kahuna. The 80 new Pokémon were some of the most interesting to be added since the early games, and the Alolan versions of original Pokémon felt inspired. Z-Moves, Ultra Beasts, and an expanded take on Mega Evolutions added welcome mechanics into the fold. There was even a Pokémon Snap-style mini-game, making this one of the best 3DS games you can buy. Starter Pokémon: Chespin, Fennekin, Froakie
Pokémon X and Y marked the series’ first truly 3D experience. The camera perspective switched from top-down to a closer, behind-the-body angle, which gave the world of Pokémon a sense of scope it hadn’t seen before.
