Picking the best Pokemon games means setting a Game Boy cartridge from 1996 next to a Switch release from 2025. Here are the 31 best Pokemon games, ranked from worst to best.
Looking for one console only? See the best Switch, 3DS, DS and GBA games.
Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness reached the DS in 2007 as the sequels to Blue Rescue Team and Red Rescue Team. They add Generation IV Pokemon, improved Wi-Fi and more touch-screen options. Critics scored the two versions 60 and 59 out of 100, the lowest marks here. (Waking up as a Pokemon is a lot to ask before breakfast.)
Pokemon XD followed Colosseum on the GameCube in 2005 and kept its Shadow Pokemon. It also added Munchlax and Bonsly, two Pokemon that Diamond and Pearl introduced after it. Critics scored it 64 out of 100.
Scarlet and Violet came out in 2022 with 120 new Pokemon and the Terastal phenomenon, which lets a Pokemon transform into its exclusive Tera Type. Critics scored Scarlet 72 and Violet 71 out of 100. (We have forgiven worse, but we keep a list.)
Colosseum put a console battle game on the GameCube in 2003. You play a trainer named Wes who rides a one-wheeled motorcycle between towns. Critics scored it 73 out of 100.
These remakes of the Sinnoh games arrived in 2021. ILCA built them, the first main-series games with a lead developer other than Game Freak. Critics scored them 73 out of 100.
Legends: Z-A returned to Lumiose City in 2025. During battles you collect Mega Energy so a Pokemon can temporarily Mega Evolve. Critics scored the Switch version 70 and the Switch 2 version 78 out of 100.
Emerald closed out Generation III in 2004. It lets you face two trainers at once in a two-on-two battle that Ruby and Sapphire only offered against two set opponents. Critics scored it 76 out of 100.
Snap swapped the battles for a camera on the Nintendo 64 in 1999. After each course you choose your best photo of each Pokemon for Professor Oak to rate. Critics scored it 77 out of 100.
Stadium 2 brought 3D battles to the Nintendo 64 in 2000. Teams of up to six Pokemon fight computer opponents or other players. Critics scored it 78 out of 100.
The first Stadium reached the Nintendo 64 in 1999 with four Cups, each a series of three-on-three battles against a set lineup. It also has a Gym Leader Castle and works with Red, Blue and Yellow. Critics scored it 78.6 out of 100.
Pokken Tournament is a fighting game that reached Japanese arcades in 2015. The Switch port, Pokken Tournament DX, followed in 2017 with the last four arcade fighters and an extra exclusive one. Critics scored it 79 out of 100 on Switch.
New Pokemon Snap came out in 2021, about 22 years after the original. You play a photographer working for a research team led by Professor Mirror in the Lental region. Critics scored it 79 out of 100.
The Let's Go games remake Yellow and arrived in 2018. Catching copies the system in Pokemon Go, and each player needs one Joy-Con for co-op play. Critics scored them 79 and 80 out of 100.
Conquest crosses the series with Nobunaga's Ambition and came out on the DS in 2012. Each Pokemon can use only one move, and just 200 of the 649 Pokemon at the time are in the game. Critics scored it 80 out of 100.
Crystal enhanced Gold and Silver in 2000 and added a Battle Tower, where you fight a series of seven trainers. Critics scored it 80 out of 100.
Black 2 and White 2 reached the DS in 2012 as the first direct sequels in the series. The Pokemon World Tournament lets you battle Gym Leaders and Champions from earlier games. Critics scored them 80 out of 100.
Sword and Shield launched in 2019 with the Dynamax and Gigantamax mechanic, which makes a Pokemon grow huge and hit harder. Critics scored them 80 out of 100.
FireRed and LeafGreen arrived in 2004 and are the first enhanced remakes in the franchise. They send you back through Kanto with Generation III mechanics. Critics scored them 81 out of 100.
Ruby and Sapphire opened Generation III in 2002 and added double battles, abilities, Contests and 135 new Pokemon. Critics scored them 82 out of 100.
The Hoenn remakes came out in 2014 and brought Primal Reversion for Kyogre and Groudon. You can also soar over Hoenn on Latios or Latias. Critics scored them 83 and 82 out of 100.
Legends: Arceus launched in 2022. You can catch wild Pokemon in the overworld without battling, and you can trade attack damage for extra turns. Critics scored it 83 out of 100. It ranks highest of the Switch games.
Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon followed in 2017 with new Ultra Beasts: Stakataka, Blacephalon, Poipole and Naganadel. A Rotom Pokedex upgrade adds Z-Rotom Power for up to two Z-Moves per battle. Critics scored them 84 out of 100.
Platinum is the enhanced version of Diamond and Pearl. It reached Japan in 2008 and the rest of the world through 2009. Critics scored it 84 out of 100, a point under the games it improves.
Yellow reached Japan in 1998 as the enhanced version of Red and Blue, under the full name Special Pikachu Edition. Critics scored it 85 out of 100.
Diamond and Pearl opened Generation IV in 2006 with 107 new Pokemon and a fight against Team Galactic. Critics scored them 85 out of 100.
Sun and Moon launched on 18 November 2016 for the franchise's 20th anniversary and brought 88 new Pokemon. Critics scored them 87 out of 100.
Black and White opened Generation V in 2010 with 156 new Pokemon, more than any other generation. Critics scored them 87 out of 100.
HeartGold and SoulSilver remade Gold and Silver in 2009. Director Shigeki Morimoto aimed to respect the feelings of those who played the previous games while making it feel new. Critics scored them 87 out of 100.
X and Y launched in 2013 as the first games with 3D functions on the 3DS. They also gave the series Mega Evolution and 72 new Pokemon. Critics scored them 87 and 88 out of 100.
Red and Blue started the series in 1996 with 151 Pokemon. The Game Link Cable connected two Game Boy systems so players could trade and battle. Critics scored them 88 out of 100.
Gold and Silver reached Japan in 1999 as the first games of the second generation and introduced Johto with 100 new Pokemon. Critics scored Gold 89 and Silver 91 out of 100.
The ten highest-scoring games all ran on the Game Boy, Game Boy Color, DS or 3DS. The best Switch game on the list, Legends: Arceus, reaches number 11, and the six main Switch games range from 70 to 83 out of 100. The nine DS and 3DS main games all score 80 or higher.
Pokemon Gold and Silver. Critics scored Gold 89 and Silver 91 out of 100.
Explorers of Darkness, at 59 out of 100.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus, at 83 out of 100.
Yes. No Switch game reaches the top 10.