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For a first playthrough, follow the core Pokémon RPGs in their original regional release order: Kanto → Johto → Hoenn → Sinnoh → Unova → Kalos → Alola → Galar. Choose one version from each paired release; you do not need to play every version to follow the series. This order shows how the regions and gameplay developed for players. It is a recommendation, not an official Pokémon story chronology—and it is not a literal list of every Pokémon video game.
What order should you play the Pokémon games in?
Start with the earliest core RPG region you can access, then move forward through the regional sequence below. For each region, the paired editions generally tell the same main adventure with some version differences. Remakes revisit earlier regions, while sequels and Legends games have their own place in the path.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Pokemon Shining Pearl - Nintendo Switch Shining Pearl Edition | $52.49 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Pokémon Violet - US Version | $51.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Pokémon Legends: Arceus - US Version | $54.25 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Pokémon Pokopia - Nintendo Switch 2 | $69.00 | Buy on Amazon |
The Pokémon Company International’s retrospective lists the regions in reverse order—Galar, Alola, Kalos, Unova, Sinnoh, Hoenn, Johto, and Kanto. Reversing that sequence gives the release-oriented regional path below. The retrospective supports the region order, not an exhaustive catalog of every game or a title-by-title release chronology.
The core-series regional release path
1. Kanto
Begin with Pokémon Red and Blue, or choose Yellow as an alternate version of the Kanto adventure. The 2004 remakes, FireRed and LeafGreen, are optional ways to revisit the same region rather than a step you must complete before moving on. They returned for the Nintendo Switch family of systems in February 2026, according to the U.S. Pokémon announcement; storefront access may vary by region.
#1 Best Overall
- Revisit the Sinnoh region from the original Pokémon Pearl Version game and set off to try and become the Champion of the Pokémon League
- The Pokémon Shining Pearl game brings new life to this remade classic with added features
- Explore the Grand Underground to dig up items and Pokémon Fossils, build a Secret Base, and more.
- Test your style and rhythm in a Super Contest Show
- A reimagined adventure, now for the Nintendo Switch system
2. Johto
Continue with Gold and Silver, with Crystal as an alternate edition. HeartGold and SoulSilver are remakes for a later revisit, not a replacement for Johto’s place in the original release path.
3. Hoenn
Play Ruby or Sapphire; Emerald is an alternate edition of the Hoenn adventure. The remakes Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire can be saved for an optional return.
Rank #2
- 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.
4. Sinnoh
Play Diamond or Pearl, then Platinum if you want the alternate Sinnoh edition. Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl revisit the region as remakes. Pokémon Legends: Arceus is another optional Sinnoh game, but it is set in the distant past, long before the setting of Diamond and Pearl. Its focus on creating the region’s first Pokédex and its different battle flow make it a distinct experience, not a prerequisite for the other Sinnoh games.
5. Unova
Play Black or White first. Black 2 and White 2 are sequels to those games, so play them afterward if you want to continue the Unova story.
Rank #3
- 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
6. Kalos
Play X or Y. Pokémon Legends: Z-A is a separate optional entry associated with Lumiose City in Kalos; it should not be forced into a detailed story timeline on the basis of the available official chronology. The Pokémon Company announced Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 editions for October 16, 2025.
7. Alola
Play Sun or Moon. Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon are alternate Alola editions you can choose instead or return to later; they are not required to understand the next region.
Rank #4
- 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.
8. Galar
Finish this regional path with Sword or Shield. This is the latest region in the sequence supported by the official retrospective used here.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Should you play by release order or story chronology?
Choose release order for a first playthrough. It preserves the way regions and mechanics were introduced, and it avoids treating every game with an earlier fictional setting as the best starting point. Story chronology is a different question: official sources establish that Legends: Arceus takes place in ancient Sinnoh before Diamond and Pearl, but they do not establish one complete timeline for every Pokémon game. Its ancient setting alone is not a reason a newcomer needs to play it first.
How to fit remakes, rereleases, and side games into your plan
- Remakes: Treat them as optional revisits to their original regions. They do not change the historical release path, and you need not play both an original and its remake.
- Rereleases: A game returning on a newer platform does not become a newly introduced region in the original sequence. For example, FireRed and LeafGreen remain Kanto remakes even with their February 2026 Switch return.
- Legends games: Place Legends: Arceus as an optional ancient-Sinnoh adventure and Legends: Z-A as a separate Kalos-associated entry. Neither needs to be inserted into a definitive franchise-wide chronology.
- Spin-offs and mobile games: They are outside this core RPG path. Pokémon spans too many side games, mobile releases, regional editions, and rereleases for this sequence to claim it includes every video game.
A simple route if you do not want to play everything
- Choose one available Kanto game.
- Move through one main adventure per region, in this order: Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova, Kalos, Alola, then Galar.
- In Unova, play Black or White before its matching sequel, Black 2 or White 2.
- Return to remakes or try Legends: Arceus and Legends: Z-A if those settings or styles interest you.
Access depends on platform and region, especially for older releases and the 2026 Switch rerelease of FireRed and LeafGreen. Check your regional storefront for the exact edition available.
Quick Recap
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