3DS | Pokemon Alpha Sapphire/Omega Ruby | 2014 | Monster Collecting | Game Freak | Remakes of the Gen III Pokemon games incorporating creatures and mechanics from later generations |
3DS | Pokemon Gold/Silver/Crystal (VC) | 2017 | Monster Collecting | Game Freak | See GBC |
3DS | Pokemon Moon/Sun | 2016 | Monster Collecting | Game Freak | Does away with the traditional gym battle format in favor of puzzles scattered throughout not-Hawaii, adds Ultra Beasts (which look suspiciously Digimon-like…) |
3DS | Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity | 2013 | Dungeon Crawler | Spike Chunsoft | Focuses on 5th generation Pokemon, utilizes some AR features to unlock new dungeons, changes the artstyle from sprites to 3D models, but the gameplay loop remains unchanged |
3DS | Pokemon Red/Blue/Yellow (VC) | 2016 | Monster Collecting | Game Freak | See GB |
3DS | Pokemon Rumble World | 2015 | Action | Ambrella | A stylized 3D Pokemon beat-em-up where capturing many types of mons increases Adventurer Rank, which gives access to new areas and increases the strength of wild Pokemon |
3DS | Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon | 2015 | Dungeon Crawler | Spike Chunsoft | Expands the available roster to include gen 6 Pokemon, gameplay is still as simple and grindy as ever |
3DS | Pokemon Ultra Sun/Moon | 2017 | Monster Collecting | Game Freak | Alternate universe story in the same region as Sun/Moon; adds more Ultra Beasts, activities, and ways to catch Pokemon from older games |
3DS | Pokemon X/Y | 2013 | Monster Collecting | Game Freak | Pokemon brought into the 3D realm of not-France, statistics of 'mons can be further raised and refined via minigames |
DS | Pokemon Black 2/White 2 | 2012 | Monster Collecting | Game Freak | Regarded by many as the peak of the franchise; a continuation of Gen 5's story |
DS | Pokemon Black/White | 2011 | Monster Collecting | Game Freak | Incredible animated spritework and perhaps the best storyline in the franchise |
DS | Pokemon Conquest | 2012 | Strategy | Koei | Pokemon meets Nobunaga's Ambition - a fun SRPG with levels gained through bonding with your trainer |
DS | Pokemon Diamond/Pearl | 2007 | Monster Collecting | Game Freak | Less water than Gen 3 Pokemon games, but with an obnoxious mountain to frequently travel through |
DS | Pokemon HeartGold/SoulSilver | 2010 | Monster Collecting | Game Freak | Remakes of the Gen 2 Pokemon games, with the storyline from Crystal attached, can also make use of the Pokewalker accessory |
DS | Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team | 2005 | Dungeon Crawler | Chunsoft | Companion to the GBA's Red Rescue Team, with Pokemon exploring randomized labyrinths in classic Mystery Dungeon style |
DS | Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness/Time | 2008 | Dungeon Crawler | Chunsoft | More mystery dungeon delving with the famous pocket monsters, with the addition of Gen 4 Pokemon |
DS | Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky | 2009 | Dungeon Crawler | Chunsoft | The "third version" of Explorers of Darkness/Time, adds more storyline elements |
DS | Pokemon Platinum | 2009 | Monster Collecting | Game Freak | Last of the "combined third versions" of Pokemon games, this one the arguably ultimate version of Gen 4 |
DS | Pokemon Ranger | 2006 | Action | HAL Laboratory | More of an ARPG than regular Pokemon games that uses the stylus to help temporarily capture Pokemon, who assist in completing missions |
DS | Pokemon Ranger: Guardian Signs | 2010 | Action | Creatures Inc. | Very like the first two, but now you can also draw symbols to summon legendary 'mons to help you out |
DS | Pokemon Ranger: Shadows of Almia | 2008 | Action | Creatures Inc. | Still no Pokemon battling here and still touchscreen-heavy, but with more possible partner Pokemon and tools for capturing |
GameCube | Pokemon Colosseum | 2004 | Turn-Based | Genius Sonority | You're a trainer, go purify some Shadow Pokemon! |
GameCube | Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness | 2005 | Monster Collecting | Genius Sonority | You're a trainer, go purify more Shadow Pokemon! |
GB+GBC | Pokemon Crystal | 2001 | Monster Collecting | Game Freak | An attempt to add story to Gold/Silver, but does add a female protagonist! |
GB+GBC | Pokemon Gold/Silver | 2000 | Monster Collecting | Game Freak | More mons, a day/night system, and the ability to revisit the entire previous region |
GB+GBC | Pokemon Red/Blue | 1998 | Monster Collecting | Game Freak | Called Red/Green versions in Japan, definitely the origin of the popularity of monster-collecting video games |
GB+GBC | Pokemon Yellow | 1999 | Monster Collecting | Game Freak | More of the same, with bonus Pikachu following you |
GBA | Pokemon Emerald | 2005 | Monster Collecting | Game Freak | Superior third version of Pokemon Gen 3 |
GBA | Pokemon FireRed/LeafGreen | 2004 | Monster Collecting | Game Freak | Remakes of Red/Green versions |
GBA | Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team | 2006 | Dungeon Crawler | Chunsoft | Third-person randomized dungeon crawler with Pokemon, sister Blue version was a DS game |
GBA | Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire | 2003 | Monster Collecting | Game Freak | 7/10, too much water; not possible to collect all Pokemon in these versions |
JP Wii | Pokemon Fushigi no Dungeon - Ikuzo! Arashi no Boukendan | 2009 | Dungeon Crawler | Chunsoft | Stack water Pokemon in a WiiWare-exclusive Mystery Dungeon adventure! |
JP Wii | Pokemon Fushigi no Dungeon - Mezase! Hikari no Boukendan | 2009 | Dungeon Crawler | Chunsoft | See above, but electric Pokemon |
JP Wii | Pokemon Fushigi no Dungeon - Susume! Honou no Boukendan | 2009 | Dungeon Crawler | Chunsoft | See above, but fire Pokemon |
Switch | New Pokemon Snap | 2021 | Simulation | Bandai Namco | It's a stretch, but there are courses to level up which unlock new routes and Pokemon to candidly capture on camera |
Switch | Pokemon Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl | 2021 | Monster Collecting | ILCA | Remakes of the Gen 4 Pokemon games, with a cute but divisive art style and adding QoLs from later games |
Switch | Pokemon Legends: Arceus | 2022 | Monster Collecting | Game Freak | A more dynamic Pokemon-catching experience than anything previously, open-world exploration against a feudal backdrop |
Switch | Pokemon Let's Go Eevee/Pikachu | 2018 | Monster Collecting | Game Freak | Full 3D remakes of Red/Blue versions but with Pokemon Go-like mechanics of catching new mons |
Switch | Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX | 2020 | Dungeon Crawler | Spike Chunsoft | Combined remake of Red/Blue Rescue Team with similar gameplay: exploring dungeons and making use of type advantages to help delve further |
Switch | Pokemon Quest (DL only) | 2018 | Monster Collecting | Game Freak | Send voxel-styled Pokemon out to explore an island for you, then take the stones they find to level them up further; relies on free-to-play mechanics |
Switch | Pokemon Scarlet/Violet | 2022 | Monster Collecting | Game Freak | More free-form/open-world in path-taking than any prior mainline entry, but marred with technical hiccups |
Switch | Pokemon Sword/Shield | 2019 | Monster Collecting | Game Freak | First-ever mainline console Pokemon game; not all Pokemon can be caught/are featured in the National Pokedex; regional theme is British |
Wii U | Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team (VC) | 2016 | Dungeon Crawler | Chunsoft | See DS |
Wii U | Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky (VC) | 2016 | Dungeon Crawler | Chunsoft | See DS |
Wii U | Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team (VC) | 2016 | Dungeon Crawler | Chunsoft | See GBA |
Wii U | Pokemon Ranger (VC) | 2016 | Action | HAL Laboratory | See DS |
Wii U | Pokemon Ranger: Guardian Signs (VC) | 2016 | Action | Creatures Inc. | See DS |
Wii U | Pokemon Ranger: Shadows of Almia (VC) | 2016 | Action | Creatures Inc. | See DS |