For most newcomers who want a guided, traditional Pokémon adventure, the best place to start is Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! or Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! on Nintendo Switch. The Pokémon Company describes both as approachable for people new to the series, and they streamline the battle system enough that a first-time player is not buried in mechanics. They still keep ordinary trainer battles and type matchups, so they are approachable rather than effortless.
The phrase “easiest” needs one qualification. The official Pokémon pages do not rank the games by difficulty, so the answer below means easiest to start with, not objectively easiest across the whole series.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Pokémon Pokopia - Nintendo Switch 2 | $69.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Pokémon Legends: Arceus - US Version | $54.25 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Pokémon Violet - US Version | $51.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Pokémon Sword - Nintendo Switch | $54.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Pokémon™ Legends: Z-A - Nintendo Switch | Buy on Amazon |
Why Let’s Go is the strongest recommendation
The Pokémon Company’s official product page frames the two games as a way in for both longtime fans and first-timers. Its wording reads: “Whether you’re a longtime fan or you’re taking your first steps into the world of Pokémon, Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu!, Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee!, and the Poké Ball Plus provide a captivating way to experience the adventure.” That is a marketing description, but it is consistent with the gameplay details the company publishes on its own gameplay and how-to-play pages.
The reason these titles suit beginners is less about a lower difficulty setting and more about fewer moving parts. Much of the complexity that trips up new players in later games is either simplified or removed here.
#1 Best Overall
- Shape the world and build a cozy new life with Pokémon as a Ditto transformed to look like a human.
- Use other Pokémon’s moves, like Bulbasaur’s Leafage, to revitalize and navigate the world around you.
- Meet and befriend more Pokémon as you help nature flourish.
- Gather materials to create items and furniture, till the fields to grow delicious crops, build homes for the Pokémon you meet, and more—there’s so much to do!
- Experience a world with varied weather, real-time days and nights, and other surprises.
What makes Let’s Go approachable
Catching works like a throw, not a menu
Wild Pokémon appear in the field, and you catch them by throwing a Poké Ball with the Switch controls. The Pokémon Company says this catching mechanic draws on the approach of Pokémon GO, which many newcomers already recognize from phone games. The official how-to-play guide explains that the timing of your throw and where the ball lands both affect the chance of a successful catch, and that the color of the ring indicates difficulty. That gives you visible feedback before you commit, which is the main thing that makes early captures feel controllable.
Battles keep the basics without the extra layers
Trainer battles use parties of up to six Pokémon, and type matchups affect damage, so the core logic of the series is intact. The official strategy article says these games feature fewer Pokémon and no Abilities or held items. Removing those systems means you do not have to learn how Abilities interact with moves or how held items change a battle. Type matchups and team choices still matter, which is why the games remain a real test for someone who has played the series before.
Rank #2
- Action meets RPG in this new take on the Pokémon series
- Study Pokémon behaviors, sneak up on them, and toss a well-aimed Poké Ball to catch them
- Unleash moves in the speedy agile style or the powerful strong style in battles
- Travel to the Hisui region—the Sinnoh of old—and build the region’s first Pokédex
- Learn about the Mythical Pokémon Arceus, the key to this mysterious tale
Choosing between Pikachu and Eevee
The two editions are built as similar starting points. The choice changes your partner Pokémon, some of the species you encounter, and encounter rates. The official product information does not say that one edition is easier than the other, so pick the partner you want to travel with.
How Let’s Go compares with Pokémon Legends: Arceus
Let’s Go is the clearer choice when you want a familiar, guided journey and a less layered battle system. Pokémon Legends: Arceus takes a different approach. Wild Pokémon live freely in the environment, some run away and others attack, and catching can mean aiming carefully or weakening a Pokémon in battle first. The official Legends: Arceus gameplay page says battle order depends on stats and other factors, which can let one Pokémon act more than once in a row. That is a difference in play style, not evidence that Arceus is harder for every player.
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Rank #3
- Embark on a new Pokémon adventure
- Catch, battle, and train Pokémon in the Paldea Region, a vast land filled with lakes, towering peaks, wastelands, small towns, and sprawling cities.
- Choose either Sprigatito, Fuecoco, or Quaxly, to be your first partner Pokémon before setting off on your journey through Paldea.
- Embark on an independent study called the Treasure Hunt to gain new experiences, meet new people, and find your very own treasure.
| Aspect | Let’s Go, Pikachu! / Let’s Go, Eevee! | Pokémon Legends: Arceus |
|---|---|---|
| Where wild Pokémon are | Visible in the field | Roam freely in the environment; some run away, others attack |
| How you catch | Throw a Poké Ball with Switch controls; timing and landing spot affect success, and the ring color indicates difficulty | Can involve aiming carefully or weakening the Pokémon in battle first |
| Battle order | Ordinary trainer battles; type matchups affect damage | Depends on stats and other factors, so one Pokémon can act more than once in succession |
| Abilities and held items | None; the official strategy article says these are omitted | Not stated on the official gameplay page |
| Party size in trainer battles | Up to six Pokémon | Not stated on the official gameplay page |
| Best fit | A guided, traditional journey with a streamlined battle system | Readers who want more direct exploration and action |
Which game fits which reader
- Choose Let’s Go, Pikachu! or Let’s Go, Eevee! if you have never played a Pokémon game and want a traditional, story-led route with a simple battle layer.
- Choose Pokémon Legends: Arceus if you prefer exploring open areas, catching Pokémon as they move around you, and a battle flow where action order can shift.
- Choose between the two Let’s Go editions by the partner Pokémon you like and the wild Pokémon you want to find, since those are the differences the official material confirms.
What a first-time player should expect
- Type matchups still decide how much damage moves do, so building a balanced team is worth the effort.
- Catch timing affects success, so practice the throw before expecting every attempt to land.
- Without Abilities or held items, your team choices come down to species, moves and type coverage.
- Newcomers often find the games easy to learn, but they remain strategic enough that you will need to think about parties in later battles.
Before you buy
Both Let’s Go editions are sold for Nintendo Switch. Prices, stock and retailer availability change over time and vary by store, so check the Nintendo eShop or a retailer before purchasing. Reader questions about where to start often appear on the official Pokémon community forums, such as the question “Never played a Pokémon game in my life, where do I start?” Replies there are individual opinions rather than official guidance, so treat them as a sense of what other players are asking rather than as a ranking.
In short: if you want the gentlest entry point, start with one of the two Let’s Go games. If you want a looser, more exploratory game, look at Legends: Arceus instead.
Rank #4
- Catch, battle, and trade Pokémon on an all-new adventure in the Galar region
- Choose from three new partner Pokémon and encounter never-before-seen Pokémon
- Unravel the mystery behind the Legendary Pokémon Zacian and Zamazenta!
- Team up with other Trainers to participate in Max Raid Battles***!
- Battle wild Dynamax Pokémon in Max Raid Battles and try catching them***
Source: The Pokémon Company official product, strategy, how-to-play and Legends: Arceus gameplay pages, and the official Pokémon community forums.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Live the life of a Pokémon Trainer in the streets of Lumiose City!
- For the first time in the Pokémon RPG series, command your Pokémon in real-time battles
- Use the power of Mega Evolution in battle and take on rampaging Rogue Mega-Evolved Pokémon
- Compete in the Z-A Royale each night to test your skills and try to become the strongest Pokémon Trainer
- Visit shops, restaurants, and places called wild zones—where Pokémon roam free—all centered around Prism Tower
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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