So, you’ve finally decided to take the plunge into the colorful world of Pokémon, but don’t know where to start? Boy, do you have a treat ahead of you. With decades of backstory and a menagerie of pocket monsters to catch, you’re in for a wild ride. The Pokémon series isn’t just a franchise; it’s an institution. But no worries, because we have done the legwork to guide you through the series, based on both release dates and chronology.
“Do you have to play the Pokémon games in order? Most of the big titles in the mainline Pokémon RPG games are great standalone games to dive into.”
Yes, you heard it right. You can jump into almost any mainline Pokémon game and have a fantastic experience. But, if you’re a completionist or someone who loves the storytelling aspect, you might want to consider going through the games in a certain order.
Console Madness: A Guide to Where You’ll Play
“So you are going to need to get your hands on many different Nintendo consoles to play through the lot – so that’s the Game Boy, the Game Boy Color, the Game Boy Advance, the DS, the 3DS and, of course, the Switch.”
Ah, the nostalgia. Remember the original Game Boy? If you plan to travel back in time and catch the original Pokémon, you’ll need one of these retro devices. And don’t forget about the DS, 3DS, and the ever-so-popular Nintendo Switch for the latest adventures. It’s a Pokémon world; we’re just living in it.
The Trailblazers: Pokémon Red, Blue, Green, and Yellow
“These are your options to start off with:
- Pokémon Red
- Pokémon Blue
- Pokémon Green
- Pokémon Yellow”
The first batch of games set the stage for the Pokémon universe. And here’s a little trivia for you, Green was Japan-exclusive. So if you want to kick things off, choose one from this list.
Let the Colors Shine: Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal
These games came alive with vivid colors on the Game Boy Color. Your choices for Generation 2 include:
- Pokémon Gold
- Pokémon Silver
- Pokémon Crystal (an enhanced version of Gold and Silver)
GBA Era: A New Adventure
“Onto Gen 3 now, and these were all games that were released on the Game Boy Advance!”
Get ready for a brighter world, new critters, and yes, remakes! Your Gen 3 options are pretty vast:
- Pokémon Ruby
- Pokémon Sapphire
- Pokémon Emerald
- Pokémon LeafGreen
- Pokémon FireRed
The DS Reign: The Fourth Generation
“Generation 4 moved us into the era of the Nintendo DS.”
The DS era brought us more than just touch controls; it ushered in a new generation of Pokémon:
- Pokémon Diamond
- Pokémon Pearl
- Pokémon Platinum
- Pokémon HeartGold
- Pokémon SoulSilver
The Narrative Experiment: Black & White and Their Sequels
This generation veered slightly from the conventional path, offering a more story-driven experience on the Nintendo DS.
“Pokémon Black Pokémon White Pokémon Black 2 Pokémon White 2”
Welcome to 3D: The 3DS Era
A new console brought new dimensions to Pokémon capturing. Your 6th generation choices include:
- Pokémon X
- Pokémon Y
- Pokémon Omega Ruby
- Pokémon Alpha Sapphire
The Switch Transformation: Gen 8 and Beyond
The Nintendo Switch has become the latest console for your Pokémon adventures, offering expansive environments like never before.
“Pokémon Sword Pokémon Shield Sword and Shield’s Isle of Armour DLC Sword and Shield’s Crown Tundra DLC”
Chronology: The Time-traveling Poké-fan
Want to follow the narrative timeline instead? We laid out the convoluted chronological order, from Pokémon Legends: Arceus to the latest entries like Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.
- Pokemon Legends: Arceus
- Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow
- Bonus: Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen
- Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald
- Pokemon Gold, Silver, and Crystal
- Pokemon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum
- Pokemon Black and White
- Pokemon Black 2 and White 2
- Pokemon X and Y
- Pokemon Sun and Moon
- Pokemon Sword and Shield
- Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
What’s Next?
With Pokémon showing no signs of slowing down, who knows what’s next? But one thing’s for sure, we’re all aboard the hype train, eagerly awaiting the next region, the next critter, and the next epic adventure. And if you’re a newbie, there’s no better time to start than now.
