The wide success of the Pokémon video game series began with the international release of Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue in 1996 for the Nintendo GameBoy. The Pokédex only had 151 entries at the time, which is vastly different from its current 898.
In the 25 years since the first installment, there have been many successful mainline Pokémon games, along with some spin-off flops. However, one of its spin-offs would prove extremely prosperous. Pokémon Go has been downloaded onto mobile devices over a billion times. While every Pokémon fan has their favorite title, what does Metacritic think?
10 Pokémon FireRed/LeafGreen Were First Pokémon Remake - 81
Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen are the first remakes of the original Pokémon generation set in the Kanto region. The games were released for the GameBoy Advance in 2004 and became the second best-selling GBA game of all time.
Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen were applauded for their upgrade of the original game's graphics and for sticking to the story. GameFreak would upgrade the Kanto graphics once again for Pokémon: Let's Go Eevee and Pokémon: Let's Go Pikachu, released for the Nintendo Switch in 2018.
9 Pokémon Ruby/ Sapphire Is Best-Selling GameBoy Advance Game- 82
The Hoenn region was introduced in Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and later Emerald on the GameBoy advance in 2002. These Generation III games remain the best-selling GameBoy Advance games of all time. Ruby and Sapphire were the first Pokémon games on the GameBoy Advance and transformed the series into unimaginable ways through its visual capabilities.
Fans of the games appreciate the aspect of Pokémon contests and the storyline featuring Team Magma and Aqua. Ruby and Sapphire were later remade into Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire for the Nintendo 3DS.
8 Pokémon Platinum Adds Distortion World Area - 83
Trainers reprise their role in taking down Team Galactic in this Generation IV successor to Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. Pokémon Platinum was released in 2008 for the Nintendo DS and is highly praised as an improvement from Diamond and Pearl.
Giratina is given a new form called "Origin Forme" in Platinum, in addition to the new Distortion World area. Players also applaud the enhancement of online capabilities in Pokémon Platinum compared to previous games.
7 Pokémon Omega Ruby / Alpha Sapphire Is A Faithful Remake- 83
Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire serve as the remakes of the first Pokémon games for the GameBoy Advance: Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. Players face Team Magma and Aqua once again in these remakes released for the Nintendo 3DS in November 2014. The reintroduction of the Hoeen region includes Mega Evolution, which was first launched in Pokémon X and Y.
The games also include new forms for Kyogre and Groudon, the legendary Pokémon for this generation. Pokémon Alpha Sapphire and Omega Ruby are great for gamers, whether they are unfamiliar with the franchise or seasoned players.
6 Pokémon Ultra Sun/ Ultra Moon Are Great Reimagination Of Previous Games - 84
Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon are follow-up games to the previously released Pokémon Sun and Moon games for the Nintendo 3DS in 2016. These games offer a new explorable area called the Ultra Space, along with brand new Ultra Beasts for players to encounter.
Although Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon are more like an enhanced version of the original than a true sequel, there is more than enough new content for players to enjoy even if they did complete the original Sun and Moon.
5 Pokémon Diamond/Pearl Introduces Wi-Fi Play- 85
The Generation IV titles of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl are arguably a common favorite among fans. These games were the first Pokémon titles released on the Nintendo DS in 2006. They offer players the ability to play dual-screen battles and online play through Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.
The games also introduced 107 more Pokémon and a Pokétch on the bottom screen, which acts as a calculator, clock, map, counter, and drawing pad. The Sinnoh region was recently reimagined in the remakes titled Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl for Nintendo Switch.
4 Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver Are Huge A Upgrade To Its Original Games- 87
Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver act as the long-awaited remakes of the Generation II games: Pokémon Gold and Silver. Pokémon trainers return to the Johto region in these Nintendo DS games released in 2010. Fans highly praised these remakes for their visually pleasing upgrades from the previous games and newly added features that weren't seen in Pokémon Gold and Silver.
Players can walk with their partner Pokémon outside its Pokéball in these games, and the Battle Frontier, which makes its first appearance in Pokémon Emerald, is also included.
3 Pokémon Black/White Adds Multiple New Features To The Games - 87
Pokémon Black and White were released for the Nintendo DS in 2010, followed by sequels Black 2 and White 2 in 2012, which is set two years after the events of the original games. These Generation V games set in the Unova region add 156 Pokémon for players to encounter.
Black and White also introduce several features, like the changing of seasons, rotation battles, triple battles, and fully animated Pokémon sprites.
2 Pokémon Sun/Moon Introduce Island Challenges To Players -87
Pokémon Sun and Moon released for the Nintendo 3DS in 2016, followed by Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, which features an alternate storyline and new Ultra Beasts. Players begin their journey in the Alola region and face not the familiar Gym Battles, but island challenges instead.
Though the games still stick to the Pokémon formula, Sun and Moon introduced several new ideas to the series. The games also introduce the battle mechanic of Z-moves for each Pokémon type.
1 Pokémon X/Y Are Second Best-Selling 3DS Game - 88
Pokémon X and Y are the best entries in the Pokémon video game franchise, according to Metacritic and many fans. Players begin their journey in the Kalos region, inspired by France. Throughout their journey, players meet 72 new Pokémon, some of which are the new Fairy-type. The games also introduce Mega Evolution and the 3D capability of Pokémon games.
The utter visual beauty of the graphics in Pokémon X and Y left fans wondering how GameFreak could improve any more from this. With the Switch's capability, the Pokémon games did in fact improve visually with the release of Pokémon Sword and Shield and the upcoming Pokémon: Legends of Arceus.