For the best experience, play Pokémon games in release order, starting with Red/Blue/Green, then continuing through each generation sequentially.
So, you’re diving into the world of Pokémon and wondering what order to play pokemon games? It’s a common question since so many titles exist. Starting with the original games and going forward works well because it lets you see how the series evolves.
Playing in release order ensures you experience the series as developers intended. You’ll appreciate changes and additions much more. Enjoy your journey through the Pokémon world!
What Order to Play Pokemon Games
Okay, so you want to become the very best, like no one ever was? That’s awesome! But with so many Pokémon games out there, it can be a little confusing to know where to even start. Don’t worry, we’re going to break it all down for you. There’s no single “right” way, but we’ll explore some great paths to enjoying these amazing games. We’ll consider things like release order, story connections, and even how the gameplay has changed over time. Get ready to catch ’em all, and let’s get started!
Playing By Release Date: A Trip Down Memory Lane
One popular way to experience Pokémon is by playing the games in the order they were released. This lets you see how the series has grown and evolved over time. It’s like watching the Pokémon world itself develop, from the pixelated beginnings to the gorgeous 3D environments we see today. Here’s a rundown of the main series games in order, along with some key things to know about each generation:
Generation I (1996-1999): The OG Adventure
This is where it all began! We’re talking about Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow. These are classic games with very simple graphics, but they have a lot of charm. The story is straightforward: You play as a young trainer exploring the Kanto region, catching Pokémon, battling gym leaders, and finally taking on the Elite Four. These games introduced us to iconic Pokémon like Pikachu, Charizard, and Mewtwo. Prepare for some old-school gameplay and get ready to work with limited graphics and mechanics.
- Key Pokémon: Pikachu, Charizard, Blastoise, Venusaur, Mewtwo
- Region: Kanto
- Main Goal: Complete the Pokédex, defeat the Elite Four, become the Champion.
Generation II (1999-2002): Bigger and Better
Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal take us to the Johto region. These games built on everything from the first generation, adding new Pokémon, a day/night cycle, and even the ability to breed Pokémon. You also get to visit Kanto after completing your Johto adventure. It’s kind of like getting two games in one! The graphics improved a bit, and there are many quality of life changes that make this generation enjoyable even today.
- Key Pokémon: Chikorita, Cyndaquil, Totodile, Lugia, Ho-Oh
- Region: Johto, and Kanto
- Main Goal: Complete the Pokédex, defeat the Elite Four, become the Champion.
Generation III (2002-2006): A Splash of Color
Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, and the remakes FireRed and LeafGreen (which take you back to Kanto, this time with updated graphics) launched on the Game Boy Advance. The Hoenn region is the place to be in the main games, with its tropical feel and new mechanics like abilities and natures that change how Pokémon perform in battle. The story is a bit deeper and the graphics are brighter and more vibrant than ever before.
- Key Pokémon: Treecko, Torchic, Mudkip, Rayquaza, Groudon, Kyogre
- Region: Hoenn
- Main Goal: Complete the Pokédex, defeat the Elite Four, become the Champion.
Generation IV (2006-2010): The Dawn of Modern Pokemon
Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, along with the remakes HeartGold and SoulSilver (the remakes of gen 2) bring us to Sinnoh. This generation introduced the physical/special split for moves, which really changed how battles worked, as well as the global trading feature, allowing players worldwide to engage with one another. These games also continued the series tradition of adding more and more Pokémon and mechanics. The gameplay here is starting to feel more like what people expect from modern Pokémon games. There are also new evolutions of older pokemon, which added a refreshing experience for old fans.
- Key Pokémon: Turtwig, Chimchar, Piplup, Dialga, Palkia, Arceus
- Region: Sinnoh
- Main Goal: Complete the Pokédex, defeat the Elite Four, become the Champion.
Generation V (2010-2013): Story Gets Deeper
Pokémon Black and White and their sequels, Black 2 and White 2 are set in the Unova region. This is a generation that focuses heavily on storytelling, with a more complex narrative and a diverse cast of characters. These games include only new Pokémon initially, with no returning Pokémon from previous generations until the post-game. The sequels added more features and allowed a more linear gameplay experience.
- Key Pokémon: Victini, Snivy, Tepig, Oshawott, Zekrom, Reshiram
- Region: Unova
- Main Goal: Complete the Pokédex, defeat the Elite Four, become the Champion.
Generation VI (2013-2016): Going 3D!
Pokémon X and Y brought the series into 3D on the Nintendo 3DS. These games are set in the Kalos region, which is very pretty and based on France. They added a whole new way to battle in Mega Evolutions, as well as Fairy-type Pokémon. The 3D graphics were a big deal, and this era really showed off the Pokémon in a new light.
- Key Pokémon: Chespin, Fennekin, Froakie, Xerneas, Yveltal
- Region: Kalos
- Main Goal: Complete the Pokédex, defeat the Elite Four, become the Champion.
Generation VII (2016-2019): Island Adventures
Pokémon Sun and Moon, and their follow-up games Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon take place in the Alola region. This region is inspired by Hawaii, complete with tropical islands and a different culture than the ones before. This generation introduced Z-Moves, which are powerful, once per battle attacks. These games also changed the traditional gym challenge to a series of island trials.
- Key Pokémon: Rowlet, Litten, Popplio, Solgaleo, Lunala
- Region: Alola
- Main Goal: Complete the Pokédex, defeat the island challenges, become the Champion.
Generation VIII (2019-2022): Galar Calling
Pokémon Sword and Shield introduced us to the Galar region, which is based on the UK. It brought in the Dynamax and Gigantamax mechanics which allowed some Pokemon to temporarily grow huge during battles. The wild area allowed you to explore a large open area, and interact with other players. These games started the trend of adding DLCs to expand the game.
- Key Pokémon: Grookey, Scorbunny, Sobble, Zacian, Zamazenta
- Region: Galar
- Main Goal: Complete the Pokédex, defeat the gym leaders, become the Champion.
Generation IX (2022-Present): Open World Fun
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are the most recent games in the series and they are set in the Paldea region. These games are the first truly open-world Pokémon games. You can explore the region and complete three stories in any order. It’s a brand new way to play Pokémon and it gives a lot of freedom to players. The new battle mechanic is called Terastallizing, which gives your Pokemon an extra boost and a unique type.
- Key Pokémon: Sprigatito, Fuecoco, Quaxly, Koraidon, Miraidon
- Region: Paldea
- Main Goal: Complete the Pokédex, become a champion, defeat Titan Pokémon and all the legendary pokemon.
Playing By Region: A Tour of the Pokemon World
Another great way to experience Pokemon is by playing through all the games set in a particular region. This is great if you’re especially fond of a particular setting or if you like the idea of getting to know a single region very well. You will still see the changes the series underwent, but this time you will be more invested in a single region.
The Kanto Region
Start with the classics, Pokémon Red, Blue, or Yellow. Then, move to the remakes, FireRed and LeafGreen. And if you want the “Let’s Go” experience play Let’s Go Pikachu or Let’s Go Eevee These games are all about the original 151 and seeing how Kanto evolves across several generations. You’ll see some significant differences between the first games and the remakes.
- Games: Pokémon Red, Blue, Yellow, FireRed, LeafGreen, Let’s Go Pikachu, Let’s Go Eevee.
- Key Pokémon: Pikachu, Charizard, Blastoise, Venusaur, Mewtwo.
The Johto Region
Head over to Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal first. These games are a little more advanced than the Kanto games. Then you can see how this region is made even better with the remakes HeartGold and SoulSilver. You’ll explore the unique cultures of the region and see how this region interacts with Kanto. The added benefit of these remakes is that it lets you explore both regions with modernized graphics.
- Games: Pokémon Gold, Silver, Crystal, HeartGold, SoulSilver.
- Key Pokémon: Chikorita, Cyndaquil, Totodile, Lugia, Ho-Oh.
The Hoenn Region
Start with Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald. This region brings new mechanics and a focus on nature and adventure. Then, explore the remakes, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. This will show off the new changes in Hoenn with new features and updated graphics that bring the tropical region to life.
- Games: Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire.
- Key Pokémon: Treecko, Torchic, Mudkip, Rayquaza, Groudon, Kyogre.
The Sinnoh Region
Begin with Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, the games that take you into this snowy region. Then, the remakes Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl give a beautiful, modern experience to the adventure. The original versions are the more challenging ones, and the remakes will give you an updated feel of Sinnoh. Playing in this order allows you to experience the region’s story with all its intricacies.
- Games: Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, Brilliant Diamond, Shining Pearl.
- Key Pokémon: Turtwig, Chimchar, Piplup, Dialga, Palkia, Arceus.
The Unova Region
This region is special because Pokémon Black and White are the first games in the series to add in direct sequels with Black 2 and White 2. Experience the Unova region as it evolves over the course of two sets of games. You’ll see a big focus on story as this region feels a bit different from previous games.
- Games: Pokémon Black, White, Black 2, White 2.
- Key Pokémon: Victini, Snivy, Tepig, Oshawott, Zekrom, Reshiram.
The Kalos Region
The Kalos region is only featured in one set of games, Pokémon X and Y. This means it’s a very quick region to experience. However, it brings new mechanics and 3D graphics, making it a visually appealing part of the series.
- Games: Pokémon X, Y.
- Key Pokémon: Chespin, Fennekin, Froakie, Xerneas, Yveltal.
The Alola Region
The games set in the Alola region are Pokémon Sun and Moon, followed by the updated versions in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. Here, the island trials replace the traditional gym challenge and the region offers a unique, tropical experience.
- Games: Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, Ultra Moon.
- Key Pokémon: Rowlet, Litten, Popplio, Solgaleo, Lunala.
The Galar Region
The Galar Region has only one main set of games, Pokémon Sword and Shield. But, these games also come with expansion packs that add new content, the Isle of Armor and the Crown Tundra DLCs. These extras add more gameplay to this region.
- Games: Pokémon Sword, Shield.
- Key Pokémon: Grookey, Scorbunny, Sobble, Zacian, Zamazenta.
The Paldea Region
Finally, we have the Paldea region, which only has Pokémon Scarlet and Violet at the moment. These open world games change how we experience Pokémon and offer an entirely new way to play.
- Games: Pokémon Scarlet, Violet.
- Key Pokémon: Sprigatito, Fuecoco, Quaxly, Koraidon, Miraidon.
Mixing It Up: A Hybrid Approach
Sometimes, you don’t have to pick just one approach. Maybe you want to play a few games from each generation in order, or jump around to different regions. This allows you to experience the series in a way that is fun for you. You may want to play a specific generation first, then go back to the beginning and play through all the games, or you may want to play all remakes in order. You can craft your own pokemon journey. There’s no wrong way to do it!
Remakes vs. Originals: Which Should You Play?
Remakes of Pokémon games are very common, so deciding between the original and the remake is a big deal. For most players, the remakes are the better choice for their first playthrough. They have updated graphics, updated mechanics, and added content. However, some players prefer the older games for their challenge and retro feel. If you want a more difficult playthrough with more nostalgia factor, then originals are the way to go. Here’s a quick look at what generally makes each different:
- Remakes:
- Modernized graphics and improved visuals.
- Added gameplay features and content.
- More polished and user-friendly interfaces.
- Often have quality of life improvements
- Originals:
- Classic gameplay mechanics
- More challenging, with older game mechanics
- Lots of charm and nostalgia
- A simple, more barebones experience
Ultimately, deciding which to play first comes down to your personal preferences. There’s no right or wrong answer, and each option allows you to enjoy the series in your way.
Choosing the order in which to play Pokemon games can seem daunting. From the classic, pixelated adventures of the Kanto region to the vast open-world exploration of Paldea, each generation offers something special. Whether you decide to follow the release order, travel through the regions sequentially, or pick a mixed approach, you’ll find that the world of Pokémon provides endless hours of fun and adventure. So grab your Pokeball, choose your starter and embark on your Pokemon journey.
The Optimal Pokemon Play Order
Final Thoughts
Playing chronologically by release is best for understanding the series’ evolution. However, if you prefer in-game story order, start with Pokémon Legends: Arceus, followed by the main series games. Ultimately, ‘what order to play pokemon games’ depends on your personal preference.
Starting with remakes like FireRed or HeartGold can be a good entry point for new players, giving you a feel for the gameplay. Then you can explore other regions at your own pace. Choose the path that you find most fun.
