Here's a Complete List of 'Pokemon' Games in Order

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Pokémon Red and Blue kicked off the worldwide Pokémon phenomenon when they launched in 1998, letting players step into the shoes of a young Pokémon trainer exploring the region of "Kanto" on a quest to become a Pokémon master. It introduced beloved starter Pokémon like Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle the series' signature accessible turn-based battles, and the original goal of catching all 151 Pokémon, Red and Blue created a formula that turned casual gamers into devoted Pokémon trainers, paving the way for the franchise’s future success. Its charming world, diverse creatures, and enduring legacy as the games that started it all have cemented Red and Blue as genre-defining RPGs that still influence games today.

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Launching just a year after Red and Blue, Pokémon Yellow built upon the originals by more closely following the anime’s beloved storyline, letting Pikachu follow the player character as their adorable starter Pokémon. While retaining the first generation’s satisfying turn-based battles, it also included updated graphics and revamped in-game locations to match the anime. While Yellow was created with fans of the anime as an entry point to get started in the Pokémon video game franchise, it also gave veterans new life by letting them journey through the world of Kanto from a fresh perspective with Pikachu by their side. It struck a balance between staying true to Red and Blue’s winning formula while keeping the experience feeling new again.

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Pokémon Gold and Silver transported fans to the "Johto" region, which is based on Japan's Kansai Region and includes big cities modeled after Kyoto and Osaka. Released in 2000, Gold and Silver built on Red and Blue’s foundation with 100 new Pokémon to catch and newly introduced mechanics that gave players more agency. The day-night cycle created a dynamic world that felt more alive while new features like Pokémon breeding added more gameplay depth and customization options to strengthen your role as a trainer. With an expanded Pokedex, freshly designed sprites, and the introduction of new Pokémon types like "Dark" and "Steel," Gold and Silver kept the series feeling as magical as the first generation. It set a new bar for the franchise going forward both in terms of quality and innovation that still influences new entries released over 20 years later.

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Hitting the Game Boy Color in 2001, Pokémon Crystal delivered an enhanced version of the critically acclaimed Gold and Silver titles with a variety of new visual upgrades. Most notably, it allowed players to step into the shoes of a female protagonist for the first time, along with animated sprites in battles and the addition of move animations to give fights more visceral appeal. While Crystal retained the satisfying game mechanics and world exploration fans loved, the cosmetic changes made Johto feel new again, and small touches like event Pokémon gave veteran trainers reasons to return. By building on the strong foundation of its predecessors with some inventive risks, Crystal set yet another high bar for the franchise that developers still aim to reach 20 years later. Charting the Pokemon games in order up until this point leads fans to getting all nostalgic about this spruced-up version of Gold and Silver.

• Metacritic Metascore: 82

Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire breathed new life into the series in 2003 by transporting trainers to the tropical "Hoenn" region, which is based off the island of Kyūshū in Japan and located to the southwest of Johto and Kanto. Ruby and Sapphire are notable for overhauling the game world, with vibrant color, orchestrated music, and 3D-modeled characters that popped on the Game Boy Advance's handheld screen. Battle gameplay also became more strategic with double battles requiring coordination between Pokémon and abilities that gave creatures unique properties to leverage. Along with 135 new Pokémon to catch, Ruby and Sapphire balanced innovation with the comfortable familiarity fans loved including battling for badges, filling their Pokedex, and claiming the league championship. The games' technical ambition matched their precise execution of the classic Pokémon formula, paving the way for the franchise's continued success on every major Nintendo platform since.

• Metacritic Metascore: 76

Releasing two years after Ruby and Sapphire, Pokémon Emerald refined the third generation with Crystal-inspired upgrades like animated sprites in battle to make battles more dynamic, Emerald also expanded the post-game content with the challenging Battle Frontier area, appealing to seasoned veterans. Emerald made major strides in multiplayer functionality too, enabling players to battle and trade wirelessly for the first time in the series. While retaining the tropical charms of Hoenn, it sprinkled in just enough new content to entice both new and returning players. By honing Ruby and Sapphire’s vision with some smart quality-of-life tweaks, Emerald represented a high point for the third generation of Pokémon games and set lofty goals for the franchises’ continued handheld success. Here's another case of looking through all the Pokemon games in order and coming upon another singular updated rendition of a previous dual series release.

• Metacritic Metascore: 85

With their debut on Nintendo DS in 2007 on North American shores, Pokémon Diamond and Pearl captured the attention of fans by fully realizing the Pokémon world for the first time in 3D while ushering in complete online multiplayer functionality. The Sinnoh region, based on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaidō, felt alive with changing weather conditions and console-quality graphics that lent realism to the sprite-based battles. It also expanded the Pokémon roster to nearly 500, introducing important creatures like Lucario and Arceus. Diamond and Pearl kept the compelling core gameplay loop of collecting badges and filling the Pokedex intact while pushing the technical ambition further than ever before, bringing the Pokémon franchise firmly into the online social gaming era while retaining the magic fans fell in love with over nearly a decade before its release.

• Metacritic Metascore: 83

Two years after the North American release of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, an enhanced version of both games arrived in the form of Pokémon Platinum. The Sinnoh region became the focal point once again as Pokémon trainers revisited familiar locales as well as a new trippy plane of existence called "Distortion World." This game's cover star Giratina makes its return along with a second form referred to as an "Origin Forme." Giratina, Shaymin, and Rotom also received new forms to boot. On the topic of new features, a special online lobby called the "Wi-Fi Plaza" welcomed up to 20 players to a hub area filled with special mini-games and a "Vs. Recorder" gave players the ability to players to record battles conducted in the "Battle Frontier." New items, new characters, and the addition of past Legendary Pokémon are some other notable aspects of Platinum worth mentioning.

• Metacritic Metascore: 87

Pokémon Black and White reinvigorated the franchise in 2011 in North America by transporting trainers to the new "Unova" region. Unova, for the first time, was not based on a region in Japan and instead was based on New York City as well as other areas of New York State. For example, "Castelia City" is based on Lower Manhattan, while "Nacrene City" is meant to look like Williamsburg in Brooklyn. Aside from its unique setting, Black and White added 3D camera tricks to give classic sprite-based battles more visual punch than ever before, giving Pokémon the ability to move fluidly mid-fight.

With four-season cycles and real-time day/night reflected in gameplay, Black and White also added several new battle types, including 3v3 "Triple Battles" and "Rotation Battles," where Pokémon can be cycled through and attack each other freely. By pioneering fresh features beyond just adding new Pokémon, Black and White made Unova feel like a fresh experience rather than just an echo of past successes. Now we've reached another installment of series entries on this list of Pokemon games in order that also happens to exist on the Nintendo DS.

• Metacritic Metascore: 80

Hitting DS just one year after the originals, Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 innovated by being the first direct sequels in the mainline series, revisiting Unova with new protagonists and stories. Along with an expanded regional map that featured new cities, the most innovation came from the new "Key System" which helped trainers unlock hidden grottos, reward bonuses, and access new areas encouraging exploration. While retaining the strategic battles, seasonal cycles, and visual flourishes that made the original Black and White stand out, Black 2 and White 2 enhanced Unova through thoughtful worldbuilding and storytelling rather than just a roster refresh and a host of new features. The continued narrative so soon after the first Black and White made Unova feel lived-in and dynamic in groundbreaking ways while laying the foundation for even bolder sequel ambitions in the future.

• Metacritic Metascore: 87

Arriving on the 3DS in 2013, Pokémon X and Y represented the first mainline entry rendered in full polygonal 3D, letting players see battles and environments with new depth and vibrancy. The "Kalos" region took heavy inspiration from French sensibilities reflected in sweeping musical scores and customization options letting trainers dress their avatars in chic outfits. It expanded on Black and White's dynamic battles with the introduction of "Fairy"-type Pokémon, the first new types to be introduced since Steel and Dark in Pokémon Gold and Silver.

It also introduced "Mega Evolutions," which allowed select Pokémon to undergo a temporary revolution to enhance their status in battle. While expanding the roster with 72 new creatures, X and Y’s leap into the third dimension made it feel like a console-quality evolution of the franchise while retaining the addictive gameplay loop at its core. Now we've reached a point on this list of Pokemon games in order where the series evolved onto a new Nintendo handheld.

• Metacritic Metascore: 87

Released on the 3DS in 2016 after the longest gap between main series entries ever, Pokémon Sun and Moon transported trainers to the tranquil "Alola Islands," an arresting new Hawaiian setting rich with tropical beaches and environmental storytelling. It shook up the formula by replacing gyms with creative island trials based around nature while introducing beloved new Pokémon like the ghostly Mimikyu and the canine Lycanroc, who could achieve different forms depending on the time of day. The new "Poké Ride" feature lets players summon select Pokémon, such as classics like Charizard and Lapras, to traverse environments for the first time, enhancing the relaxed exploration the series is known for in more bite-sized play sessions perfect for on-the-go gaming. With 87 new creatures and a casually welcoming vacation simulator vibe, Sun and Moon were well worth the wait.

• Metacritic Metascore: 84

Launching just a year after Sun and Moon, Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon built upon the Alola region by offering an alternate dimension storyline and introducing new features that incentivized return visits. The "Ultra Warp Ride" feature enabled interdimensional travel to new worlds for added adventure and rare Pokémon, while the new "Mantine Surf" and "Alola Photo Club" minigames encouraged interacting with the environment in creative ways. It also expanded the Alolan Pokédex with five new entries for the first time in the middle of a Pokémon generation through new legendary fusions, beasts, and Ultra Space oddities. While Sun and Moon nailed the tropical atmosphere, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon enhanced it further with fresh stories and gameplay wrinkles without losing what made the islands so tranquil to explore in the first place.

• Metacritic Metascore: 80

Making the franchise's first jump to Nintendo Switch in late 2019, Pokémon Sword and Shield brought a mainline Pokémon game onto full home console setups for the first time with crisp TV graphics and dynamic camera control. The new "Galar" region took heavy inspiration from England and Scotland, and the "Wild Area" introduced open-world concepts by letting Pokémon visibly roam free. Additions like "Dynamaxing" and "Max Raid" battles encouraged more co-op while quality-of-life upgrades smoothed out gameplay pacing. While expanding the Pokédex with new standouts like Corviknight and Dubwool, Sword and Shield enhanced battles, exploration, and connectivity in smart ways to make the world feel alive with possibility, setting a new benchmark for what console mainline Pokémon games could achieve. Now we've made it to the point of this list of Pokemon games in order where we've entered a whole new Nintendo console generation.

• Metacritic Metascore: 83

Pokémon Legends: Arceus flipped the script early in 2022 by transporting trainers back to the Sinnoh region from Diamond and Pearl for a new RPG-infused take on the traditional formula. With an open-world design enabling free camera movement and seamless catching mechanics, Arceus echoed Breath of the Wild's bold levels of exploration. New regional variants on classic creatures like the Hisuian Growlithe variant and exploration gameplay loops involving crafting items and completing research tasks made the franchise feel fresh. Additions like "Strong" and "Agile" battle move styles, boss battles against frenzied monolith Pokémon, and visible wild Pokémon roaming the fields brought new levels of immersion. Though divisive among some core fans, Arceus represented a daring new direction that still retained the satisfying monster battles that the franchise built its legacy upon.

• Metacritic Metascore: 72

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet made history in late 2022 by transporting trainers to the stunning Iberia-inspired "Paldea" region, becoming the first true open-world entry in the mainline franchise. With Pokémon visibly roaming the landscape and a multi-path story embracing player freedom, it retained the comfortable exploration loop fans cherish but with fresh life thanks to co-op raid battles, picnic hangouts, and seeing Pokémon behave more naturally in the wild. Intriguing new species like Smoliv and Cyclizar sat beside regional forms of well-loved Pokémon species, encapsulating how Scarlet and Violet blended the comfort of Pokemon tradition with new features and innovation. It set a new high bar for the scope and creativity future console entries can aspire towards this generation. Thanks for taking this journey with us on this list of all the mainline Pokemon games in order!