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There is no official ranking of the best Pokémon games. This is an editorial top 10, weighing historical influence, how well the central play holds up, distinctive worlds or mechanics, and how approachable each game is today. The list spans traditional adventures, remakes, and a battle-focused game; those different formats reward different kinds of players.
How this Pokémon ranking works
Pokémon is not one fixed formula. Some entries emphasize a familiar Gym journey, others change the structure or add new ways to battle and explore. These rankings balance the games’ contributions and identity with the experience they offer a player now. They are not a claim of universal consensus, and the official game pages describe individual titles rather than naming an authoritative best-of list.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Pokémon Pokopia - Nintendo Switch 2 | $69.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Pokémon Legends: Arceus - US Version | $54.26 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Pokemon Shining Pearl - Nintendo Switch Shining Pearl Edition | $52.78 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee! - Nintendo Switch | $53.87 | Buy on Amazon |
The 10 best Pokémon video games
10. Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl
These Nintendo Switch remakes bring back the original Sinnoh story with modern conveniences. They earn a place for making that particular journey accessible on a current Nintendo platform, though their central appeal is revisiting an established adventure rather than reworking the series’ structure. The official Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl site describes them as remakes of the original Sinnoh games.
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9. Pokémon Sword and Shield
For a conventional Gym-and-Champion progression paired with a broad area to roam, Galar is a strong pick. The Wild Area lets players control the camera freely, and which Pokémon appear can depend on the area and weather. That open zone gives the familiar journey a more exploratory counterpoint without making the whole game open-world. The official Sword and Shield page also outlines differences between the two versions.
#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.
8. Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire
Ruby and Sapphire stand out for expanding the tactical texture of battles and activities. The official Game Boy Advance game page highlights double battles, Abilities, Natures, and Pokémon Contests—features that give the games a more varied identity than simply following the next Gym challenge. Their placement reflects that mechanical distinctiveness and their role in the series’ history. See the official Ruby and Sapphire page.
7. Pokémon Champions
Champions belongs on this list for players whose main interest is battling rather than a traditional story-led Pokémon adventure. The official page describes it as a battle-focused game for Nintendo Switch and mobile devices, with a connection to Pokémon HOME. It also says Pokémon Video Game Championships battles are planned to take place in Champions at the 2026 Pokémon World Championships and future Championship Series events. That competitive role is a distinct reason to choose it, but it is not a substitute for an exploration-driven series entry. Details are on the official Pokémon Champions page.
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
6. Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee!
These paired Switch games offer a route back to the original Kanto adventure for players drawn to that setting. They are also part of the titles Pokémon HOME lists as compatible with Switch. HOME cautions that restrictions may apply when moving individual Pokémon, so compatibility should not be read as a promise that every Pokémon can move freely between every game. Check the Pokémon HOME compatibility information for the specific transfer you have in mind.
5. Pokémon Legends: Arceus
Legends: Arceus earns a high position as a distinct Switch adventure within a series that has often revolved around a familiar trainer progression. Its inclusion here recognizes the value of a game that makes the journey feel meaningfully different, rather than ranking it as the definitive choice for every Pokémon fan. Pokémon HOME lists it among its compatible Switch games, with the same individual-transfer restrictions described on its official compatibility page.
Rank #3
- 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
4. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
Choose Scarlet and Violet if you want the series’ open-world structure. The Pokémon Parents Official Website / The Pokémon Company International calls them “the first open-world entries to the Pokémon video game series.” Their three goals run alongside one another: become a Pokémon Champion, track down Titan Pokémon, and face Team Star. That parallel structure makes them the clearest pick here for players who want to set their own direction through a Pokémon adventure. The official parents guide describes the open-world design and goals.
3. Pokémon Gold and Silver
Gold and Silver deserve a place near the top for broadening the sense of what a Pokémon journey could include. Their appeal is the feeling of a larger adventure and a world with more to discover after the immediate challenge. They remain a natural recommendation for players interested in the series’ classic handheld era, though a present-day player should check which version and platform they can actually access before choosing.
Rank #4
- Don the role of a Pokémon Trainer as you travel through Kanto
- Discover a new species of Pokémon with the Pokémon Lets Go series
- Catch Pokémon in the wild using a gentle throwing motion with either a Joy-Con controller or a Poké Ball Plus accessory, which will light up, vibrate, and make sounds to bring your adventure to life
- See the world in style by customizing Pikachu and your Trainer with a selection of outfits
- Connect to Pokémon GO* to transfer caught Kanto-region Pokémon, including Alolan and Shiny forms, as well as the newly discovered Pokémon, Meltan, from that game to this one
2. Pokémon Emerald
Emerald is a standout for players who want the Hoenn setting and the battle-focused depth associated with that generation. It builds on the distinctive mechanics introduced in Ruby and Sapphire, including double battles, Abilities, and Natures, making it a particularly rewarding classic for people who enjoy thinking carefully about teams and matchups. Its older platform is part of the consideration: whether it is a practical first choice depends on access to the Game Boy Advance game.
1. Pokémon Red and Blue
Red and Blue take the top spot for establishing the core appeal that later entries continue to reinterpret: discovering Pokémon, building a team, and taking on a journey through a new region. Their historical influence gives them a compelling claim as the most consequential starting point, even if modern players may prefer newer conveniences and systems. The Pokémon Company International marked the franchise’s 25th anniversary in its February 26, 2021 announcement of Brilliant Diamond, Shining Pearl, and Legends: Arceus; that is the company’s anniversary framing, not an independent measure of which game is best. See the 2021 announcement.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which Pokémon game should you play first?
Start with the structure you want, not with the assumption that one entry is mandatory. These picks address different preferences:
- Want an open-world adventure? Pick Scarlet or Violet for its three concurrent goals and open-world design.
- Want a classic Gym challenge with a large explorable zone? Sword or Shield pairs Galar’s Gym progression with the Wild Area.
- Want to revisit Sinnoh on Switch? Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl remake the original Sinnoh story.
- Care most about competitive battling? Look at Pokémon Champions, which is designed around battles rather than a traditional adventure.
- Want the historical starting point? Red and Blue are the foundational choice in this ranking, if you can access a version you want to play.
What to know about Pokémon HOME transfers
Pokémon HOME lists Scarlet, Violet, Legends: Arceus, Brilliant Diamond, Shining Pearl, Sword, Shield, Let’s Go, Pikachu!, and Let’s Go, Eevee! as compatible Switch games. That does not mean every Pokémon can move between all of them: Pokémon’s HOME page warns that restrictions can apply to individual transfers. Check the specific Pokémon and destination game before planning a move.
Quick Recap
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.
