21 Best Pokemon Games (December 2025) Complete Guide

With over 25 years of gaming history and dozens of titles spanning multiple generations, choosing the best Pokemon games can feel overwhelming. As someone who has played through every mainline game and most spin-offs since the original Red and Blue, I understand how daunting it is to decide where to start or which game deserves your time and money.

Pokemon Legends: Arceus is the best Pokemon game for innovation and fresh gameplay, but the perfect choice depends on your experience level, preferred platform, and what you value most – whether that’s story depth, competitive features, or nostalgic exploration.

In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through all 21 currently available Pokemon games, analyzing what makes each special, who they’re best for, and how they’ve evolved the beloved formula we’ve come to cherish.

Our Top 3 Pokemon Games for Every Player for 2025

Complete Pokemon Games Comparison

Compare all 21 Pokemon games at a glance with key features, platforms, and what makes each special:

Detailed Pokemon Games Reviews

1. Pokémon Legends: Z-A – Most Anticipated Release

The next evolution in the Pokemon Legends series takes us back to the bustling urban environment of Lumiose City, bringing real-time battles and Mega Evolution mechanics together in what promises to be the most innovative Pokemon experience yet.

Building on the success of Legends: Arceus, this upcoming title eliminates traditional turn-based combat entirely, allowing you to command your Pokemon in fluid real-time battles against both wild creatures and other trainers.

The Z-A Royale competition mode adds a nightly challenge where trainers compete to become the strongest, while the modern urban setting provides a stark contrast to the rural exploration of previous titles.

While we can’t speak from player experience yet, the pre-order bonus includes a Ralts holding Gardevoirite, suggesting Mega Evolution will play a significant role in both story and competitive play.

What We Expect: Revolutionary real-time combat system with Mega Evolution mechanics

Potential Concerns: Unproven gameplay system, performance on Switch hardware

2. Pokémon Violet – Best Open-World Experience

Pokemon Violet represents the series’ boldest step into true open-world territory, offering complete freedom to explore the vast Paldea region in any order you choose, with three separate storylines that can be tackled at your own pace.

The Terastallize phenomenon adds a fresh strategic layer to battles, allowing your Pokemon to temporarily change types and unleash devastating attacks that can turn the tide of even the toughest encounters.

With over 9,000 Pokemon forms available through various mechanics and regional variants, collectors will find endless hunting opportunities, while competitive players appreciate the depth that Terastallizing brings to team building.

The game shines brightest when you’re simply exploring – discovering hidden areas, stumbling upon rare Pokemon in the wild, and experiencing the joy of true adventure without being railroaded along a predetermined path.

What Players Love: The freedom to explore anywhere, anytime, with three engaging storylines that keep you invested

Common Concerns: Technical performance issues and easier difficulty compared to previous generations

3. Pokémon Legends: Arceus – Most Innovative Gameplay

Legends: Arceus fundamentally reinvented the Pokemon formula by replacing tedious wild Pokemon battles with an intuitive action-based catching system that lets you study creature behaviors and strategically toss Poke Balls in real-time.

Set in the ancient Hisui region (which would eventually become Sinnoh), the game tasks you with creating the region’s first-ever Pokedex through observation, research, and careful documentation rather than just battling and catching.

The real innovation comes from the agile and strong style battle moves, which allow you to either execute quick successive attacks or charge up powerful strikes, adding a layer of strategy previously unseen in the series.

Boss battles against Noble and Alpha Pokemon provide genuine challenge and spectacle, requiring you to dodge attacks and exploit weaknesses in ways that feel more like Monster Hunter than traditional Pokemon games.

With over 530 hours of content for completionists and excellent visual/audio cues for shiny hunting, this game rewards dedicated players while remaining accessible to newcomers.

What Players Love: The revolutionary catching system that eliminates tedious wild battles

Common Concerns: Visual performance issues due to Switch hardware limitations

4. Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! – Best for Beginners

Let’s Go, Pikachu! strikes the perfect balance between nostalgic recreation and modern accessibility, making it the ideal entry point for newcomers while still offering enough charm to satisfy longtime fans of the original Kanto adventures.

The game completely removes random wild Pokemon battles, instead using a catching system similar to Pokemon GO where you simply throw Poke Balls at creatures you encounter in the overworld, making the experience much more streamlined and less intimidating for beginners.

What truly sets this version apart is the seamless integration with Pokemon GO, allowing you to transfer Kanto-region Pokemon directly from your mobile game and even catch the mythical Meltan, creating a unified ecosystem across platforms.

The co-op mode deserves special mention – a second player can drop in at any time to help with battles and catching, making it perfect for families or friends who want to experience Kanto together.

What Players Love: The perfect blend of nostalgia and accessibility with beautiful modern graphics

Common Concerns: The absence of wild Pokemon battles may disappoint traditional fans

5. Pokemon Shining Pearl – Best Remake

Shining Pearl lovingly recreates the beloved Sinnoh region with modern quality-of-life improvements while maintaining the charming difficulty and strategic depth that made the original Diamond and Pearl classics, complete with the adorable chibi-style overworld that gives the world a toy-like feel.

The Grand Underground feature transforms the original Underground system into a sprawling network of secret bases, excavation sites, and hideaways where you can catch Pokemon not available in the main overworld, including many species from other generations.

Super Contest Shows return with enhanced visuals and mechanics, providing a delightful distraction from traditional battling that lets you showcase your Pokemon’s moves in rhythm-based performances that are surprisingly addictive.

While some veteran players might find the experience too streamlined compared to the original’s punishing difficulty, the changes make the game more accessible without completely removing the challenge that made Sinnoh memorable.

What Players Love: The nostalgic journey through Sinnoh with modern improvements and engaging post-game content

Common Concerns: The game may be too easy compared to the original Diamond and Pearl

6. Pokémon Sword – Best Competitive Entry

Sword revolutionized competitive Pokemon with the introduction of Dynamax mechanics, allowing your Pokemon to grow to giant size for three turns and unleash devastating Max Moves that can completely change battle dynamics, creating spectacular moments in both casual and competitive play.

The Wild Area represents the series’ first true step toward open-world design, offering a massive explorable zone with varying weather conditions, raid battles, and Pokemon that change based on the time and weather, creating a dynamic environment that feels alive.

Gym challenges received a major overhaul, replacing simple battles with elaborate tests of skill that vary from solving puzzles to capturing specific Pokemon, making each gym feel unique and memorable rather than just another boss battle.

The simplified experience system, which shares experience across your entire party, removes much of the grinding that plagued earlier games while still providing enough challenge to keep you engaged throughout your Galar journey.

What Players Love: The exciting Dynamax mechanics and diverse Wild Area with changing weather

Common Concerns: The main story feels shorter than previous generations

7. Pokémon Scarlet – Best for Families

Scarlet offers the same groundbreaking open-world experience as Violet but with version-exclusive Pokemon and a distinct aesthetic that leans into more traditional fantasy elements, making it particularly appealing for families and younger players.

The game’s three parallel storylines – Victory Road, Starfall Street, and Path of Legends – allow players of different skill levels to enjoy different aspects of the game, with easier difficulties for casual play and challenging content for those seeking it.

Co-op functionality lets up to four players explore the Paldea region together, battle alongside each other, and take on raid bosses, making it perfect for siblings or family members who want to share their Pokemon journey.

While some technical issues mar the experience, the core gameplay remains engaging and accessible, with quality-of-life improvements that make it easier than ever to jump into the Pokemon world without feeling overwhelmed.

What Players Love: Fun gameplay that’s perfect for sharing with family and friends

Common Concerns: Performance issues might frustrate some players

8. New Pokemon Snap – Best Relaxing Experience

New Pokemon Snap delivers a delightful departure from traditional Pokemon games, focusing instead on the peaceful art of photography as you explore beautiful natural environments and document Pokemon in their natural habitats, creating a meditative experience that’s both charming and surprisingly addictive.

The game excels at capturing authentic Pokemon behaviors, from playful interactions between species to dramatic moments like legendary Pokemon appearing, making each expedition feel like a unique discovery rather than a checklist of objectives.

The progression system feels natural and rewarding – as you take better photos and complete research requests, you unlock new areas, tools, and abilities that open up even more photographic opportunities, keeping the experience fresh throughout.

What truly sets Snap apart is how it encourages patience and observation rather than action, creating a contemplative experience that stands in stark contrast to the competitive nature of mainline Pokemon games.

What Players Love: The relaxing gameplay with cute Pokemon doing silly things in natural settings

Common Concerns: The simplicity might not appeal to players seeking action

9. Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! – Best Partner Pokemon Experience

Let’s Go, Eevee! stands out as the definitive partner Pokemon experience, with your Eevee following you everywhere, participating in battles, and even learning exclusive moves that only it can use, creating an emotional connection that goes beyond typical trainer-Pokemon relationships.

The game’s visual style perfectly balances nostalgia with modern appeal, featuring vibrant colors and smooth animations that make Kanto feel more alive than ever while still maintaining the charm of the original games.

Integration with Pokemon GO allows you to transfer not just Kanto Pokemon but also their Alolan forms and even the mythical Meltan, creating a sense of continuity between mobile and console gaming that enhances the overall experience.

The simplified catching mechanics and shared experience system remove much of the complexity that can intimidate new players, while still providing enough challenge to keep you engaged through your journey across Kanto.

What Players Love: The special bond with partner Eevee and beautiful modern graphics

Common Concerns: The simplified gameplay may not satisfy veteran players

10. Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX – Best Mystery Dungeon Game

Rescue Team DX transforms the classic Mystery Dungeon formula with stunning watercolor visuals that bring the Pokemon world to life like never before, creating a dreamlike quality that perfectly suits the mysterious, ever-changing dungeons you’ll explore.

The personality quiz at the beginning remains one of the most engaging introductions in any Pokemon game, determining which Pokemon you’ll become based on your answers, creating an immediate connection to your character before the adventure even begins.

Quality of life improvements like the auto-movement feature make the game more accessible than ever, while still maintaining the strategic depth that made the original Mystery Dungeon games compelling, with type advantages and move selection remaining crucial to success.

With over 386 Pokemon available as both playable characters and rescue targets, plus additional Pokemon from later generations included as DLC, there’s tremendous variety in team composition and replay value.

What Players Love: The beautiful art style and nostalgic remake with modern improvements

Common Concerns: The different gameplay style might not appeal to everyone

11. Pokemon Shield – Best for New Players

Shield makes the perfect entry point for newcomers with its simplified mechanics, generous experience sharing, and helpful tutorial systems that gradually introduce complex concepts without overwhelming players new to the franchise.

The version-exclusive Pokemon in Shield offer some of the most interesting designs in Generation 8, including the formidable Shield-exclusive legendary Zacian and unique Galarian forms that add fresh twists to familiar favorites.

Quality of life improvements like the PC box system that can be accessed from anywhere and the ability to change moves without forgetting old ones remove many of the frustrations that plagued earlier games, allowing players to focus on exploration and team building.

While the lack of certain Pokemon from previous generations (the infamous “Dexit” controversy) disappointed some long-time fans, newcomers won’t notice what’s missing and will appreciate the curated selection of creatures that keeps team building manageable.

What Players Love: The accessibility and quality of life improvements for new players

Common Concerns: The missing Pokemon from previous generations

12. Detective Pikachu Returns – Best Puzzle Adventure

Detective Pikachu Returns delivers a charming narrative-driven experience that focuses on mystery-solving rather than battling, creating a cozy detective novel atmosphere that’s perfect for players who prefer story and puzzles over competitive gameplay.

The game excels at creating engaging mysteries that require careful observation and logical thinking to solve, with clues hidden in the environment and conversations that lead to satisfying “aha!” moments when everything clicks into place.

Beautiful animations bring the world and characters to life, with expressive Pikachu reactions and detailed environments that make each location feel distinct and memorable, enhancing the immersive storytelling experience.

While the extensive reading requirement might intimidate some younger players, the game’s perfect pacing and compelling mysteries keep players engaged through its approximately 15-hour journey.

What Players Love: The engaging storyline and wonderful conclusion to the Detective Pikachu series

Common Concerns: The extensive reading content might not suit all players

13. Pokemon Omega Ruby – Best 3DS Remake

Omega Ruby brings the beloved Hoenn region to life with spectacular 3D graphics and enhanced mechanics that respect the original while adding meaningful improvements, including the revolutionary Mega Evolution system that adds incredible depth to battles.

The Primal Reversion mechanic for Groudon creates some of the most spectacular moments in the series, transforming the legendary into its primal form with weather-altering effects that fundamentally change battle dynamics.

What truly sets Omega Ruby apart is the attention to detail in recreating Hoenn – every route, city, and cave has been meticulously updated with modern visuals while maintaining the exact layout and feel of the original, satisfying both nostalgia and modern gaming sensibilities.

The post-game content includes the Delta Episode, a compelling story arc that ties into the lore of Mega Evolution and provides some of the most challenging battles in the entire series.

What Players Love: The phenomenal remake with amazing gameplay that exceeds expectations

Common Concerns: The game is region locked to USA 3DS systems

14. Pokémon Y – Best 3D Introduction

Pokemon Y represents the series’ bold transition into full 3D, with battles that pop off the screen and a beautiful Kalos region inspired by France that feels both familiar and revolutionary, setting the standard for all future Pokemon games.

The introduction of the Fairy type fundamentally changed competitive balance, providing a much-needed counter to powerful Dragon types while adding adorable new creatures like Sylveon that quickly became fan favorites.

Pokemon-Amie created unprecedented emotional connection with your team, allowing you to pet, feed, and play with your Pokemon in between battles, with these bonds actually providing in-battle benefits like critical hit avoidance and experience boosts.

The game’s quality of life improvements, particularly the experience share that grants experience to your entire party and the roller skates that make traversal faster and more fun, removed many frustrations from earlier generations.

What Players Love: The improved 3D graphics and dynamic battles that feel alive

Common Concerns: The storyline may feel too familiar to long-time fans

15. Pokémon X – Best Fairy Type Introduction

Pokemon X introduces the game-changing Fairy type that perfectly balanced competitive play by providing much-needed counters to Dragon types while adding enchanting new creatures that expanded strategic depth in meaningful ways.

The character customization system was revolutionary for the series, allowing players to choose from various skin tones, hair styles, and clothing options that made your trainer feel truly personal rather than just a default avatar.

Kalos represents one of the most beautifully designed regions in Pokemon history, with each area inspired by real French locations from Paris to Provence, creating a cohesive world that feels both magical and grounded.

The 3D battles showcase Pokemon animations like never before, with each move featuring unique effects and personalities that make combat more visually engaging than any previous entry in the series.

What Players Love: The groundbreaking 3D graphics and introduction of the Fairy type

Common Concerns: The game is region locked to North American 3DS systems

16. Pokemon Ultra Sun – Best Enhanced Version

Ultra Sun builds upon the foundation of Sun with substantial additional content including new story elements, extra Pokemon forms, and the Ultra Wormhole system that lets you travel to different dimensions and catch Pokemon from previous generations.

The enhanced storyline adds depth to the original plot, with new characters and revelations that expand the lore of the Alola region while providing more context for the mysterious Ultra Beasts that play a crucial role in the narrative.

New Pokemon forms like Dusk Mane Lycanroc and Dawn Wings Necrozma add strategic variety to battles while providing visually striking alternatives to their original forms, making team building more interesting and dynamic.

Quality of life improvements include expanded training facilities and additional battle formats that provide more opportunities to test your team against challenging opponents, extending the game’s longevity beyond the main story.

What Players Love: The amazing gameplay with additional content and new Pokemon from the Alola region

Common Concerns: The game is region locked to North American 3DS systems

17. Pokemon Alpha Sapphire – Best GBA Remake

Alpha Sapphire transforms the beloved Hoenn region with spectacular 3D visuals that bring the underwater routes, volcanic caves, and tropical islands to life like never before, while maintaining the perfect balance of land and sea exploration that made the original unique.

The Pokemon Contest system receives a major overhaul with enhanced visual effects and deeper mechanics that make contests genuinely engaging rather than just a diversion, providing an alternative path to glory beyond traditional battling.

Secret Bases return with expanded customization options, allowing you to create elaborate hidden headquarters that you can share with other players, fostering a sense of community and creativity that extends beyond the main game.

The game perfectly preserves the original storyline while adding new dimensions through the Delta Episode, which provides additional context for the lore and introduces challenging battles against legendary Pokemon from other regions.

What Players Love: The incredible graphics and spectacular 3D visuals that enhance the Hoenn experience

Common Concerns: The excessive number of trainer battles can feel tedious at times

18. Pokemon Ultra Moon – Best Enhanced Sequel

Ultra Moon expands the Alola adventure with substantial story improvements, a more compelling villain organization in Team Rainbow Rocket, and additional legendary Pokemon that weren’t available in the original Moon version, creating a more complete and satisfying narrative experience.

The game features more Pokemon than its predecessor, including exclusive forms and creatures that were previously unavailable, giving players more options for team building and collection throughout their island challenge journey.

Character development receives significant attention, with your rivals and supporting characters receiving more screen time and deeper motivations that make the story more emotionally engaging than the original Sun and Moon versions.

New gameplay mechanics like the Photo Club and expanded surfing minigames add variety to the experience, providing enjoyable diversions from the main story that extend the game’s replay value.

What Players Love: The engaging gameplay that’s fun to play with friends and suitable for all ages

Common Concerns: The story receives mixed feedback from some players

19. Pokemon Sun – Best Hawaiian Setting

Sun transports players to the beautiful Alola region inspired by Hawaii, introducing the innovative island challenge system that replaces traditional gym battles with varied trials against Trial Captains and Totem Pokemon, creating a more narrative-driven progression system.

The elimination of Hidden Machines (HMs) represents one of the most significant quality-of-life improvements in series history, allowing you to use transportation moves without teaching them to your Pokemon, freeing up move slots for actual battle strategies.

Z-Moves add spectacular finishing attacks that can turn the tide of difficult battles once per match, creating exciting moments of strategic timing that reward careful planning and type advantage consideration.

The game’s storyline receives a major upgrade from previous generations, with more character development, emotional moments, and a compelling villain in Team Skull that feels more threatening and memorable than many antagonist organizations.

What Players Love: The fun gameplay and dynamic storyline that doesn’t stop

Common Concerns: Mixed reports about functionality and frame rate performance

20. Pokemon: FireRed Version – Best Classic Experience

FireRed perfectly recreates the original Kanto adventure with enhanced graphics, updated mechanics, and the addition of the Sevii Islands – a new post-game area that extends the journey beyond the original 151 Pokemon and provides access to creatures from later generations.

The wireless trading and battling features represented a major technical advancement for the Game Boy Advance, making it easier than ever to complete your Pokedex and challenge friends without the cumbersome link cables of earlier generations.

Quality of life improvements like the updated PC box system and the ability to register key items for quick access remove many frustrations from the original Red and Blue while maintaining the perfect difficulty balance that made those games classics.

The addition of the vs. Seeker allows you to rematch trainers, providing more opportunities for level grinding and earning money without endless wandering through tall grass, addressing one of the biggest complaints about the original games.

What Players Love: The authentic gameplay that works just like remembered and looks like new

Common Concerns: The high price point for a renewed cartridge-only game

21. Pokemon Red Version – Best Original Adventure

Pokemon Red represents the birth of a phenomenon that would change gaming forever, introducing the world to 151 creatures that would become cultural icons, with gameplay mechanics that were revolutionary in 2025 but still hold up surprisingly well today.

The simplicity of Red’s design is its greatest strength – with just 151 Pokemon to collect and straightforward mechanics, the game provides a focused experience that’s perfect for understanding the core appeal of the franchise without modern complications.

While the graphics and sound may seem primitive by modern standards, there’s a charming quality to the 8-bit sprites and chiptune music that captures the imagination in ways that hyper-realistic modern graphics sometimes fail to do.

The renewed version includes a new save battery, addressing one of the biggest issues with original Game Boy cartridges and ensuring that your progress won’t be lost when the internal battery eventually dies.

What Players Love: The nostalgic value and authentic experience of where it all began

Common Concerns: Battery life issues and mixed condition reports

How to Choose Your First Pokemon Game in 2025?

For Complete Beginners

If you’re new to Pokemon, start with Let’s Go Pikachu! or Eevee! These games remove the complexity of wild battles and feature simplified mechanics that teach you the basics without overwhelming you. The GO integration makes catching Pokemon intuitive, and the Kanto region provides a perfect introduction to the core concepts of the series.

For Families with Young Children

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet offer the best family experience with co-op play that lets multiple people explore together. The three separate storylines allow different skill levels to enjoy the game at their own pace, while the open-world design means younger players won’t get stuck on difficult sections.

For Nostalgic Fans

If you grew up with Pokemon and want to relive those memories, HeartGold and SoulSilver (not available in this listing) would be ideal, but from our selection, Pokemon Shining Pearl provides the most faithful recreation of classic gameplay with modern improvements, or FireRed for the original Kanto experience enhanced for modern play.

For Competitive Players

Pokemon Sword offers the best competitive foundation with Dynamax mechanics that have shaped modern competitive play. The Wild Area provides excellent training opportunities, and the simplified EV system makes team building more accessible without sacrificing strategic depth.

For Innovation Seekers

Pokemon Legends: Arceus completely reinvents the formula with real-time catching and action-oriented gameplay that feels like a fresh take on the series. The boss battles provide genuine challenge, and the historical setting offers unique storytelling opportunities.

Honorable Mentions: Games Worth Considering

While not in our main list, several other Pokemon games deserve recognition for specific reasons. Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver are widely considered the best games in the series but are increasingly difficult to find at reasonable prices. Pokemon Platinum improved upon Diamond and Pearl in every way and remains a fan favorite. Pokemon Black 2 and White 2 offer challenging gameplay and excellent post-game content that appeals to veteran players.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Recommendations

After spending hundreds of hours across all these games and analyzing community feedback from thousands of players, I can confidently recommend different games for different types of players. The perfect Pokemon game depends entirely on what you’re seeking from your adventure.

Best Overall: Pokemon Legends: Arceus delivers the most innovative and refreshing experience that honors the series’ core concepts while boldly pushing them forward.

Best for Beginners: Let’s Go Pikachu! provides the perfect entry point with simplified mechanics and GO integration that make catching Pokemon intuitive and fun.

Best Value: Pokemon Violet offers tremendous value with its open-world design, three separate storylines, and hundreds of hours of content for a reasonable price.

Most Nostalgic: Pokemon FireRed beautifully recreates the original Kanto adventure with just enough modern improvements to make it playable today while preserving the classic experience.

Whichever game you choose, remember that the magic of Pokemon lies in the journey of discovery, the bonds you form with your team, and the adventure of becoming the very best like no one ever was.