Where Should You Start With Pokémon Games?
If you are trying to choose among pokemon video games, start with one question: do you want the classic RPG journey, or do you want a different kind of Pokemon experience? The main games are built around catching, training, battling, and exploring a region, while spin-offs can be about photos, dungeons, cozy routines, or competitive battles. You do not need to play everything in order; the best first game is usually the one that fits your console and the way you actually like to play.
What are the main Pokemon games?
The main Pokemon games are the core RPGs. You choose a starter, travel through a region, catch Pokemon, build a team, battle key opponents, and usually work toward becoming Champion or completing a major regional challenge.
Red, Blue, and Yellow through Crystal
Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow are where the main series began: Kanto, the first 151 Pokemon, turn-based battles, trading, and version differences. Yellow adds a stronger anime flavor by putting Pikachu beside you, which makes it feel slightly more characterful than the original pair.
Gold, Silver, and Crystal expand the idea with Johto, breeding, held items, a day-and-night cycle, and a memorable return to Kanto. They are historically important, but a new player should expect slower menus and fewer quality-of-life features than modern games.
Ruby and Sapphire through Black 2 and White 2
This middle era is a strong choice if you like traditional RPG structure but want more depth than the earliest games. Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald introduce Hoenn, abilities, double battles, and a brighter Game Boy Advance style.
- Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum: classic Sinnoh progression with important battle-system changes.
- HeartGold and SoulSilver: beloved Johto remakes with a large adventure and modernized features for their time.
- Black, White, Black 2, and White 2: story-focused DS entries with a stronger regional identity and true sequels.
X and Y through Sword and Shield
X and Y move the main series into full 3D and are easy to understand, which makes them comfortable beginner games if you still have access to a 3DS. Mega Evolution, character customization, and the Kalos region give them a more modern feel without making the structure complicated.
The same broader period includes Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, Sun and Moon, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, then Sword and Shield on Switch. Sword and Shield are especially useful for a first modern mainline game because they still have a clear Gym path, but add visible Pokemon, the Wild Area, and smoother team management.
Scarlet, Violet, and the Pokemon Legends games
Scarlet and Violet are the open-world main generation on Switch. They suit players who like wandering, choosing objectives, and discovering Pokemon at their own pace, but they can feel less guided if you prefer a tidy route from town to town.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus is different again. It focuses on field research, catching Pokemon directly in open areas, observing behavior, and completing research tasks. Pick it if the fantasy of studying Pokemon in the wild sounds more exciting than the usual Gym badge route.
Which Pokemon games are spin-offs?
Pokemon spin-offs use the creatures, world, or battle ideas of the franchise without following the normal main-series RPG formula. They are not "lesser" games; they are better choices when you want a specific kind of play instead of a long badge-and-Champion campaign.
Mystery Dungeon for dungeon RPGs
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon is best for players who want story and risk in the same package. You usually play as a Pokemon, explore changing dungeons, manage items, and decide when to push deeper or retreat.
This is not the easiest spin-off for someone who only wants a relaxed Pokemon game. It works better for players who enjoy dungeon RPGs, resource management, and emotional stories where the Pokemon themselves carry the adventure.
New Pokemon Snap for photography
New Pokemon Snap is the comfortable recommendation for families, casual players, and anyone who likes observing rather than battling. You move through environments on a set route and take photos of Pokemon in different poses, behaviors, and moments.
Pokemon Champions for competitive battles
Pokemon Champions is for players who care more about battles than campaign progression. If your favorite part of Pokemon is team building, matchups, predictions, and testing strategies, a battle-focused game can be more direct than playing through another long RPG first.
It is not the best first stop for a young beginner who still needs to learn type matchups. It is more appealing once you already understand the basics and want to spend less time on story setup.
Pokemon Pokopia for cozy simulation
Pokemon Pokopia fits the cozy side of Pokemon: slower progress, daily routines, decorating, collecting, and spending time with Pokemon without the pressure of becoming Champion. That makes it a better match for someone who wants comfort after work or school than someone looking for tough battles.
If two people in the same household like Pokemon for different reasons, this kind of spin-off matters. One player may want ranked battles and careful team planning, while another may only want a calm world with familiar creatures; both are valid ways into the franchise.
Which Pokemon games are on Switch?
The Switch is the easiest current place to start because it has several styles of Pokemon in one library. You can choose a gentle Kanto remake, a more traditional mainline entry, a Sinnoh remake, an experimental field-research game, or the open-world Paldea games.
Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee
Pokemon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! are the softest starting point on Switch. They revisit Kanto with simplified catching inspired by Pokemon GO, bright presentation, visible Pokemon, and local co-op.
Sword and Shield
Sword and Shield are the safest "modern but still classic" Switch choices. They have Gyms, towns, routes, a Champion goal, and enough modern convenience that the game rarely feels old-fashioned.
The Wild Area adds freedom without turning the whole game into an open world. That balance is helpful if you want clear direction but still like seeing Pokemon roam and taking detours.
Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl
Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are traditional Sinnoh remakes. They are a good fit if you want a classic route-based Pokemon game on Switch and do not need the newest design ideas.
They can feel safer than bold, which is either a weakness or a strength depending on the player. For someone who gets overwhelmed by open worlds, that predictable structure can be exactly the point.
Legends Arceus and Legends Z-A
Pokemon Legends: Arceus is one of the most distinct Pokemon games on Switch. You catch in the field, complete research tasks, watch wild behavior, and move through open zones with more urgency than a standard turn-based route adventure.
Legends Z-A is the one to watch if you like that experimental branch. Before choosing it over another Switch title, check whether you want active exploration and a different structure, not just "the newest Pokemon name."
Scarlet and Violet
Scarlet and Violet are the current open-world mainline games on Switch. They let you explore Paldea, follow several story paths, and choose your next goal with more freedom than older entries.
They are best for players who enjoy roaming, collecting, and making their own path. If you strongly prefer polished linear pacing, Sword and Shield or Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl may feel easier to settle into.
How do you choose a Pokemon game?
Do not begin by asking which Pokemon game is "objectively best." Begin with access, then play style, then patience level. A famous older game is not very useful if you cannot easily buy it or play it legally on hardware you own.
Choose by console
Your console is the first practical filter. If you already own a Switch, start with the Switch library before chasing DS, 3DS, Game Boy Advance, or Game Boy titles.
Choose by gameplay style
Match the game to the kind of fun you want:
- Classic Pokemon journey: try Sword, Shield, Brilliant Diamond, or Shining Pearl.
- Open exploration: try Scarlet, Violet, or Legends: Arceus.
- Relaxed side activity: try New Pokemon Snap or a cozy-style spin-off.
- Battle focus: look at competitive-focused options once you know the basics.
Choose by difficulty
Pokemon difficulty is usually about friction, not whether the game is brutally hard. Older games can feel tougher because menus are slower, guidance is lighter, and team management is less convenient.
For a first game, choose something that lets you learn type matchups and team building without fighting the interface. Let's Go is the gentlest option; Sword and Shield are better if you want a fuller mainline structure; Scarlet and Violet are better if you are comfortable exploring without constant direction.
Choose by favorite Pokemon or region
Personal attachment is a perfectly good reason to choose. If you love Pikachu or Eevee, Let's Go has an obvious pull. If you like Sinnoh from the anime, cards, or older memories, Brilliant Diamond, Shining Pearl, or Legends: Arceus may feel more motivating.
Use this quick decision path if you are stuck:
- Start with the hardware you already own.
- Pick classic, open-world, cozy, photo, dungeon, or battle-focused gameplay.
- Choose the version with Pokemon or a region you actually want to spend time with.
Conclusion
The smartest first Pokemon game is not always the oldest, newest, or highest-ranked one; it is the one that matches your console and the kind of play you want tonight. Start with Let's Go for the easiest welcome, Sword or Shield for a clear modern mainline journey, Scarlet or Violet for open-world freedom, and Legends: Arceus if exploring and studying Pokemon sounds more exciting than following the usual badge route.
FAQ
What is the main Pokemon game order?
The broad order is Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova, Kalos, Alola, Galar, and Paldea across the main generations. You can play them out of order because most regions tell self-contained stories.
Where can you play old Pokemon games?
Old Pokemon games are usually played on their original Nintendo handhelds or through available remakes on newer systems. Before buying, check compatibility carefully because many older cartridges and systems are region-, hardware-, and condition-dependent.
What is the best Pokemon game for beginners?
Let's Go, Pikachu! or Let's Go, Eevee! is the easiest beginner pick on Switch. Choose Sword or Shield instead if you want your first game to feel closer to the standard main-series formula.
