Honestly, trying to keep track of pokemon games in release order feels a bit like trying to organize a herd of Tauros. Since 1996, Game Freak has released dozens of titles, but they aren’t just a straight line from 1 to 100. You've got "upper" versions, remakes that change the lore, and sequels that actually aren't remakes at all.
It started in Japan with a pair of games most Americans didn't even play originally. Everyone thinks it’s Red and Blue. But really? It was Red and Green. That tiny distinction set the stage for a three-decade obsession.
👉 See also: Resident Evil 2 Walkthrough: How to Survive Raccoon City Without Losing Your Mind
The 8-Bit Foundation: Generation 1 and 2
The Game Boy era was basically the Wild West of monster catching. In 1996, Pocket Monsters Red and Green hit Japanese shelves. They were buggy. They were weird. But they worked. When the games finally migrated to North America in 1998, we got Red and Blue, which used the updated code from the Japanese Blue version but the wild encounters of the original pair.
Then came Yellow in 1998. This was the first time the franchise chased its own tail—the game was updated to look more like the anime. Pikachu followed you. Jesse and James showed up. It was a marketing masterstroke.
The Johto Expansion (1999-2000)
By the time Gold and Silver dropped in 1999 (Japan) and 2000 (US), the formula had perfected itself. You didn't just get 100 new monsters; you got a day/night cycle and held items. Most importantly, you could go back to Kanto. It remains the only time a game felt like two full journeys in one cartridge. Crystal followed in 2000, introducing the first-ever female playable character and moving sprites.
The GBA and DS Transition: Remakes and "Upper" Versions
The 2000s were busy. Ruby and Sapphire (2002) moved us to the Game Boy Advance. The colors popped, but fans were actually pretty mad because you couldn't transfer your old Pokémon from Gen 2. To fix this "missing" link, Game Freak released FireRed and LeafGreen in 2004. These were the first-ever remakes in the pokemon games in release order, a trend that would define the series for the next twenty years.
The DS Golden Era
Then we hit the Nintendo DS. Diamond and Pearl (2006) introduced online trading via Wi-Fi. It changed everything. Suddenly, you weren't limited to the kid next door with a Link Cable. Platinum (2008) fixed the sluggish pacing of the originals, and then HeartGold and SoulSilver (2009) arrived. Ask any hardcore fan: many still consider these the peak of the series. They included a physical pedometer (the Pokéwalker) and had your Pokémon follow you in the overworld again.
🔗 Read more: Why State of Decay 1 Still Feels Better Than Its Sequel
Breaking the Cycle: Gen 5 and the 3DS Jump
Generation 5 was a weird one. Black and White (2010) tried to be a soft reboot. You couldn't catch any old Pokémon until the post-game. It was a gutsy move that people hated at the time but love now for its "mature" story. Instead of a third version like "Grey," we got Black 2 and White 2 in 2012. Actual sequels. New protagonist, new gyms, set two years later.
Entering the Third Dimension
The jump to 3DS with X and Y (2013) brought 3D models and Mega Evolution. It felt modern, maybe too modern for some. We got Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire (2014), which gave the Hoenn region a massive cinematic glow-up.
Then came Alola. Sun and Moon (2016) ditched Gyms for "Trials." It felt like a vacation. But just a year later, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon (2017) came out, which felt more like a "Director's Cut" than a new game. This was the era of constant releases.
The Switch Era: Open Worlds and New Frontiers
The Nintendo Switch changed the release strategy entirely. We didn't get a "main" Gen 8 game first. Instead, we got Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! (2018). These were weird hybrids of the Pokémon GO mechanics and the original Kanto story.
- Sword and Shield (2019): The first "traditional" console RPGs for the series. They introduced the Wild Area—a precursor to true open-world gameplay.
- Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl (2021): These were outsourced to a studio called ILCA. They were "faithful" remakes, meaning they looked like "chibi" versions of the DS games.
- Legends: Arceus (2022): This changed the game. Literally. No gyms. You just ran around ancient Sinnoh (Hisui) and threw balls at things. It was the breath of fresh air the series desperately needed.
- Scarlet and Violet (2022): The first fully open-world entries. They launched with a lot of technical bugs, but the "three-path" story was genuinely some of the best writing in the franchise's history.
The Current State: 2024 to 2026
In 2024, the focus shifted heavily toward DLC and expansions like The Indigo Disk. But the big news for the current timeline is Pokémon Legends: Z-A, which takes us back to the Kalos region (from X and Y). Released in late 2025, it centers entirely on the urban redevelopment of Lumiose City, proving that Game Freak is moving away from the "one region per year" treadmill and toward more experimental, focused experiences.
Essential Summary of the Pokémon Timeline
| Era | Primary Console | Key Innovation |
|---|---|---|
| Monochrome | Game Boy | The 151, Link Cable trading, the "third version" trend. |
| Color/Advance | GBC / GBA | Day/Night cycles, Abilities, Natures, first remakes. |
| Dual Screen | DS / 3DS | Global trading (GTS), Mega Evolution, 3D graphics. |
| Hybrid | Switch / Switch 2 | Open worlds, overworld catching, DLC instead of "third" games. |
What You Should Actually Do Next
If you’re looking to dive into the pokemon games in release order, don't feel like you have to play every single one. That’s hundreds of hours of grinding.
First, start with FireRed or LeafGreen. They are the most stable way to experience the beginning. Second, grab HeartGold or SoulSilver if you can find them (they’re expensive now, honestly). They represent the absolute "soul" of the series. Third, skip straight to Legends: Arceus if you want to see where the series is actually going in 2026. It's less about the "order" and more about seeing how the relationship between human and Pokémon has evolved from 8-bit sprites to living, breathing open worlds.
📖 Related: Peppa Pig Games Online: Why Parents and Kids Still Love Them
Check your local used game stores or the eShop for the Virtual Console titles before they're gone for good. There's nothing quite like playing the original Yellow and seeing that chunky Pikachu follow you for the first time.