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You might love the MCU or Fast & Furious or James Bond, but none of those franchises have anything on Pokémon. A massive, multimedia empire that includes video games, television, manga, trading cards, mobile games, and more, Pokémon has dominated the cultural conversation for over twenty years now, and its popularity has never waned. If anything, the recent announcement of the upcoming Generation X, with the games Pokémon Winds and Waves, proves that the franchise is better than ever.
In the video game space, Pokémon is currently sitting pretty on the Nintendo Switch, releasing six mainline games so far, plus a few spin-offs. However, the six mainline Pokémon games will be the focus of this list. Each offers something interesting to the franchise, and each is special in a distinct way, but which is the best? Every player will undoubtedly have an opinion on which one should sit at the top of the list, but at least we, as fans, can all agree that the series is experiencing one of its best eras on the Switch, even if its valleys are just as steep as its peaks are high.
6
‘Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee!’ (2018)
The Nintendo Switch era of Pokémon began in 2018 with the release of Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! The games are de facto remakes of the Gen I titles, offering a retelling of the same story but changing the catching mechanics to take full advantage of the Switch’s capabilities. Here, catching Pokémon is the priority, although trainer battles and the gym challenge remain central to the story.
The Let’s Go games rank last here because of how uninspired they feel. The last thing we needed in 2018 was yet another remake of the Gen I titles, especially when the plot is basically the same, beat by beat. Most egregiously, the difficulty here is nearly non-existent. Because the focus is on catching Pokémon, the Let’s Go games feel like one extended prologue full of hand-holding meant to make an already easy game all the less challenging. The franchise’s obsession with Gen I can get very tiresome very fast, and that’s the case with these inoffensive but unimpressive titles.
5
‘Pokémon Sword and Shield’ (2019)
Gen VIII was the first to debut on the Nintendo Switch with the 2019 titles Pokémon Sword and Shield. Set in the UK-inspired Galar region, the games follow the player’s journey to become a Pokémon Champion, battling trainers, gym leaders, friends, and rivals. Along the way, they must combat the looming danger of the Darkest Day brought about by a mysterious Legendary Pokémon.
Sword and Shield were the series’ first attempt at an open-world game through the Wild Area. The gimmick was much publicized but, alas, turned out to be quite underwhelming. Visually, Galar is the most insipid region, lifeless and frustratingly still despite some interesting locations. The story is also the weakest of any mainline game, offering a very bare-bones take on the traditional Pokémon formula and further brought down by a lazy villain and a truly awful regional team. Hop is a very good rival and one of the most compelling NPCs in the series, and both Marnie and Bede are solid additions, too. Sword and Shield feel like two games of unrealized possibilities, and while some of the new Pokémon are great, the generation overall feels like something of a disappointment.
4
‘Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl’ (2021)
The Gen IV remakes, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, are arguably the most divisive titles in the series since the Gen V titles. Like the originals, these two follow Lucas and Dawn as they begin their journey in the Sinnoh region, facing Team Galactic and its leader, Cyrus, who aims to use the box-art legendary to destroy the current universe and create a new one deprived of all emotion.
As previous remakes, BDSP updates the original Diamond and Pearl but follows them a bit too faithfully, to the point where they refuse to correct some of the original games’ glaring issues, most notably the Pokédex structure. In fact, many fans call them the all-time worst titles in the series, which is an exaggeration. Indeed, the games are not perfect, and the visual style is quite off-putting. However, BDSP has the most challenging Elite Four in the series and the hardest Champion battle ever, and no game that has those two can ever be considered the worst.
3
‘Pokémon Legends: Z-A’ (2026)
The latest Pokémon game, Legends: Z-A, is quite odd. Set in Kalos’ Lumiose City five years after the events of the Gen VI titles, X and Y, the game sees the player enter the Z-A Royale, where they’ll battle to advance their rank. Meanwhile, a strange phenomenon is making Pokémon Mega Evolve and go berserk within the city, as the Legendary Pokémon Zygarde takes an interest in the player.
A continuation of the Legends formula, Z-A is also a much-deserved continuation to X and Y and, in a way, a redemption for Gen VI overall. The main allure here is the numerous Mega Evolutions introduced to fan-favorite Pokémon like Dragonite and underappreciated ones like Victreebel. The plot itself is nothing out of the ordinary, but it delivers in every way that it should. While its predecessor focused more on the catching aspect of the franchise, Z-A showcases battling, introducing new mechanics and offering challenging fights against the berserk Megas. It’s not as good as the one before, but as a much-deserved second chance for the Kalos region, Legends: Z-A meets the expectations.
2
‘Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’ (2022)
Gen IX is the second one to debut on the Nintendo Switch, set in the Iberian Peninsula-inspired region of Paldea. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet follow the player as they enroll in either Naranja or Uva Academy (depending on the game) and embark on three different missions to become the Champion, aid a friend in need, and battle the local villainous Team Star. Along the way, they receive help from a mysterious Pokémon that becomes their constant companion.
Scarlet and Violet improve upon the open-world setting of the previous titles to present the franchise’s best implementation of the gimmick thus far. The story is also incredibly original and includes many moving parts, offering many surprisingly emotional payoffs that further distinguish these titles. The prologue in Area Zero is among the most original pieces of storytelling in the entire franchise, and the characterization of the companions, particularly Nemona, Arven, and Penny, is rather good. Sure, the frame rate is truly appalling, especially during launch, and the world remains ocasionally baren compared to other open-world titles. However, Scarlet and Violet mark a firm step in the right direction as Pokémon enters a new era in its long history.
1
‘Pokémon Legends: Arceus’ (2022)
Without a doubt, the single best Pokémon game for the Nintendo Switch so far is Legends: Arceus. A radically new take on the classic formula, the game takes players to the past of the Sinnoh region, called Hisui. The plot sees the player capture Pokémon to build the region’s first-ever Pokédex while learning more about the lore of the mysterious Pokémon deity, Arceus.
Legends: Arceus is the first truly open-world game in the series, focusing far more on the catching aspect than on traditional battling. Narratively, it takes daring risks, showcasing Sinnoh’s mythology to construct a deeper and more detailed story that echoes the glory days of Black and White. Visually, it is the most stunning Pokémon game we’ve ever had (that’s a low bar, I know), successfully making Hisui come to life. Plus, the Volo fight at the end ranks as possibly the hardest in the entire franchise. Legends: Arceus truly thrives in its depiction of Pokémon as mighty but dangerous creatures, placing particular attention to the player’s bond with them. It’s by far the most original game in Pokémon so far and a strong contender for the all-time best in the series, let alone the Switch.
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David Caballero
Almontather Rassoul
