Everyone thinks they know the list of the Pokemon games. You’ve got Red and Blue, the gold-standard classics, and then you just keep counting until you hit the weirdness of Scarlet and Violet. Simple, right? Honestly, it’s a total mess. If you try to actually catalogue every single release since 1996, you realize Game Freak and Nintendo have been playing a very specific kind of shell game with our nostalgia.
It isn't just about catching ‘em all. It’s about understanding why there are three versions of the same game every single time. It’s about the "third version" curse that disappeared and got replaced by DLC. If you're looking for a clean, chronological line, forget it. This is a sprawling, multi-billion dollar ecosystem of remakes, sequels, and experimental spin-offs that sometimes feel like they shouldn't exist.
The Generation Gap and the Core List of the Pokemon Games
When people talk about the "main" list of the Pokemon games, they’re usually talking about Generations. This is the structural backbone of the entire franchise. Generation I started it all in Japan with Pocket Monsters Red and Green, which eventually morphed into the Red and Blue we saw in the West. Most people don't realize that Blue in Japan was actually a special edition that improved the sprites and fixed some of the more egregious bugs from the original duo.
Gen II gave us Gold, Silver, and Crystal. This was arguably the peak of the "more is better" philosophy. You finish the game, beat the Elite Four, and then—boom—you realize you can go back to the original Kanto region. It was a technical marvel for the Game Boy Color. We haven't seen a dual-region game like that since, mostly because the development costs for modern 3D environments make it a nightmare for Game Freak’s relatively small team.
Then came the GBA era. Ruby and Sapphire (Gen III) introduced abilities and natures, which basically created the competitive scene we know today. But they also started the remake trend with FireRed and LeafGreen. This is where the list of the Pokemon games starts to get crowded. You weren't just buying new games; you were buying the past, updated for the present.
Gen IV (Diamond, Pearl, Platinum) and Gen V (Black, White, and the surprisingly excellent Black 2 and White 2) represent what many old-school fans call the "DS Golden Age." These were 2D sprites at their absolute limit. Black 2 and White 2 are actually outliers because they are true narrative sequels. Usually, Pokemon games just iterate. These ones actually moved the clock forward.
The 3D Shift and Modern Growing Pains
The jump to the 3DS with Pokemon X and Y changed everything. This was Gen VI. Mega Evolution was the big gimmick here, and people loved it. It felt like a fresh coat of paint on old favorites like Charizard and Mewtwo. But this era also felt... thin. The "post-game" content started to dry up.
Gen VII took us to Alola with Sun and Moon. No more gyms. Just "Island Trials." It was a gutsy move that divided the fan base. Then we hit the Switch era. Sword and Shield (Gen VIII) brought us the Wild Area, a sort of proto-open world that eventually paved the way for the chaos of Gen IX.
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Scarlet and Violet (Gen IX) are the current heavyweights. They are fully open-world. No loading screens between routes. It’s exactly what fans asked for for twenty years. Yet, it launched with technical issues that became a meme overnight. Frame rates dropping, characters clipping through floors—it was a bit of a disaster, even if the core gameplay loop remained addictive as ever.
Beyond the Mainline: The Spin-offs That Actually Matter
If you only look at the "core" list of the Pokemon games, you're missing the weirdest parts of the history. There is a whole sub-world of games that don't follow the "eight gyms and a champion" formula.
Take Pokemon Legends: Arceus. Is it a mainline game? Nintendo says yes. Does it play like one? Absolutely not. You’re dodge-rolling away from an angry Kleavor while trying to manually aim a Poke Ball. It’s a survival-action game set in the past. It’s arguably the most "human" the series has ever felt because the Pokemon are actually dangerous. They will literally try to kill you.
Then you have the Mystery Dungeon series. These are rogue-likes. They are notoriously difficult compared to the main games and have stories that are surprisingly emotional. Ask any Explorers of Sky fan about the ending, and they’ll probably start tearing up.
And we can’t ignore Pokemon GO. It’s a mobile app, sure, but it changed the physical world in 2016. People were wandering into parks at 2 AM to catch a Snorlax. It’s part of the list because it forced the mainline games to change. The Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Eevee! games on Switch were specifically designed to bridge the gap between GO players and the "hardcore" RPG crowd.
The Remake Strategy: Why We Keep Replaying the Same Stories
Nintendo knows we’re suckers for nostalgia. The list of the Pokemon games is padded heavily with remakes.
- FireRed / LeafGreen (GBA)
- HeartGold / SoulSilver (DS)
- Omega Ruby / Alpha Sapphire (3DS)
- Brilliant Diamond / Shining Pearl (Switch)
HeartGold and SoulSilver are often cited by experts like Joe Merrick (founder of Serebii.net) as the definitive Pokemon experience. They included the "PokeWalker," a literal pedometer that let you level up your Pokemon by walking in real life. It was way ahead of its time.
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The recent Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl remakes were different. They weren't developed by Game Freak; they were outsourced to a studio called ILCA. They stayed very faithful to the original top-down "chibi" style. Some fans hated it. They wanted the Sword and Shield graphics. But it showed a shift in how The Pokemon Company manages the brand—they’re willing to let other people touch the crown jewels now.
Competitive Nuance and the Meta
The reason this list of the Pokemon games stays relevant isn't just because Pikachu is cute. It’s the math. Behind every game is a complex system of Individual Values (IVs) and Effort Values (EVs).
Each generation tweaks the meta. In Gen VI, the "Fairy" type was introduced specifically to nerf the "Dragon" type, which had been dominating the competitive scene for years. In Gen IX, "Terastallization" allows any Pokemon to change its type mid-battle. It’s basically high-stakes chess with elemental monsters.
This depth is why people still play Pokemon Showdown or travel to the World Championships. Each game on the list isn't just a story; it's a new "patch" for a global sport.
The Controversy of "Dextreme"
We have to talk about the "National Dex." Up until Sword and Shield, every single game allowed you to transfer your old Pokemon forward. You could have a Blaziken from your 2003 GBA cartridge sitting in your modern Switch game.
Then, Game Freak cut the cord. They announced that not all 1,000+ Pokemon would be playable in every game. The community exploded. It was a PR nightmare. But from a development standpoint, it was inevitable. Animating and balancing over a thousand unique models for every single new release is a gargantuan task that even a company as rich as Nintendo struggles with given their tight release schedules.
Actionable Steps for Navigating the Pokemon Library
If you’re looking to dive into this massive list of the Pokemon games today, you shouldn't just start at the beginning. The early games are slow and lack many modern "quality of life" features.
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Start with Pokemon Legends: Arceus if you want a fresh, modern challenge. It breaks the mold and feels like a true 21st-century game. The catching mechanics are fast, and the world feels alive.
Play HeartGold or SoulSilver if you can find a copy (or use an emulator). It is widely considered the "perfect" Pokemon game because of its dual-region map and the fact that your Pokemon follows you behind your sprite. It’s the peak of the 2D era.
Go for Scarlet or Violet if you want to be part of the current conversation. Despite the bugs, the story is actually one of the best the series has ever produced, especially the "Area Zero" finale.
Avoid the "Third Versions" unless you're a completionist. While Emerald, Platinum, and USUM (Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon) are generally better than the base games, they are often much more expensive on the second-hand market. For most people, the base duo is plenty.
The list of the Pokemon games is a living document. It’s not just a collection of software; it’s a timeline of how handheld gaming has evolved over thirty years. Whether you're a "Gen-wunner" who thinks everything after 151 is trash, or a new player who started with a smartphone, the games are built to be accessible but impossibly deep once you start looking under the hood.
Don't worry about playing them all in order. Just pick a region that looks cool—whether it's the London-inspired Galar or the Hawaii-vibes of Alola—and start throwing Poke Balls. The core loop hasn't changed because it doesn't need to. It works. It always has.
To get the most out of your experience, focus on one "Generation" at a time to avoid burnout. Check out community resources like Smogon if you want to understand the competitive side, or Serebii for the raw data on where to find specific monsters. Most importantly, don't feel pressured to complete the "National Dex" right away. Just enjoy the journey through whatever region you're currently in.