Intro: Why this list exists
Pokémon turned 30, we got nostalgic, and decided to dust off our Pokéballs and rank the mainline games. This is a friendly, slightly silly, totally personal countdown of the core titles — remakes, sequels and all the big console releases that made us gasp, rage, laugh, and/or throw controllers into soft plushies.
Top 22 Pokémon Games Ranked
Here’s the ranking, from guilty-pleasure lane all the way to legendary status. Short takes for each — bite-sized like a TM snack.
22. Pokémon Legends: Z-A (Switch 2)
Cool experiment: real-time catching and action-y battles on a shiny new console. Shame it felt boxed into a single map sometimes — great ideas but still finding its vibe. Play it on Switch 2 if you want the best technical version; Switch 1 works too if you’re thrift-savvy.
21. Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl (Switch)
Faithful remakes that aimed to be nostalgic museum pieces. The Grand Underground adds fun, but the art style and a few awkward design choices make these feel more like museum replicas than museum masterpieces.
20. Pokémon Scarlet & Violet (Switch)
Ambitious open-world vibes with some rough edges. Lots to explore and neat touches, but performance and polish sometimes trip the party. A necessary step forward — just one with a few wobbling legs.
19. Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! & Let’s Go, Eevee! (Switch)
Charming, breezy, and built to welcome new trainers. Motion-catching is quirky and not flawless, but the nostalgia hit and approachable mechanics make these great introductions for newcomers and comfortable comfy-cozy replays for veterans.
18. Pokémon Sword & Shield (Switch)
The first real HD step for the series: moments of wow, moments of meh. Wild Area exploration introduced a fresh playground, and stadium moments were spectacular — but the game sometimes feels like it’s been glued together from two different design meetings.
17. Pokémon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon (3DS)
Enriched versions of Sun & Moon that pack in extra story, forms, and post-game goodness. If you loved the originals, these are the more-complete, slightly crazier edition you’ll want on your shelf.
16. Pokémon Sun & Moon (3DS)
Big personality, novel mechanics, and a story that actually tried to be interesting. Loads of content, great presentation, and a welcome break from the series’ more predictable formulas.
15. Pokémon Diamond & Pearl (DS)
DS-era classics that still hold charm. They feel foundational: some systems feel clunky now, but the world design and the memories they unlocked make them worth revisiting with patience.
14. Pokémon X & Y (3DS)
First foray into polygonal models and more cinematic presentation. Not revolutionary but a sweet evolution with a pretty good soundtrack and a few new mechanics that stuck around.
13. Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire (GBA)
Hoenn brought widescreen glory, double battles, and natures — mechanics that added strategic depth. Some fans missed a day/night cycle, but the region’s atmosphere still clangs a nostalgia bell.
12. Pokémon Yellow (GB)
Pikachu-themed upgrade to the original duo that borrows lovingly from the anime. Pikachu follows you, sprites get a facelift, and there’s a goofy surfing minigame. Simple, but overflowing with charm.
11. Pokémon Red & Blue (GB)
The originals that started the whole mess — simple, addictive, and endlessly reimagined since. They can feel rough today, but the thrill of discovering the first 151 never gets old.
10. Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire (3DS)
Remakes that understand what to tweak and what to keep. Fresh takes on Hoenn’s story and neat new features like Soar make these remakes feel lovingly updated rather than overhauled.
9. Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen (GBA)
Classic Kanto, given a 32-bit polish. Better visuals, more connectivity, and all the nostalgia you can eat — perfect if you want to relive the first adventure with cleaner graphics and QoL fixes.
8. Pokémon Crystal (GBC)
The definitive Johto experience: new features, the option to play as a female trainer, and a slightly tougher challenge. Polished and warm, it’s a sweet swan song for the Game Boy Color era.
7. Pokémon Black & White (DS)
Fresh region, bold aesthetic, and a sense of discovery that feels deliberate. It refreshed the formula and didn’t lean on nostalgia — which made it stand out in a very good way.
6. Pokémon Gold & Silver (GBC)
Gen II is where the series learned to grow up: color, more monsters, Kanto as bonus content, and mechanics that still ripple through the games today. Peak classic Pokémon feels and big heart energy.
5. Pokémon Legends: Arceus (Switch)
A bold detour that reimagined how Pokémon exploration and catching can feel. It’s rough in spots but wildly rewarding, with a fresh pace and an open-world flavor that stuck with many players.
4. Pokémon Black & White 2 (DS)
Direct sequels in the mainline series — a rare move that paid off. These build on Black & White sensibly and add content that actually matters. Underrated gems with smart follow-ups.
3. Pokémon Emerald (GBA)
The ultimate Hoenn package with new story beats and the Battle Frontier — the post-game was a tuner for hardcore players. Solid and satisfying: more refinement than revolution.
2. Pokémon Platinum (DS)
The best Sinnoh experience: meaningful additions, better pacing, and extras that justified replaying the region. If you only touch one Gen IV game, make it this one.
1. Pokémon HeartGold & SoulSilver (DS)
Remakes that hit nostalgia and quality-of-life notes perfectly. Pikachu-on-shoulder levels of charm, plus features that modernized the classics without stomping the soul out of them. Pure, joyful, and the kind of games you want to wander in for hours.
Pokémon FAQ
Final quick answers to the things people always ask while thumbing through Pokédex pages and arguing about whether your starter choice was a betrayal.
How many mainline Pokémon games are there?
Counting the core console and handheld releases and excluding spin-offs, you can list about two dozen main entries across generations — depending on whether you treat remakes and direct sequels as separate items. If you’re counting strictly, think around the low 20s for core titles up through recent years.
Which Pokémon games include Mega Evolution?
Mega Evolution first popped up around Gen VI and shows up in several games and spin-offs. Notable appearances include X and Y, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, and some side projects and later reprints of remixed titles.
Which Pokémon games are on Switch?
The Switch family has hosted Sword & Shield (plus DLC), Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, Legends: Arceus, Scarlet & Violet (with DLC), and a few re-releases like FireRed & LeafGreen. The Switch era is a mix of modern entries, remakes, and experimental spin-offs.
Why do Pokémon games get so pricey?
Supply and demand, nostalgia and collectability — plus the fact they’re big-ticket system sellers for Nintendo. Older cartridges and sealed copies are rarer than your friend’s patience during a shiny hunt, so prices climb.
What’s the best Pokémon game on Switch?
Subjective! But from this list’s perspective, Legends: Arceus gets the crown for being the most exciting new direction on Switch (it’s ranked #5 overall here). Your mileage may vary depending on whether you prefer classic RPG structure or wild exploration.
Where can I find Pokémon Snap and other spin-offs?
Snap and the many quirky spin-offs live outside the mainline ranking — check out dedicated spin-off collections or digital storefronts if you want to chase photography, dungeon-crawling, or monster-management games that aren’t the traditional gym-and-elite-four formula.
How can I push a game higher on this list?
If this list is a democracy, your votes matter: community rankings and reader feedback often shift these placements. Play, rate, and shout about your favorites — and maybe bribe a friend with rare candy. Kidding. Mostly.
Thanks for reading. Whether you’re Team Bulbasaur, Charmander, or the person who picks weird little bird Pokémon for fun, go catch something awesome today.
