The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →For a first playthrough, play the main-series Pokémon games in release order, grouping versions that launched together. That sequence follows how the series developed; it is not a definitive chronology of the games’ fictional events. Remakes revisit older regions, direct sequels continue particular stories, and spin-offs are optional.
What order should you play Pokémon games in?
Use the release-order list below as a guide, not a requirement. Pokémon games generally tell self-contained regional stories, so you can start with a game that suits your console and preferred style. Release order is most useful if you want to see how the main series evolved and encounter each generation’s additions in context.
The list groups paired versions that belong to the same release era. It includes remakes, enhanced versions, direct sequels, and Legends games, with their relationships identified. It is a practical sequence rather than an exhaustive catalog of every regional launch date. The Pokémon Company’s history of the franchise records the first games in 1996 and later milestones; Serebii’s main-series index provides a secondary classification reference.
| Release order | Main-series game or versions | How they relate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green (Japan); Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue (international releases) | The original paired games. The version names and regional release sequence differ; do not read this as one simultaneous worldwide launch. |
| 2 | Pokémon Yellow | An enhanced version of the original Kanto adventure. |
| 3 | Pokémon Gold and Pokémon Silver | A new generation and region, with a story connection to the earlier games. |
| 4 | Pokémon Crystal | An enhanced version of Gold and Silver. |
| 5 | Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire | A new generation and region. |
| 6 | Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen | Remakes of the original Kanto games, released after Ruby and Sapphire. |
| 7 | Pokémon Emerald | An enhanced version in the Ruby and Sapphire era. |
| 8 | Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl | A new generation and region. |
| 9 | Pokémon Platinum | An enhanced version of Diamond and Pearl. |
| 10 | Pokémon HeartGold and Pokémon SoulSilver | Remakes of Gold and Silver. |
| 11 | Pokémon Black and Pokémon White | A new generation and region. |
| 12 | Pokémon Black 2 and Pokémon White 2 | Direct sequels to Black and White; play those first if you want the story in order. |
| 13 | Pokémon X and Pokémon Y | A new generation and region. |
| 14 | Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire | Remakes of Ruby and Sapphire, released after X and Y. |
| 15 | Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon | A new generation and region. |
| 16 | Pokémon Ultra Sun and Pokémon Ultra Moon | Expanded versions of Sun and Moon, with a changed story. Choose these instead of the originals if you want the expanded take; playing both pairs is optional. |
| 17 | Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! | A Kanto reimagining with a different catching approach, rather than a conventional new-region entry. |
| 18 | Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield | A new generation and region. |
| 19 | Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl | Remakes of Diamond and Pearl. |
| 20 | Pokémon Legends: Arceus | A main-series-adjacent Legends entry with a different approach to exploration and catching. It revisits the Sinnoh region’s past, but release order does not establish a complete franchise timeline. |
| 21 | Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet | A new generation and region; the company’s history lists them as 2022 milestones. |
| 22 | Pokémon Legends: Z-A | The latest released main-series game identified here. It is set in Lumiose City during an urban redevelopment plan; that premise does not establish its exact place in a series-wide chronology. |
This ordering is based on the broad release sequence and relationships among entries, not a claim that every title’s regional launch date has been checked against a complete official catalog. For regional dates, Bulbapedia’s release-date list is a secondary cross-check.
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- You will receive, at random, a Pokémon TCG: First Partner Illustration Collection—Series that will contain 3 of 9 possible Promo Cards featuring beloved first partner Pokémon from the Johto, Unova, or Galar region.
- You will get 1 Pokémon TCG booster pack containing 3 of 9 promo cards
- This also comes with 2 Pokémon TCG booster packs and a sticker sheet.
Do you need to play Pokémon games in order?
No. Most entries introduce a new region, characters, and central conflict. Start with the game you can play on a system you own, or with the style you prefer. The main exception for story continuity is a numbered direct sequel: Black 2 and White 2 follow Black and White, so the earlier pair makes a better starting point for that story.
Enhanced versions and remakes do not usually need to be added as extra steps. If you want one version of a generation, choose either the original pair entry or its later expanded version where applicable. Remakes are later releases that revisit an older region; they are not new chapters inserted into the original release chronology.
Is there a chronological order for Pokémon games?
There is no single definitive, official timeline established for every Pokémon game. Release order is clear enough to use as a play sequence, but it should not be presented as in-universe chronology. A game set in an earlier period or revisiting a familiar region does not, by itself, place every other title before or after it.
The official description of Pokémon Legends: Z-A places it in Lumiose City amid an urban redevelopment plan. That setting helps explain the game’s premise, but it does not settle the game’s exact position relative to every other Pokémon adventure. See the official Legends: Z-A page.
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- Explore Pokémon Worlds: Guess and collect 148 Pokémon from Kanto to Galar. This interactive game challenges your knowledge and excitement for all legendary and mythical creatures.
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- Comprehensive Field Guide: Your go-to resource, the Field Guide includes facts about each Pokémon, helping you identify and track every catch in your electronic collection.
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- Ready to Play Set: Comes with a metallic Poké Ball, the Trainer Field Guide, and 3 AAA batteries included, ensuring you can embark on your journey as soon as you receive it.
Where do the remakes and re-releases fit?
Remakes in the release sequence
For a release-order playthrough, play remakes when they appeared, as shown in the table. For a region-focused playthrough, you can instead play the remake in place of the older original. FireRed and LeafGreen, for example, revisit the original Kanto adventure but were released in the Ruby and Sapphire era.
FireRed and LeafGreen on Switch
In a February 27, 2026 news post, The Pokémon Company International said the original 2004 FireRed and LeafGreen games were available on Nintendo Switch systems. This is a return of those original games, not a new entry in the historic release order. The post says the Switch versions preserve the original game content and describes Pokémon HOME transfer functionality as planned; check the announcement for its current details.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is the latest Pokémon game, and which edition should you get?
Pokémon Legends: Z-A released on October 16, 2025. The official buy page lists Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 editions as available. The Switch 2 Edition can be played on Nintendo Switch, but Switch 2-specific features and additional content that use Switch 2 specifications are unavailable when played on Switch. Check the edition and console compatibility before buying.
Optional Pokémon spin-offs
Spin-offs are not required to understand the main-series release order. Play them when their premise appeals to you; they often use different genres or focus on a particular part of the Pokémon world.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- The Pokémon TCG: Pokémon Day 2026 Collection includes 1 foil promo card featuring Pikachu with a Pokémon Day stamp.
- This also comes with 1 Pokémon coin.
- You will also receive 3 Pokémon TCG booster packs.
- Booster Packs May Vary from those pictured.
- Pokémon Mystery Dungeon games focus on exploration and dungeon-based adventures.
- Pokémon Ranger games offer an action-oriented approach to working with Pokémon.
- Pokémon Snap games center on photographing Pokémon in their habitats.
- Pokémon GO and other mobile games are separate experiences, not steps in the main-series sequence.
How to choose a starting point
- Want the series’ development in context? Begin with the earliest main-series games you can access, following the release sequence and treating the paired versions as alternatives.
- Want a classic region without starting with an older original? A remake such as FireRed or LeafGreen revisits Kanto; the Switch return is the 2004 game content, not a new remake.
- Want one connected story? Play Black or White before the corresponding direct-sequel pair, Black 2 or White 2.
- Choosing between paired versions? The core adventure is broadly shared, but Pokémon availability and some version-specific details differ. Check the specific pair’s version differences if a particular Pokémon matters to you.
- Planning to move Pokémon between games? Check compatibility and transfer direction before sending anything. The official HOME notice says Pokémon transferred from an earlier game into Legends: Z-A cannot then be transferred back to previous titles; see the Pokémon HOME information.
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