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Since the first Pokémon game came out over 25 years ago, dozens of the best Pokémon games have been made, with the main series leading the way and many spin-offs giving everyone’s favorite Pocket Monsters a new spin. But which Pokémon games are the best of all time, better than any other game? Game Freak has been making Pokémon games for more than 25 years, and each new generation of gamers has found a new way to play.
Trainers who have been playing Pokémon for a long time and trainers who are just starting out are both drawn to these cute little monsters. Maybe people keep coming back because they want to catch them all. No matter why, people keep coming back to or starting with the Pokémon franchise. Here are the Pokémon games we think are the best of the best and that everyone should play.
Best Pokémon Games
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
Features
There are still a lot of ways we’d like to see the Pokémon series grow, but Pokémon Scarlet & Violet makes us excited about the future of the series, even though it has some major technical problems. We really hope that Game Freak can figure out how to fix the series’ ongoing performance problems on Switch, because they’re going to hurt the game a lot in the long run.
Scarlet & Violet is most fun and exciting when exploring the world. It adds and improves on the Pokémon formula in many small ways, but it still plays it safe in a few places. No matter what, things look good for Gen 9 and the years after that. It’s not as big of a step as some people might have hoped, especially after what Pokémon Legends: Arceus did, but it’s still a step in the right direction.
Pros
- Best plot of any Pokémon game
- Fun multiplayer
- Satisfying Open-world exploration
- Multiple activities to pursue
Cons
- Horrible performance
- Limited clothing options
Pokémon Sword and Shield
Features
Pokémon Sword and Shield does bring some new ideas to the table, but there are still some places where it could go further. What’s done right is done right, but some parts feel like they came from a design document from ten years ago. Some parts of it are the best the series has ever been, but sometimes these happy parts are ruined by other parts that make us sad.
It was a mixed bag, from the pure joy and wonder of seeing a brand-new Pokémon in a stadium full of cheering fans to the boring and drawn-out dialogue we just wanted to skip. The best part of exploring the Wild Area is how it feels like the series has really grown. Overall, it is one of the best Pokémon Games that you can download from here.
Pros
- New competitive items
- New Pokémon and galarian forms
- Better character customization
- Dyna and gigantamax
- Controllable camera
Cons
- Pokedex is 900+ strong, you can only use 400
- Paying 50% more for 60% less Pokémon than the 3ds games.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus
Features
The newest game in the Pokémon Legends series is Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Early feedback suggests that fans like the new way it lets them collect monsters. Like Pokémon Go, Pokémon Legends: Arceus puts more of an emphasis on collecting than on fighting. This goes back to the “Gotta Catch ‘Em All” philosophy that drove the series when it was at its best.
In our review, we pointed out that the graphics and open world of Pokémon Legends: Arceus don’t quite match the game’s creativity. But by setting the rules for how we play Pokémon, the game boldly changes how we explore, catch, and fight, making the whole thing a very smooth and fun experience.
Pros
- Open world is a joy to explore
- High leveled Pokémon being able to attack you with no limitations
- The way the overworld is designed for Pokémon spawns
Cons
- repetitive boss battles
- no following Pokémon
New Pokémon Snap
Features
Back in the day, the first Pokémon Snap was a strange and wonderful little game ahead of its time. And now, New Pokémon Snap is a beautiful new way to enjoy taking pictures of Pokémon. The second game has many more Pokémon, areas, puzzles, and photo opportunities than the first game could have imagined.
The creatures in New Pokémon Snap are cute and real. They interact with each other, the world, and the player in more and more delightful ways. It always makes players want to go on just one more adventure to figure out how to get all of the rare and beautiful shots. And the new DLC makes it worth coming back to play again.
Pros
- Beautiful graphics & stages
- Very well-structured environments
- Great level variety
- Intuitive controls
Cons
- Very monotonous
- Feels incredibly dated
- No real incentive to keep playing
Pokémon Sun and Moon
Features
Pokémon Sun and Moon is like taking a Pokémon-themed vacation in the tropics. It’s colorful and bright and a little bit different from what you’re used to. The Alola region was a nice breath of fresh air for the series because it greatly changed the setting and had unique Pokémon that fit the region’s theme. But it wasn’t all beaches and sunshine.
Some of the Alolan designs are memorable, but everyone will always remember the powerful Alolan Exeggutor. The change from the usual gym battles was also strange, making Sun and Moon feel like it took much longer to get going than the earlier games. Also, there isn’t a lot to do after you finish the main storyline.
Pros
- Incredible visual overhaul
- Battle Royal is superb
- New Pokémon the best entries in years
- Laugh-out-loud funny at times
Cons
- Gameplay tweaks make main narrative a little too easy
- Some performance dips
Pokémon Black and White
Features
Pokémon Black and White is a bit of an odd duck in the main series. Other entries often overshadow it in the series because its Pokémon designs aren’t as memorable, but its more mature tone and interesting plot still make it stand out. With Black and White 2, Pokémon fifth generation is the only one to get a direct sequel.
It puts more emphasis on its stories and plays with the idea of right and wrong. In this one, the bad guys aren’t as obviously bad as Team Rocket always seems to be with how they treat Pokémon and cut off their tails. Instead, Black and White is about a group called Team Plasma. They think Pokémon should be free to roam and not be tied down by a trainer.
Pros
- Good offenses and some strong moves
- High Speed
- High defenses
Cons
- Low defenses
- Low speed
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond
Features
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, which will come out in November 2021 for the Nintendo Switch, are “faithful” remakes of the DS games Diamond & Pearl. You have to save the world from Team Galactic and its leader, Cyrus, in the Sinnoh region. Even though it has a lot of the same parts as the originals.
It also has new things like a revamped Grand Underground, a new way to use HMs, the ability to walk with your Pokémon outside of their Poke Ball, and more. And if that wasn’t exciting enough, the games also come with the National Pokedex up to Gen IV, so players can catch a total of 493 Pokémon.
Pros
- Excellent nostalgia trip
- Great quality of life additions
- Good amount of side content
Cons
- Inconsistent quality-of-life additions
- Needed more creative risks
Pokémon X and Y
Features
X and Y had a hard time from the beginning. After a string of games that were great in almost every way, X and Y’s slow pace and different art style came as a surprise. Some people were amazed by the 3D graphics and mega evolutions, but what really stood out in X and Y were the improvements to the quality of life.
Trading, training, and fighting were easier and more fun using the 3DS’s much better multiplayer features and technology. The orchestrated music, which had never been in a Pokémon game before, also made a big impression. Even minigames like Pokémon-amie and Super Training and the things you could do after the game was over made competitive Pokémon battles much easier for newcomers to get into.
Pros
- That some elements of the franchise are in dire need of update
- Strange technical and consistency problems
Cons
- That some elements of the franchise are in dire need of update
- Strange technical and consistency problems
FAQs
What is considered the best Pokémon game?
- Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen
- Pokémon Conquest
- Pokémon Emerald
- Pokémon Go
What is the most popular Pokémon game 2022?
As of December 2022, Pokémon Red/Green/Blue was the best-selling video game in the franchise all over the world, selling more than 31.38 million copies. Pokémon Sword/Shield was the first full Pokémon game to come out on Nintendo Switch. It came in second place with 25.68 million units sold.
What is the hardest Pokémon game?
Pokémon Platinum has to be the hardest Pokémon game because it has all the polish that the original Sinnoh games sorely lacked.
What is the highest selling Pokémon?
The Pikachu Illustrator card, which sold for $5.275 million in July 2021, is the most expensive Pokémon card. Only one PSA 10 is known to exist. It’s the Holy Grail of Pokémon card collecting.