The best Pokemon games: every Pokemon game ranked

Every Pokémon game and generation, ranked from best to worst

Author:
Dave Aubrey and Ryan Woodrow
Publish date:
Jan 2, 2024 6:35 AM EST

The Pokémon series has now persevered for more than two decades and is still one of the most popular and therefore profitable media franchises the world has ever seen. An incredibly successful anime series, several movies, and more merchandise than is reasonable to list are partially responsible for all of that, but it’d be worthless without the best Pokémon video games.

Pokémon is a game series first and foremost, and whenever a Pokémon game launches, it’s destined for success. In this list, we’re ranking each and every Pokémon game and generation, and ranking them from best to worst.

If you want more cute monsters, take a look at our list of the best starter Pokémon.

Pokémon HeartGold & SoulSilver

The Johto games are already among the greatest in the franchise, so it's no surprise that these remakes pushed it over the top. Where later generations would take a slightly lazier approach with remakes, HeartGold and SoulSilver went all out. As a result, they feel like they were made by people who have a lot of love and care for the originals, making improvements in every aspect, even going so far as to add completely new features and side activities.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus

This does count as a mainline Pokémon game, despite not being a new generation, and not being like any other Pokémon game, well, ever. Pokémon Legends: Arceus has very little turn-based battling, instead filling your time with stealth-catching Pokémon by hiding in the tall grass and aiming your Poké Balls towards a Pokémon’s weakpoint. You can battle them of course, but there are fewer than ten trainer battles in the game, and bigger boss battles are closer to action challenges, filled with dodging and attacking. Great fun, and very refreshing.

Pokémon Black & White, Black 2 & White 2

Pokemon Black & White Castellia Bridge — Nintendo

Wouldn’t you know it, it’s another generation that has a direct sequel. Once again the tone of the main series games darkened, and the moral ethics of catching monsters in order to make them battle is brought into question by the game’s antagonist. In many ways Black & White brings the series back to basics, which felt like a bold new direction at the time. Still an essential game in the series to play.

Pokémon Conquest

Giving Pokémon the full tactical RPG treatment is something that needed to happen eventually, and should happen again because Pokémon Conquest is brilliant. The many different facest of Pokémon battling translate so brilliantly into the TRPG genre, and the story is just enough to keep you hooked from beginning to end. If there's any spin-off game on this list that we want a sequel to, it's this one.

Pokémon Scarlet & Violet

Pokemon Koraidon and Miraidon — Nintendo

The Gen 9 games get rightly derided for their terrible performance and numerous bugs that remain unfixed to this day, but underneath all of that is one of the better Pokémon games ever released. The full open-world format made for a much more enjoyable adventure full of characters more impactful and memorable than any the series has produced in a long time.

Pokémon Go

The so-called "hardcore" fans can whine about how this game is for "causals" all they want, the fact is Pokémon Go was a phenomenon like no other in the franchise. It's easy to scoff and call it overhyped in 2023, but back in 2016 the absolute dominance this game held over everyone's lives was unbelievable. Whether you still play now, or just have fond memories, Pokémon Go is a fantastic and unique experience.

Pokémon Gold, Silver, & Crystal

The second Pokémon generation might still be one of the best. This was the sequel to the first generation, and not just by virtue of being the follow-up – these games were set just two years after the events of Red & Blue, and even returns you to Kanto, where you can see how the characters and world have progressed over time. Add to that the slightly darker tone of Johto and the new time mechanics, and this was a truly groundbreaking experience.

Pokémon Red, Blue, & Yellow

It could be the nostalgia talking, but the first generation really was incredible. It was in development for years while under the supervision of legendary Nintendo developers like Shigeru Miyamoto, and when it finally launched it took the world by storm. If these games flopped, Pokémon as we know it probably wouldn’t exist, so it’s probably a good thing that the Western world never saw the earlier – and rougher – Pokémon Green.

Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, & Platinum

Pokemon Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina at Spear Pillar — Nintendo

The first Nintendo DS outing for a mainline Pokémon game introduced so much that is now inseparable from the series. Online trading and battles were introduced to the world, and it opened up a brand new way to collect and compete in the Pokémon ecosystem. Diamond and Pearl feel a little bit lacking when it comes to the core game, but Platinum beefs up the experience and makes it a truly memorable generation.

Pokémon Sun & Moon, Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon

A trip to the tropical islands of Alola is exactly what the series needed at this point, and once again it changes how Pokémon games play. Gym Leaders have been abandoned in favor of new Island Trials, each of which are unique takes on Pokémon gameplay. The adventure is pretty standard other than that, but the post-game in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon remains one of the best in the series.

Pokémon Snap

The original Pokémon Snap and its new counterpart are a wonderful way to sit back and enjoy the beauty of the Pokémon world. We so often only get to see Pokémon in the heat of battle that it's such a joyous experience to watch them go about their lives in the wild. All of these personalities that we've protected upon them finally come to life in all their glory - every Pokémon fan should try these games once.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon

What the Mystery Dungeon games do better than anything else in the franchise is the writing. It taps into all the right aspects of the Pokémon world, taking out humans and showing us was a Pokémon-only society would look like. They manage the tone perfectly, with compelling characters, and genuinely great narratives. On top of that, the dungeon-crawling gameplay is top-notch and gets better with every new installment. Hopefully there is a new one coming soon.

Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire

ORAS did a lot to improve the original Generation 3 games, which already had a lot going for them. While they didn't do anything quite on the scale of HeartGold & SoulSilver, they did give us cool features like Super Secret Bases, Soaring, and the Delta Episode. It does the job, serving as the definitive way to venture around the Hoenn region.

Pokemon Pinball

Pinball games are always great – except for that one level in Sonic Frontiers – so putting a Pokémon coat of paint on it is a sure-fire recipe for success. It’s the kind of game you can always boot up and mess around with for a little while, even now.

Pokken Tournament

A Pokémon fighting game is a concept so obvious it's amazing it took until 2015 for a proper one to come about. While it was never going to compete with the kings of the genre, it has solid fighting mechanics and a fairly active competitive scene. Not to mention it is the best graphical representation of Pokémon performing moves in any game in the franchise.

Pokémon Let's Go! Pikachu & Let's Go! Eevee

Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee — Nintendo

While Red and Blue had already seen remakes, those remakes are older than the Nintendo DS, so it's no surprise that the Switch got a new visit to Kanto.

While it falls into some of the limitations that came with Generation 1, it's a solid remake that faithfully brings the originals to a modern console. The art style is vibrant with modern pop but still feels reminiscent of those old Game Boy sprites. Plus, with only 151 Pokémon to worry about, every creature got a full animation set, filled with unique touches. If you've ever needed proof that only implementing a limited number of Pokémon is a good thing, then just look at all the adorable touches in this game's walking and riding animations.

Pokémon Unite

In hindsight, a Pokémon MOBA always felt like an inevitability. These are games known for their large rosters of colorful characters, so Pokémon is a perfect fit in many ways. What we got with Unite is…fine. It’s more accessible to new players than something like Dota or League of Legends, but it falls short of the extremely high skill ceiling those games have, with an overall lack of complexity.

Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, & Emerald

The third generation was incredibly strong. Wishing to set things apart from earlier games in the series, Ruby & Sapphire doesn’t feature any older Pokémon by default, instead being filled with an all-new cast, in a new region, with no connections to earlier generations other than a few off-hand mentions by NPCs. The region might have too much water (it really does, okay?), but the story of Groudon and Kyogre’s battle felt like the most epic in the series so far, and Emerald really brought it to life, as far as GBA games go.

Pokemon Rumble

If you’re like me then you’ll remember Pokémon Rumble as a fun yet fairly unremarkable game on the DS that came out during Gen 4. You’ll be shocked to hear that there are five games in the series, the most recent of which launched on mobile in 2019. There’s just something about this fast-paced battling game with a unique art style that draws people in and keeps it alive even now.

Pokémon Masters EX

How much you like Pokémon Masters EX depends on how accustomed you are to the mobile gaming world. The simple 3-on-3 battle system is pretty fun as a casual experience but doesn’t have much depth compared to the main series of RPGs. Plus, the gacha system can be offputting to many. Still, it’s a very good encapsulation of all things Pokémon, bringing in characters from the games and anime, and pouring them into a satisfying fan service bucket.

Pokémon Colosseum

The GameCube games were the first real opportunity for us to see what a fully 3D Pokémon RPG could look like before the Nintendo Switch game along, and while they certainly had their flaws, they're still great entires in the series. Whether you were in it for the story mode or the pure-battling mode, there was something here for every Pokémon fan.

Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness

Pokemon XD Gale of Darkness double battle — Nintendo

While it wasn't looked upon quite as favorably as it's predecessor, Gale of Darkness still has a strong cult following in the fanbase today. Shadow Pokémon are an innately cool concept, and while the purification process was a bit tedious at times, it was a proper challenge that required similar levels of commitment to completing a Pokédex in the main games.

Pokémon Ranger

Pokemon Ranger Guardian Signs — Nintendo

The Ranger games can be a little controversial. The writing in all of them is pretty great, with Shadows of Almia being a particular standout, but the gameplay is often looked back on as a bit gimmicky. The truth is that, while it can get a bit tiresome, there's still a lot of fun to be had, and it makes use of the DS's touchscreen better than any other Pokémon game.

Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen

Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen — Nintendo

As the first remakes in the franchise, they lack a little of the charm and care that the later generations would have. Things like the Sevi Isles are a cool new addition, but it doesn't feel particularly special thanks to a more recent Gen 1 remake that surpassed it.

Pokémon Sword & Shield

The main problem with Sword & Shield is how lifeless the world feels. Go back even one generation and you'll find the vibrant world of Alola with a strong theme and charisma in every corner. Galar, and especially the Wild Area, feels a bit dead in comparison. There are a couple of cool towns, but you barely spend any time in them, so there's no opportunity to connect.

The DLCs went a long way to improving this, with more intricate and detailed open areas, but they can't lift the rest of the game up from the rut it fell into.

Pokémon Cafe Mix

There’s not much to say about this fairly inoffensive mobile game. The gameplay is that basic yet addictive loop that you can find in plenty of other games, but it has a nice Pokémon-themed coat of paint. The art style is nice to look at, and all of the Pokémon are so adorable in their barista outfits.

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl

Where the other remakes in the franchise looked to expand the originals in some small way, BDSP does absolutely nothing. It's not surprising given these weren't developed entirely by Game Freak, but there's a lack of love in these remakes that the others have. The Grand Underground is the only attempt at something new, but its such a minor feature in the grand scheme of things that it's barely worth mentioning.

Pokémon X & Y

The nostalgia cycle will inevitably cause a rise of fans claiming this game is "actually the best", but X & Y simply don't hold up. As the first 3D games in the franchise, they made huge strides technologically. They not only created a great region in Kalos but successfully turned all 720ish Pokémon at the time into 3D models.

However, that doesn't make up for a very boring story with some of the worst rivals in the franchise. Mega-Evolution was a cool mechanic, but the series' habit of immediately dropping these gimmicks renders it worthless now. Plus, they're simply far too easy, even when considering them from the point of view of a child experiencing the series for the first time.

Detective Pikachu

It's a good job this game got the Ryan Reynolds treatment, otherwise, it probably would've become a bit of a forgotten game. It's not bad by any stretch, but there's something about this game that doesn't quite land, and it doesn't have the wow factor of realistic CGI Pokémon to overcome the middling story like the film did.

Hey You, Pikachu!

Plenty of games have tried to use voice recognition as a control scheme and most of them are enjoyable for the first five minutes. After that, you realize that even modern voice technology is dodgy at best, and this is a game from 1998. It’s a cute concept and it’s nice to watch a playthrough, but unless you want to be shouting obscenities at an electric mouse who can’t understand you, don’t play it.