What are the Best Pokémon Games of All Time?
Pokémon is a video game series that became prominent in 1996 following the releases of Pocket Monsters: Red & Green, which were later modified as Pokémon Red & Blue.
Since its initial entry within twenty-four years, the franchise has released 20 video games, spawning through eight generations.
Pokémon has become the highest-grossing media franchise of all time, with $90 billion in total franchise revenue – a success utterly dependent on the game’s performance.
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Best Pokémon Games of All Time
Below are the best Pokémon games of all time.
15. Pokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu & Let’s Go Eevee
Pokémon: Let’ss Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! are 2018 remakes of the 1998 role-playing video game Pokémon Yellow.
They were developed by Game Freak and jointly published by The Pokémon Company and Nintendo.
The games feature battling non-player character Pokémon Trainers and Gym Leaders with caught Pokémon creatures.
Let’s Go Pikachu & Let’s Go Eevee offer superb graphics and animations, the same spectacular story of their original classic, and a spectacular player/character interaction.
By December 2019, both games have jointly reached 11.76 million global sales.
14. Pokémon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon
These games are 2017 enhanced remakes of the original Pokémon Sun & Moon.
The games feature a young Pokémon trainer traveling through the Alola region, based on Hawaii.
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon defer from Sun and Moon in aspects of gameplay mechanics, Pokémon forms, and storyline.
They offer detailed environments, inspiring music, and memorable characters.
Both games achieved commercial success, jointly selling over eight million copies globally by December 2018.
13. Pokémon Black 2 & White 2
Pokémon Black 2 & White 2 were released in 2012 as direct sequels to the Pokémon Black & White released in 2010.
They feature 300 new Pokémon and creatures not featured in Black and White, complemented with an incredible story, excellent soundtrack, and moving sprites.
New gameplay mechanics like the Pokémon World Tournament and Key System were featured. Black 2 & White 2 achieved commercial success, jointly selling over 7.81 million copies a year after its release.
12. Pokémon Sun & Moon
Pokémon Sun and Moon were released in 2016.
Although they received positive reviews, they were followed-up by the Pokémon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon.
Players are required to thwart the schemes of Team Skull and the Aether Foundation while battling with Pokémon trainers.
Instead of the average gym in the previous series, Sun & Moon offers the newly introduced “Island Challenge.”
Sun & Moon presented 81 new Pokémon characters, restructured battles, training mechanics, and the new “Z-move, and Z-crystal” features.
Over 16 million Sun & Moon copies have been sold, becoming one of the fastest-selling games in Nintendo’s history.
11. Pokémon Crystal (Game Boy Color)
Pokémon Crystal was first released in 2000 as an update to the Pokémon Gold and Silver.
Crystal employed most of the Gold and Silver features, new features like the Battle Tower, new female character, the Pokegear, and the introduction of 100 new Pokémon characters were implemented.
Pokémon Crystal became the second best-selling Game Boy Color game in Japan.
10. Pokémon Emerald (Game Boy Advance)
Pokémon Emerald was first released on the Game Boy Advance in 2005 as an update to the Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire.
The third-generation Pokémon Game featured entertaining gameplay through eight gyms as players aim for the Elite Four championship and try to terminate two criminal organizations trying to yoke the power of a legendary Pokémon for their reward.
Over 1.4 million copies were sold in Japan, making it the fourth best-selling game in Japan.
9. Pokémon Black & White
Pokémon Black & White were first released in 2010 as the first installments in the fifth generation of Pokémon video games.
They offer deep battle mechanics, including new combat styles: Triple Battles and Rotation Battles.
Pokémon sprites, 156 new Pokémon characters, and seasonal cycles were implemented.
Players must use new characters to start the story, unlocking old characters later; this feature allows players to enjoy the adventure like the first entrant of the Pokémon franchise.
Black & White has become one of the best-selling games for the Nintendo DS, becoming the fastest games to reach the five million-copy hallmark.
8. Pokémon Diamond & Pearl
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl are the first entrants in the fourth generation of the Pokémon series, first released in 2006.
The game has earned praises directed at its emotional storyline, fantastic music, unruffled graphics, battle mechanics, exciting and memorable characters, and Pokémon contests.
Pokémon Diamond & Pearl was the first installment to play online using the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.
Within eleven weeks, the games jointly sold three million copies, becoming the fastest DS games to do so.
7. Pokémon HeartGold & SoulSilver
HeartGold and SoulSilver were released in 2009 as enhanced versions of Pokémon Gold and Silver.
The games feature the Johto and Kanto regions where players will finish the game with 16 gym badges, eight in both regions.
The plot, post-game, animations, and artwork are astounding, helping the game become the eighth best-selling DS video game of all time.
6. Pokémon Yellow
Pokémon Yellow or the Special Pikachu Edition is the enhanced version of the Game Boy Pokémon games.
The combat is interesting as players fight others and work their way through the region, completing entries in the Pokédex.
Pokémon Yellow became the fastest-selling handheld-console game of all time.
5. Pokémon X & Y
Pokémon X & Y were released in 2013; both games feature a young Pokémon trainer and friends in the Kalos region.
Character customization, updated battle, training mechanics, and 72 new Pokémon characters were added.
The graphics, sound, gameplay innovations, and advancements also received general acclaims.
Jointly, over four million copies were sold globally in one week, and millions of copies have been sold after that.
4. Pokémon Sword & Shield
Sword and Shield were released in 2019 as the first installments in the eighth generation of Pokémon video games.
It introduced a new region, “Galar,” based on the United Kingdom.
Sword & Shield introduced 81 new Pokémon characters, featured excellent gyms, inspiring soundtracks, exciting camping systems, and thrilling Pokémon battles.
Over sixteen million copies were sold globally by the end of 2019, making Sword & Shield the fastest-selling game on the Nintendo Switch.
3. Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire
Ruby & Sapphire were released for the Game Boy Advance in 2003.
Both games introduced 135 new Pokémon characters, new Pokémon abilities, and double battles.
The battles were wild, and the overall gameplay of both games was remarkable.
The soundtrack received widespread acclaim, each Pokémon makes a distinctive sound, and the soundtracks suited the theme of the games.
Over sixteen million copies were sold globally, making both games the highest-selling titles for the Game Boy Advance.
2. Pokémon Red & Blue
Pokémon Red & Blue were released for the Original Game Boy console and were first released in 1996.
Pokémon Red & Blue undoubtedly earn their place on this list as they set the tone for what went on to be an illustrious video game streak.
A player’s goal is to become the Indigo League champion by defeating the eight gym leaders and the Elite Four through the Kanto region.
Trainers must also complete the Pokédex by collecting all 150 Pokémon. Players can trade Pokémon and battle each other face to face using a link cable for the Game Boy; these concepts earned universal acclaim.
Red & Blue are considered master-class games, one of the greatest role-playing games ever to be released!
Since their release, over 31 million copies have been sold globally – a Guinness Book of World Records’ entrant as the “Best selling RPG of all time.”
1. Pokémon Gold & Silver
Gold & Silver, the first Game Boy Color games in the second generation of Pokémon games, were released for the Game Boy Color console in 1999.
A player’s goal is to develop a Pokémon’s skills to master Pokémon Battling. Gold & Silver retained most Red & Blue’s gameplay mechanics, but new features were implemented.
A real-time system that keeps track of the week’s current day and time was implemented, and features like Pokémon appearances were influenced by it.
More specialized Poké Balls were introduced, and Pokémon characters could hold items.
Gold & Silver also introduced the Pokégear, which functions as a watch, map, radio, and phone, allowing the player to call other characters who offer their phone number.
Gold & Silver were met with universal acclaim and achieved commercial success.
Over twenty-three million copies had been sold globally by 2010, and millions of copies have been sold after that.
There you have it.
Thanks for going through our Best Pokémon Games of All Time.
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