[Top 10] Best Pokemon Games of All Time

Updated:

14 May 2023

Pokemon is nearly 30 years old now and has over 100 games spanning many genres beyond the original RPGs. So with so many out there, which are the best ones? And which have too much water? For a lifelong fan such as myself this is a tricky question to answer, and several worthy entries sadly couldn’t make the list. But as it stands now, these are what I would consider the ten best Pokemon games ever made.

10. Pokemon Legends Arceus - 2022 (Nintendo Switch)

Pokémon Legends: Arceus - Overview Trailer - Nintendo Switch

Pokemon’s first sort of attempt at an open world barely makes the list, although Sword and Shield almost took this spot due to having such memorable characters. And while those Galar games did provide me with a more pleasant experience overall, Legends Arceus arguably hits higher highs and is much more important for the series going forward. While it has some growing pains, it is a phenomenal first attempt to be sure.

Legends Arceus takes players back to an unspecified time in Sinnoh’s past when it was known as Hisui. This is a time when Trainers were scarce and Pokemon were much more violent, making the world a dangerous place. And that’s before the giant Alpha Pokemon start wreaking havoc.

What makes it stand out from the crowd is the freedom and danger this world brings. You are in complete control of your character and can freely throw Poke Balls at wild Pokemon. But with this freedom comes danger, as Pokemon can attack you as well. And you can “die”, making this the first Pokemon game where this can happen.

The true high point of Legends Arceus though is the story. To say it's one of the better Pokemon stories is an understatement (despite the relative lack of competition). It kept me interested and had a few surprises, which is more than can be said for most stories in the series.

The worldbuilding and lore on display here are quite impressive. Players familiar with the Sinnoh games will recognize many areas, both highlighted and somewhat hidden. This is especially the case in the central storyline that ends with the fight against Volo at Sinnoh’s highest peak.

The main story of the game revolves around the Diamond and Pearl clans, who honor Almighty Sinnoh as being of time and space respectively. For anyone familiar with Gen 4 there isn’t much mystery here, but it's still a solid story that leads to an epic battle against a master of time or space.

Then, just when you think it's over, Volo strikes. This “postgame” story is arguably the game’s highlight, ending in a battle with great music, a stunning backdrop, and one of the hardest fights in the series. Anyone who thinks they’re good at Pokemon is in for a rude awakening here.

This Action RPG stands as a bit of an oddity in its series due to casting aside much of what makes Pokemon Pokemon. And it has its fair share of issues as well, namely empty areas of little to do except catching Pokemon and a rather obnoxious level curve. But for what it did and what it signaled going forward, it's still one of the greats.

Choose This Game If You Like:

Challenging semi-open-world gameplay
Freedom of exploration
Major plot twists
Something new in your Pokemon
A deeper dive into the Sinnoh region

Volo about to attack the player in Legends Arceus’ climax

9. Pokemon Platinum Version - 2008-2009 (Nintendo DS)

Pokemon Platinum English Trailer

There was never any doubt Platinum would be on this list. It remains the definitive Sinnoh experience, even after the remakes. And while I don’t love this fourth-generation region as much as some people, it stands out enough to merit this ninth-place position. So let’s look at the land where history and myth seem to become one.

Pokemon Platinum was the fourth third version game released. And as evidenced by its placement here, it's one of the better ones as it fixed nearly every issue with the original Diamond and Pearl. As nearly any Pokemon fan will tell you: if you want to experience Sinnoh, play Platinum.

Platinum fixed the biggest issue prevalent in the original Sinnoh games: its extremely lackluster Pokedex. Infernape’s a decent Pokemon, but its popularity is due in large part due to it being one of two Fire-type lines in the original releases. And that’s just one example, not even getting into how several new Sinnoh Pokemon weren’t even obtainable until after Pokemon League. Platinum fixed all of this (and improved its overall slowness a good deal as well).

As such, Platinum is Sinnoh in its purest form. Sinnoh introduced a great deal of new Pokemon, including the likes of Lucario and Garchomp, many of which became fan favorites. Add to that the villainous Team Galactic with its new addition in Charon and newcomer/soon-to-be meme International Police detective Looker, and Platinum has a lot to offer.

Platinum’s story is rather straightforward, merely revolving around Team Galactic and the usual Gym challenge. This time around, the evil team seeks to use Dialga and Palkia to create a world free from emotions…. Okay, maybe not that straightforward. Team Galactic and its leader Cyrus may not be among my favorites of the teams, but it cannot be said they’re not ambitious.

For many though, the highlight of Sinnoh is its Champion Cynthia. People love her as a character, for being a difficult final boss in a normal easy series, and for the weight and mystery she brings to the series. I would agree with all three and definitely wish others could be more like her (looking at you Diantha).

Pokemon Platinum is the game that made me care about Sinnoh and I have to thank it for that. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have met the many great Pokemon (and Cynthia) that reside in this mountainous region. And a shout out to Doctor Who himself, the great detective Looker.

Choose This Game If You Like:

Challenging old-school Pokemon
Some fun characters who become series icons
A solid roster of new Pokemon
A region with well-thought-out history and lore
Looker

3D sprites showcasing new characters Charon (left) and Looker (right) standing in Eterna City

8. Pokemon FireRed Version and LeafGreen Version - 2004 (Game Boy Advance)

Pokemon FireRed/LeafGreen - Trailer E3 2004

It should come as no surprise to see a Kanto game on this list given how…. generous the Pokemon Company has been with this region. Counting Yellow, we have been here four times, seven if you count the Johto games. While it is understandable to a degree, I for one have developed some Kanto fatigue from all of this.

However, none of this diminishes the quality of FireRed and LeafGreen. These GBA remakes are much more refined and less buggy than the originals, which I only revisit for nostalgia. As for Let’s Go…. honestly, the less said about them the better.

This makes FireRed and LeafGreen the best way to experience Kanto, having the most content and only really lacking newer quality-of-life features. It remains pure Kanto and is still fairly challenging, albeit not to the level of some other entries.

As this is the Kanto games, there isn’t much story. It's just the Gyms and Team Rocket, whose plan is very straightforward even for Pokemon. That’s not to say it's bad, far from it. There’s a reason so many Kanto characters and Pokemon have such staying power. Kanto truly is the land of simple but effective.

So these games have iconic characters and Pokemon, a solid but not amazing region, and charming sprite art. And you can’t forget the…. kind of forgettable Sevii Islands postgame. Huh, guess I kind of forgot that. It's okay but far from the reason you’d play these games.

And of course there’s the original rival in Blue, still one of the best. Mr. “Smell ya later” himself is at his best here, with a still fantastic remix for his Champion theme.

Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen remain the definitive Kanto experience despite all the visits here, and it's not hard to see why. For all its flaws, this is still an iconic region that did birth the series. And that’s got to be worth something.

Choose This Game If You Like:

Seeing where it all began
Simple but fun game design
Memorable characters and Pokemon
A jerk rival
Team Rocket at its best

A very familiar scene remade in GBA glory

7. Pokemon HeartGold Version and SoulSilver Version - 2009-2010 (Nintendo DS)

Pokemon Heart Gold and Soul Silver Official English Trailer

Going from Kanto to… Kanto again. All jokes aside, the Johto remakes in HeartGold and SoulSilver do indeed include Kanto, and do still hold up remarkably well. Aside from one glaring issue, these games are some of the best in the series, and without said issue would likely rank quite a bit higher.

These games, remakes of the original Gold and Silver, are still the only time in the series a game has more than one region. Somehow the story is even more basic than in Kanto, featuring Team Rocket again but without their charismatic leader. The sheer amount of land to explore does make up for this though.

And with that land comes that issue and the only real negative with these games: the level scaling is terrible. Trainers jump from low 30s to low 40s in a short span, and then the Champion is 50 not much later. And that’s not even touching on the admirably very cool super boss in Red, who jumps over 20 levels from the last person you faced. It's an issue that can be overcome, but an issue nonetheless.

Returning to the good, Johto introduces many great Pokemon, including my favorite of all in Heracross, so of course it's special to me. There are some lackluster ones, but many were improved in later Gens, and others (looking at you babies) exist.

The new characters range from forgettable to some fairly good ones. Anyone who's played these games likely raged at Whitney’s Miltank at least once. And the rival Silver remains the best jerk rival in the series and has great development on top of that, making him an all-time great.

Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver are considered by many to be among the top if not number one in the series. And while I can’t place them that high due to the level scaling, it may not bother you as much as it does me. After all, these games do have a lot to offer, from their sprawling content to actually fun minigames. So don’t give Johto a miss.

Choose This Game If You Like:

A large amount of content
A jerky rival who actually grows as a person
Retreading old ground in a new way
Actually fun side content
Iconic and oft-forgotten Pokemon

Gold facing down the original legend on Mt. Silver

6. Pokemon Conquest - 2012 (Nintendo DS)

Nintendo DS - Pokémon Conquest E3 Trailer

Likely the most obscure game on this list (if that’s possible for Pokemon), Conquest is a crossover with the long-running strategy series Nobunaga’s Ambition. And yes, Nobunaga is here. Alongside many other names people who know the period will instantly recognize.

Pokemon Conquest does share some similarities with the core series. You play as a boy or girl, you have a partner Pokemon, and you’re on an adventure across the region. You challenge… warlords? The main villain is trying to conquer the region. Okay, hold up….

This is not your traditional Pokemon fare. In fact, it's the only Pokemon game quite like this, and that’s honestly a shame. While strategy RPGs aren’t for everyone, and this one isn’t perfect in its core gameplay, there is a lot of potential here that I would have loved to see grow.

Conquest’s story is surprisingly rather simple given its premise. You are a new hero who’s joined by the sister of the main villain, the previously mentioned Nobunaga. Together, you set out to gain the aid of the other warlords of Ransei (the game’s region) and stop Nobunaga, bringing peace to the land. Some wrinkles come up, but that’s the general idea.

The human characters in Conquest are pulled quite directly from Koei Tecmo’s Samurai Warriors series, as they collaborated on this title. Some tweaks were made but they are more or less the same. This makes seeing Nobunaga with a shiny Rayquaza all the stranger.

PokeBalls don’t exist in the world of Conquest. Instead, characters form close bonds with Pokemon, making them their partners. The hero starts with an Eevee, your companion has Jigglypuff, Nobunaga gets Zekrom and later shiny Rayquaza, and so on. Even Mewtwo makes an appearance… yeah I don’t know how Mewtwo’s in feudal Japan either.

The gameplay is that of a fairly standard strategy RPG. You command several units, moving them around a small map in an attempt to defeat the enemy. Traps exist that either side can be knocked into for damage, meaning you have to pay attention to more than just enemy Pokemon. It's basic, but it is a Pokemon game, and they didn’t want to narrow the audience.

All told, Pokemon Conquest is very much worth experiencing if this sounds intriguing at all. It's a very unique entry in the Pokemon series and showcases some interesting worldbuilding. Plus seeing ancient warriors bond with Pokemon is just cool.

Choose This Game If You Like:

A different kind of Pokemon game
Strategy RPGs
Japanese warlords, especially Nobunaga’s period
Some less-used Pokemon getting more focus
A good story with a somewhat unpredictable ending

The hero uses his signature skill

5. Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team - 2005-2007 (Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS, remake on Nintendo Switch in 2020)

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX—Announcement Trailer

Quick confession before continuing: this is the only Pokemon Mystery Dungeon game I’ve played to completion and is here almost solely because of nostalgia. And from what I’ve heard of the others, particularly Explorers, it may not stay here. But as it stands, Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team (and by extension the remake) take the fifth spot.

Have you ever wanted to be a Pokemon? Not a Trainer with Pokemon, but the actual Pokemon. Then visit the world of Pokemon Mystery Dungeon in its first entry, the Rescue Team games.

Rescue Team, as evidenced by its title, is a mystery dungeon game. A bit of an obscure genre, these are games where you roam large, randomly generated dungeons with free-roaming gameplay. Combat is still turn-based, but each step counts as a turn. Meaning enemy Pokemon are roaming with you and can sneak up on you. It is a type of gameplay that can take some getting used to but is enjoyable once you do if you end up liking it.

The story in Rescue Team is, like the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon series as a whole, very strong. I won’t go into too much detail as it shouldn’t be spoiled, but you wake up as a Pokemon in a strange world (yes you were a human). Here, you get caught up in forming a rescue team to help Pokemon in need of aid, eventually leading to a memorable exile sequence and a final battle in the sky.

Except the game doesn’t end there. Pokmone Mystery Dungeon games are known for long and challenging post-games, and Rescue Team is no exception. If you dare to take on these challenges, be prepared for a lengthy and unforgiving ordeal.

Given the nature of the game, characters and Pokemon are one here, and some are quite memorable. The Kecleon shopkeeper who’s stronger than most bosses started out here, erasing the existence of anyone foolish enough to steal from him. Team A.C.T., led by Alakazam, are the famous heroes o of the town everyone respects. On the other end is Gengar’s Team Meanies, who are constantly causing trouble. The likes of the foretelling Absol and the Kanto Legendary Bird trio also make for great characters.

Rescue Team may not be your standard Pokemon fare, but it's definitely one of Pokemon’s greats. The engaging story and quirky characters make sure of that. So if the gameplay interests you at all, definitely give this one and its sequels a try.

Choose This Game If You Like:

Being a Pokemon
Engaging and sometimes sad story
Loveable and hateable characters in equal measure
Mystery dungeon gameplay
The strongest Kecleon who ever lived

The player’s team is confronted by Team Meanies when helping Caterpie

4. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet - 2022 (Nintendo Switch)

The Newest Chapters in the Pokémon Series | Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet

The newest entries into the series, Scarlet and Violet are not without flaws but the positives are much more numerous here. For the first time, Pokemon is truly open, giving the actual feeling of being in the world of Pokemon older games couldn’t quite match. And that’s before getting into the other aspects.

Scarlet and Violet take place in the Spanish-inspired Paldea, a sprawling landscape dotted with towns and with a mysterious crater in the middle. Here, you can roam freely (after the tutorials of course), exploring this land in any order you like. At least in theory.

Aside from the bugs, which are mostly fixed by now, this brings up my only real issue with the game. It's an open world with set levels in every area. Meaning you can free roam, but you could easily steamroll something meant for earlier or get crushed by a late-game foe. This does rather hinder the actual freedom of exploration, but as it is not impossible to defeat a much stronger opponent, it can be a fun challenge.

The story is also less traditional, split into three parts. Victory Road is your standard Gym challenge, complete with Nemona, one of the best rivals in the series who shows that a friendly rival can work. Starfall Street is the evil team sectioned off, this time Team Star. These guys are not what you’d expect from a villainous team and have a somewhat emotional story.

Finally, there is the Path of Legends, borrowing from Legends Arceus by having you fight giant Pokemon. This story also is surprisingly well written around its central character Arven, who I couldn’t stand at the beginning but grew to like as the game progressed.

All these stories culminate in Area Zero, the mysterious interior of Paldea’s crater. Here, creatures from the past or future (version dependent) roam in untouched wilderness, with a beautifully eerie song playing. The story wraps up here, and without spoiling, it was one of the best Pokemon that has ever produced.

The characters and Pokemon here are largely of high quality. Somehow it took until Gen 9 to get a quadrupedal Fire Starter…. At least it's cool. The core trio of Arven, Nemona, and Penny are probably the strongest characters, but the Gyms have the likes of Larry and Iono, just to name a few. And of course, the best character of all in Clive is here too.

There is DLC incoming for these games this year, but as of now, not much can be said about it. It is two parts, with the first going to a Japan-inspired island and the second to an isolated academy. And with many mysteries left in the base game, it has some questions to answer.

Scarlet and Violet are easy to get into and highlight the future of Pokemon. The hilarious bugs showcased around the launch shouldn’t scare you off, as I barely encountered any and it's been patched several times by now. So take a trip down to Paldea and enroll at Mesagoza’s academy. The classes are optional.

Choose This Game If You Like:

An open world
An actually good story
Memey characters and Pokemon
A go-at-your-own-pace approach to Pokemon
Interesting new takes on Pokemon through the Paradox Forms of Area Zero

Swablu resting in colorful Mesagoza

3. Pokemon Emerald Version - 2004-2005 (Game Boy Advance)

Pokemon Emerald Trailer

Pokemon Emerald Version Game Boy Advance Trailer -

The top three for this list were never in doubt for me, it was merely the order that was uncertain. And as much as I love Emerald and have incredible nostalgia for it, the next two games just feel more definitive. And so Pokemon Emerald takes the number three spot.

Like Platinum, Emerald is the third version of its generation, being the more rounded-out Hoenn experience. I grew up in Hoenn, in a sense, and my favorite Legendary in Kyogre hails from here. The bulk of that time was spent in Emerald.

Hoenn was easily the most unique region at the time of its release, having much higher diversity in locales than Kanto or Johto. It was split between a west of largely land and an east of largely sea, which tied directly into the villainous teams, Magma and Aqua. In the base games, these were version exclusive and largely the same. In Emerald, both existed as rivals and were directly involved in the plot together.

The climax of Emerald’s main story features an actual 3D cutscene. On the Game Boy Advance. While I have since seen these in other games on the handheld, and better at that, this was the first time. And seeing Rayquaza flying out of the sky to fulfill its role as a peacekeeper was jaw-dropping as a kid.

The Pokemon of Hoenn are a soft spot for me, but it's safe to say some are indeed fan favorites. The likes of Mudkip, Blaziken, and Metagross call Hoenn home after all. And of course, we can’t forget the iconic weather trio of Kyogre, Groudon, and Rayquaza. And best of all… “looks at Swellow and Pelipper” birds.

While I never got into it much myself, the Battle Frontier here is a fan favorite. An island of battle facilities that truly test your skills as a Trainer, it is not for the faint of heart. This did return in Platinum, but the Hoenn version is rightfully considered better.

The characters of Hoenn are definitely a good breed. These are the games where your father is a Gym Leader, where the evil teams are led by eco-terrorists and a strange man in sunglasses tries to get you to an island (Scott, not the best way to advertise the Battle Frontier). Then there’s Steven and Wally….

These two are where I have a hard time putting Emerald higher, and it's because of the 3DS remakes. With Steven, he was replaced as Champion in Emerald by Wallace, who is… fine? Steven becomes a postgame super boss in a remote cave, which while fighting with his character, is just not the same as fighting him as Champion of the Pokemon League.

Wally, on the other hand, goes from a pretty good but not too remarkable character in Emerald to a serious contender for my favorite in the entire series in the remakes. His growth is highlighted more, he has his own theme, and his final team is a serious threat.

But aside from those characters (and some other minor things), the remakes are thoroughly inferior to Emerald. They’re more linear, they’re easier, the art style isn’t as charming, I could go on. All of this adds up to making Hoenn the hardest region to pick a definitive entry for.

But having said that, Emerald and to a lesser degree the remakes are absolutely worth playing. Hoenn is a charming tropical region where you can be roaming a desert one moment and riding the waves the next, all while listening to glorious trumpets. So pick a side and visit Hoenn today.

Choose This Game If You Like:

Listening to trumpets
A geographically diverse and interesting region
Ridiculous villains
Great Pokemon designs
Challenging postgame content

No, Hoenn does not have too much water

2. Pokemon Colosseum - 2003-2004 (GameCube)

Pokemon Colosseum Official Trailer

An explosion rocks a gang’s hideout as a masked man grabs a robotic arm and flees with his Umbreon. The gang chases him as he mounts his bike, Espeon in tow, and rides off with the gang still in pursuit. He smirks and presses a button, causing an even larger explosion behind him as he rides off.

That is an actual description of the opening cutscene of Pokemon Colosseum. That masked man is who you play as, and his name is Wes. He used to work for that gang, and he stole the Snag Machine from them before blowing up their base, making it harder for them to make more.

Yep, this is an actual Pokemon game where you play as an ex-criminal who can snag (basically PG for steal) Pokemon from Trainers. Wes is reformed to an extent though, and he’ll only snag Shadow Pokemon. These are Pokemon experimented on by the villainous team Cipher to close their hearts and become machines of destruction. Through you, they can be purified and returned to normal Pokemon once again.

You start this game with Umbreon and Espeon, both level 25. This is easily the highest starting level of a Pokemon game, and it shows that Wes is not a rookie Trainer. It also means the difficulty will rise much faster. Colosseum remains one of if not the hardest Pokemon game I’ve played, especially when dealing with the gauntlet of final bosses that includes Skill Swap on a Slaking.

Oh, and did I mention this game is (almost) entirely Double Battles? Despite being the preferred format in competitive for years now, these very rarely make an appearance in an actual game. But they are here, and you better learn how to properly battle this way fast, because the enemy Trainers already know how. The Skill Swap Slaking is just one example, with another being a boss that spams Earthquake with much of his team being immune to it.

Colosseum doesn’t feature any new Pokemon, but it does highlight some less-used ones. Aside from your starters, the only Pokemon you get access to are Shadow Pokemon, and there are only around 50 of them. And while some are good like Metagross and Typhlosion, others are less so and will force you to make use of Pokemon you likely wouldn’t have looked at twice.

The cast of characters isn’t massive here, but some are definite highlights. The main character Wes is memorable for being such an edgy protagonist, his companion Rui is fun to a degree and always with you, and the villains have quirky and memorable designs and personalities. The best one here is hands down Mirror B. though. A silly dancing man who sometimes shows up to hinder your progress and has a team of Ludicolo. I love him.

The sequel to Colosseum, XD: Gale of Darkness, merits mentioning as well briefly. Content-wise, it's the more complete package, and Shadow Pokemon are better balanced. But Colosseum easily beats it in story and tone, feeling darker and much more unique for a Pokemon game. Both are worth playing, but there’s a reason one’s on this list and the other isn’t.

Pokemon Colosseum remains shockingly dark for a Pokemon game and is just as much a part of my childhood as Emerald. It's on the shorter side, but its difficulty makes up for that, and it is very replayable. Just be careful if you come to Orre: the villains are dangerously competent here.

Choose This Game If You Like:

A challenge
A very different tone for a Pokemon game
Double Battles
Mirror B.
Working with limited resources

Behold, the jazziest character in Pokemon history

1. Pokemon Black Version and White Version - 2010-2011 (Nintendo DS)

Pokemon Black and White Official English Trailer

Pokemon Black and White are special games to me, among my top games of all time. The reason for this is simple really: they were a new and wholly unique adventure. I played the original Kanto games late and didn’t get too into them (Gen 3 was when I properly got into Pokemon). So this journey in Unova, with entirely new Pokemon until the postgame, sticks with me like none other in the series.

Because yes, Black and White introduced over 150 new Pokemon, and until you beat the Pokemon League, that was it. None of the familiar faces were here and while to some this was a bad thing, to me it's something Pokemon should do much more often. As someone who always uses Pokemon new to a region anyway, this made exploring Unova much more exciting. Every encounter brought something new, a feat no other Pokemon game could do for me.

The story is also a highlight here, focusing on Team Plasma’s goal to liberate Pokemon from their oppressive Trainers. This was a surprisingly deep topic for a series with the literal slogan “Gotta Catch ‘em all!”. And while the story isn’t perfect and can be criticized, it remains my favorite for being so bold.

And the actual new Pokemon of Unova? We got an armless snake (Serperior), living ice and a chandelier (Vaniluxxe and Chandelure), and actual garbage (Garbodor) to name a few. Not to mention some of the best Bug types in the series, which is definitely a plus for someone whose favorite type is Bug. A lot of these Pokemon are divisive, but I’m definitely in the group that loves many of these quirky creatures.

Then there are the characters. Unova might have the best cast of characters in any region. From the Gym Leaders who are actual people with other jobs and even help defeat Team Plasma to the members of Team Plasma itself, there is a lot of good here. N and Ghetsis of Team Plasma are series highlights, and rivals Cheren and Bianca are fun as well. Even the Champion here is a complex and layered character who I greatly appreciate despite him not being the most popular.

As for the sequels in Black and White 2, they technically do have more content with a bigger region and the Pokemon World Tournament. But the story is lackluster in comparison, and the new feeling is gone. Old Pokemon are obtainable again, but even without that, the Unova lineup wasn’t brand new anymore. These sequels are still incredible games I enjoy a lot, but the originals will always be on top.

Pokemon Black and White did the unthinkable for me: they showed how a refreshingly new experience can beat out nostalgia. Emerald and Colosseum were my childhood, yet Black and White surpassed them. It may be hard to have a similar experience today unless you’ve never experienced Pokemon, but if you can, go for it. You will not regret it.

Choose This Game If You Like: