Since the series first debuted over 27 years ago, dozens of Pokemon games have been released, with the main series leading the way and numerous spin-offs offering new takes on everyone's favorite Pokemon. . But which is the best Pokemon game ever?
IGN's team of resident Pokémon enthusiasts battled it out (in our words) to determine this list of the top 10 best Pokémon games of all time.
You can also jump to articles about the latest games in the series. pokemon scarlet and violetcontains information about the latest DLC (The Teal Mask and The Indigo Disk).
10. Pokemon Legend: Arceus
Pokémon Legends: Arceus is the latest game in the series, and early releases suggest its fresh approach to monster collecting is resonating with fans. Like Pokémon Go, Pokémon Legends: Arceus focuses more on collection than combat, returning to the “Gotta Catch 'Em All” spirit that propelled the series in its heyday.
In our review, we expressed concerns about Pokémon Legends: Arceus's graphics and open world, but they didn't give it enough credit for its innovation.But the game boldly evolves as it defines how to play Pokémon How you explore, capture, and fight, all wrapped up into an incredibly seamless, addictive, and fun experience. In that respect, it deserves to be considered one of the best Pokemon games.
9. New Pokemon Snap
The original Pokémon Snap was a weird and wonderful little experience that was way ahead of its time at the time. And now, the new Pokémon Snap is a brilliant reimagining of the fun of Pokémon photography. The sequel has more Pokémon, areas, puzzles, and photo possibilities than the original game ever dreamed of.
The creatures in New Pokémon Snap are adorable and vibrant, interacting with each other, the world, and the player in increasingly fun ways. The player always wants to go on just one more expedition to solve the mystery of how to capture all the rare and beautiful shots. And the new DLC makes it worth revisiting further. New Pokémon Snap is the ideal expansion to one of his most original spin-offs to date, and that's saying something.
8. Pokemon Sword/Shield
Pokémon Sword and Shield has brought a surprising amount of quality of life improvements to both casual gym badge earners and competitive battlers alike. Not bad for a game that doesn't have a comprehensive national Pokémon encyclopedia. Most of the random encounters are replaced with Pokémon frolicking in an innovative new Wild Area-like overworld, making exploration and backtracking smooth and easy. Pokémon moves can be changed freely at any Pokémon Center, so choosing a new move doesn't have to be a difficult decision with consequences. And with the introduction of new items like Nature Mints and other breeding mechanics, battle-ready Pokémon are more realistically within reach.
By removing these long-standing barriers, experimentation, creativity, and fun are now flowing in Sword and Shield like never before.
7. Pokemon Puzzle League
Pokémon Puzzle League is quietly one of the best-looking games on the Nintendo 64. seriously. It borrows heavily from the look of anime from around the '90s, and includes clips, voice acting, and other elements commonly found on disc-based systems at the time. The otherwise unpretentious puzzle game is heavily infused with Pokemon, recreating the gym battles from the original game while also featuring duels with Team Rocket.
At its core, Pokémon Puzzle League is effectively a reskin of Panel de Pon. Panel de Pon is a great Super NES puzzle game where you clear blocks by placing colors in horizontal or vertical lines. Combined with the familiar look of the anime, it makes for a very entertaining competitive puzzle game that you can spend an entire afternoon on. Much loved by Pokemon fans and puzzle enthusiasts alike, it deserves to be remembered as a great Pokemon game in its own right.
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6. Pokemon GO
In 2016, the Pokémon Company partnered with augmented reality game developer Niantic to create Pokémon Go, a mobile game that took the world by storm. We all remember those magical summers when it seemed like virtually everyone was outside having their own personal Pokémon adventures. What started out as a simple premise of finding and catching Pokémon in real-world spaces has become a sprawling mobile game packed with so much more than Pokémon.
With the addition of everything from PVP battles to Team Rocket, Pokémon Go has become a surprisingly robust game. And thanks to numerous updates adding new Pokémon, special spawn events, and even Pokémon Go Fest, which brings trainers from around the world together to play together, it shows no signs of slowing down. An endlessly fun experience.
5.Pokemon Emerald
Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire were worthy successors to Gold and Silver, introducing double battles, abilities, and traits, but it was Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire that took everything that was good about those games and honed them into something truly legendary. It was Pokemon Emerald. Arguably the most fleshed-out “third” version in the franchise's history, it made some worthwhile changes. At the top of the list is Battle Frontier, making it the most complete and rewarding postgame content in the series.
With seven different “Frontier Brain” trainers competing at seven different facilities, this event provided trainers with a serious challenge that has probably never been met since. It's a testament to its timeless quality that even 20 years after its release, Pokémon Emerald retains its place as one of the best Pokémon games of all time.
4. Conquer Pokemon
Pokémon Conquest is a unique and can't-miss Pokémon game. Yes, this combination of Pokémon and the strategy game Nobunaga's Ambition was a completely out-of-the-box idea, but it works surprisingly well and is one of the best Pokémon spin-offs out there. Pokémon Conquest exists in its own wonderful world with its own rules, where warriors link Pokémon rather than catch them, and grow and “evolve” with them.
Collecting sets of both vibrant characters (sometimes drawn from history) and cool Pokémon adds a new twist to catching all the Pokémon. On the battlefield, environmental obstacles and placement added an extra strategic layer to a combat system that focuses on familiar elements from Pokémon. As a strategy RPG, Pokémon Conquest has its own flare that draws from both sources, making combos twice as appealing as he is.
3. Pokemon Fire Red/Leaf Green
Indeed, Pokémon Red and Blue (or Green) are the games that started it all, and they deserve credit for establishing the global monster-catching phenomenon in the first place. But Game Freak proved with Fire Red and Leaf Green that nostalgia isn't everything, and even the rosiest of originals can be improved upon.
Fire Red and Leaf Green are great remakes, with tons of new features, including a recap of previous activities, a first attempt at wireless trading and combat, a brand new area of the Sevii Islands, and significant improvements to typing, combat, and Pokemon movement. It has been introduced. It has been added to over the generations since then. Red and Blue may continue to hold a warm place in our hearts after all these years, but the best way to re-experience the wonderful region of Kanto is through Fire Red and Leaf Green. is to do.
2.Pokemon Black 2/White 2
The fifth generation was a revolutionary era for the Pokémon series, and the first-ever direct sequels, Pokémon Black 2 and Pokémon White 2, encapsulate everything that's great about the Pokémon series. The original Black and White games laid a solid foundation by introducing the Unova region filled with all-new Pokémon, an engaging story with the greatest rivalry of all time (N), and absolutely tear-jerking music. Ta. And the sequel spiked everything up. To new heights. The huge Pokédex features creative monster designs and unique typings, most notably a mix of legacy Pokémon that makes early game team-building even more exciting. The story builds on the events of the first game and provides an epic and hard-earned payoff throughout the story. And visually, Black 2 and White 2 takes full advantage of Nintendo DS hardware to deliver breathtaking 3D vistas, dense cities, cinematic bridge crossings, and Provides intricate detail. Needless to say, the Black 2 and White 2 postgame is great. Capture numerous legends, hone your fighting skills in Black Tower and White Tree Hollow, and try your luck in Battle His Subway and Pokémon World Tournaments. These games provide the ultimate Pokemon experience.
1.Pokemon HeartGold/SoulSilver
Simply put, Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver are amazing. After all, the original Pokémon Gold and Silver were near-perfect sequels. They expanded the first generation Pokédex, added two new types of him that greatly rebalanced the weakness/resistance chart, and included the entire Kanto region as a bonus for players who defeated Johto's Elite 4. It is famous. Crystal then took these games and added the option to play as a male or female trainer, animated Pokémon sprites, and enhanced the story with a focus on Suicune.
And somehow, Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver were created using those original games. even better We've updated the graphics in virtually every way, including some core and quality of life changes from the 4th generation games, creating what is arguably the best Pokémon experience ever. There's nothing more thrilling, challenging, and downright rewarding in Pokémon than battling Red and giving it your all to become the best that anyone has ever been.
How many Pokemon games are there?
Spanning nine generations, there are a total of 34 Pokémon games in the core series, starting with Pokémon Red and Blue and ending with Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Check out our list of all Pokemon games on Switch for the most accessible titles.
Upcoming Pokemon games
With the release of two DLCs for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, the ninth generation of Pokémon games is likely coming to an end. We don't yet know when the 10th generation will be announced, but we probably won't see any new Pokemon titles until the Nintendo Switch 2 is released. That being said, Palworld's recent release and success leaves the door open for more games. like Pokemon will arrive by then.
Here is a list of the top 10 best Pokemon games of all time. Thanks for watching! That's it! Hit the comments section and let us know what you think of the list and what's trending. I know you have them. And what is your favorite game in the Pokemon series? Check out our step-by-step guide to the best Pokemon movies and Pokemon games. See you next time on IGN!