All Pokémon Games In Order: From Game Boy to Switch

Pokémon is one of the longest-running video game series. With dozens of main games and hundreds of spin-offs, the Pokemon franchise is one of the largest of its kind.

The first main Pokemon game, Pokémon Red, came out all the way back in 1996 for the original Gameboy.

Since then, a new Pokemon generation accompanies the release of a new Nintendo console, like the New Pokemon Snap.

Here you’ll find a complete list of all Pokémon games in order, starting from the very first one all the way up to Pokemon Sword and Shield, the latest game in the main series.

We’ll start with the main series, ordered by generation and consoles, and then dive deeper into the spin-offs, handhelds, and other top Pokémon games in order.

All Pokémon Games in Order

First Generation

The first generation of Pokémon games was released on the Game Boy. Back then, the game was called ‘Pocket Monsters’ as you could capture and store them in your Game Boy.

Little did Nintendo know what the Pokémon franchise would become!

1. Pokemon Red and Pokemon Green: Pokemon Red and Blue

• Release Date: February 27, 1996 (Japan)
• Platform: Game Boy

Pokemon Red and Green were the first of all Pokémon games. The Red and Green Versions were released on February 27, 1996, in Japan. They were sold in the USA in 1998 and in Europe from 1999, a whole three years later than the initial release date.

The game revolved around a young boy who set out on an epic adventure to become the greatest Pokemon trainer of all time. Traveling through the original Kanto region, you capture Pokemon and earn 8 gym badges by defeating 8 unique trainers.

The central storyline revolved around defeating the Elite trainers. The secondary objective was to complete the Pokédex by catching all 151 Pokemon – “Gotta Catch ‘Em All!”

Trading Pokemon as possible. A proprietary Game Link Cable was required to connect two Game Boys and trade Pokemon. Old-school charms! The Game Link Cable also allowed two players to battle each other.

Pokémon Red and Pokemon Green were two different versions of the same game although some were specific to each version.

Pokemon Blue, a special edition, was released in Japan in late 1996, featuring minor graphical upgrades and the same Pokemons as Pokemon Green. In the American and European markets, only Pokémon Red and Blue was released.

Worth adding, Pokémon Red and Blue was one of the most popular games around, selling 4 million copies!

Related Read: Pokemon Radical Red Cheats- Best & Most Useful Codes

2. Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition

• Release Date: September 12, 1998 (Japan)
• Platform: Game Boy

The Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition or simply Pokemon Yellow is a remake of the original Pokemon Red and Green by Nintendo that follows the anime storyline.

Just like in the anime, Pikachu follows you around the map instead of resting in a Pokeball. The rest of the game is exactly the same.

Also read: Pokémon Yellow Cheats 2022

Second Generation

With the immense success of the first generation, Nintendo commissioned Game Freak for the next set of new Pokémon games meant for the Game Boy Color, introducing 100+ new Pokémon, taking the total to 251.

1. Pokémon Gold and Silver

• Release Date: November 21, 1999 (Japan)
• Platform: Game Boy Color

Pokémon Gold and Silver was the first Pokémon game of the second generation and included a ton of major changes.

The most noticeable change was the introduction of a day and night cycle, highlighting the complete color palette of the Game Boy Color.

The day and night cycle influenced in-game events, e.g., certain Pokemon could be caught only during a certain time. A seven-day week also brought along special events.

Two new Pokémon species, Dark and Steel, were introduced. Pokemon breeding was also introduced to cross between two Pokemon.

The game was set in a new region named Johto, but the original Kanto region was also available and explorable.

A new trading card set named Neo Genesis was also released along with Pokémon Gold and Silver. On launch, 251 Pokemons from two generations were available as a trading card game.

The game proved to be immensely successful and today, Pokemon Neo Genesis cards are highly valued rare collectibles.

Related Read:

• Best Pokemon Fan Games

2. Pokémon Crystal

• Release Date: December 14, 2000 (Japan)
• Platform: Game Boy Color

Pokémon Crystal is the enhanced remake of Pokémon Gold and Silver. In addition to the graphical improvements and other minor enhancements over the original title, the players now had the option to choose between a boy or a girl as their character.

Third Generation

The third generation of Pokémon games carried forward the legacy onto the then-new Game Boy Advance. A total of 135 new Pokémon were introduced along with the new region of Hoenn.

1. Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire

• Release Date: November 21, 2002 (Japan)
• Platform: Game Boy Advance.

Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire were released for the Gameboy Advance. This became the core series for every preceding generation of Pokémon games. The Pokémon Company became the new publisher and Nintendo as the distributor in Japan, while Nintendo served as both overseas.

The new game was much more visually detailed as compared to the previous generation of Pokémon games. The environments were much more detailed and the environment affected Pokemon stats.

It was also the first game where a new 2 on 2 system was introduced in Pokemon Battles, where both the player and the opponent could enter a battle with two Pokemons at once. Both Pokemon had to be defeated to win.

Perhaps the most exciting feature was Secret Bases, customizable rooms found hidden in bushes, small trees, and so on.

Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, however, was criticized for leaving out the day/night cycles, a fan favorite, and somewhat revolutionary in the gaming world then.

2. Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen

• Release Date: January 29, 2004 (Japan)
• Platform: Game Boy Advance.

Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen was the remake of the original Pokémon Red and Green. Graphics were upgraded from 8 bits to 16 bits for Game Boy Advance, along with various other features and glitch fixes.

The game was a tribute to the first-gen Pokémon Red and Green, no new Pokémon were added, and it also followed the original storyline.

Find all Pokemon Leaf Green Cheats here and all Pokemon Fire Red Cheat Codes here.

3. Pokémon Emerald

• Release Date: September 16, 2004 (Japan)
• Platform: Game Boy Advance

Pokémon Emerald is the enhanced remake of Ruby and Sapphire. In addition to the graphical improvements and other minor enhancements over the original title, Emerald introduced a few story changes as well and combined the elements from both Pokemon Ruby and Pokemon Sapphire. 

A few other features worthy of mention include Battle Frontier, a feature where the players can battle against other trainers, and Pokénav, a map of Hoenn that shows you trainers that want a rematch with you.

Fourth Generation

The fourth generation introduced 107 new Pokémon to the series. Thanks to the extended capabilities of the Nintendo DS, the fourth generation games were the first ones to introduce 3D graphics.

1. Pokémon Diamond and Pearl

• Release Date: September 28, 2006 (Japan)
• Platform: Nintendo DS

Pokémon Diamond and Pearl was the main game for the Nintendo DS. The game takes place in Sinnoh, inspired by Hokkaidō Island. It reintroduced the day/night system that was skipped over in the third generation.

The most hyped and exciting feature was Wi-Fi, thanks to Nintendo DS’s tech leap. The new game included online multiplayer, trading, and battles, via Wi-Fi.

The Sinnoh map had a massive underground element, making it the first multi-level map by Nintendo for Pokemon.

The game also allowed you to transfer Pokemons from Game Boy Advance games, no need to recapture all previous-gen Pokemon!

2. Pokémon Platinum

• Release Date: September 13, 2008 (Japan)
• Platform: Nintendo DS

Pokémon Platinum was the enhanced version of Diamond and Pearl. It followed the same formula as previous enhanced versions, with better graphics and other improvements.

The story revolves around an interdimensional portal atop Mt. Coronet, the Distortion World. The game was all about closing the portal to save Sinnoh.

3. Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver   

• Release Date: September 12, 2009 (Japan)
• Platform: Nintendo DS

Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver was the remake of Pokemon Gold and Silver, the second-generation Pokemon game.

HeartGold and SoulSilver also introduced the Pokéathlon to the Johto region, a Pokemon sporting event that made use of the stylus on the Nintendo.

Fifth Generation

The fifth generation introduced 156 new Pokemon to the series, the most in any generation before it. Also unlike previous generations, these games were released on the DS as well.

The fifth generation of Pokemons was an all-original cast, unlike the previous generations where some Pokemons were evolutionary relatives of last-gen Pokemons.

The game takes place in the Unova region, a bustling map based on the Big Apple. 

1. Pokémon Black and White

• Release Date: September 18, 2010 (Japan)
• Platform: Nintendo DS

Pokemon Black and White added a ton of new gameplay features, evident that Nintendo was playing around to generate hype.

Triple Battles were added – three Pokemons were sent out to battle at once. Rotation Battles allowed the trainer to switch one Pokemon out of the three.

Pokémon Musicals was an additional feature wherein trainers had to make their Pokemon dance with other Pokemon. While it did not add to their skills or game progression, it certainly hit the right chord with many.

Pokemon Black and White didn’t do anything drastically different than the previous titles, but it managed to nail down pretty much everything that makes a good Pokemon game.

2. Pokémon Black and White 2

• Release Date: June 23, 2012 (Japan)
• Platform: Nintendo DS

Pokémon Black and White 2 was a direct sequel, breaking the tradition of remastering the same game that had been followed up until this point.

The game continues the story of the protagonist in a new and different part of the Unova region, with new cities such as Humilau city.

Team Plasma, the enemies of the first game, have reformed under the rule of Ghetsis, a tyrannical King who was defeated by the protagonist in the previous game.

Sixth Generation

The sixth generation introduced 72 new Pokemon to the series, the least in any generation before. But it introduced Fairy-Type Pokemon and Mega Evolution and made a big debut on the Nintendo 3DS along with the 3D revamp.

Also, these games were released worldwide on the same date as Japan, something that had never been seen before.

1. Pokémon X and Y

• Release Date: October 12, 2013
• Platform: Nintendo 3DS

Pokemon X and Y takes place in the Kalos region and features a similar gameplay and progression scheme.

The game also introduced Fairy Type Pokemon, and this was the first time that a new Pokémon species was added since the second generation.

Mega Evolution was an exciting feature in Pokémon X and Y. Only 26 out of the 72 Pokemon could mega evolve, on the condition that you had the Mega Stone of the respective Pokémon species.

The Mega Evolution bumped up the specs of the Pokemon, but a team can mega evolve only one Pokemon per battle.

2. Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire 

• Release Date: November 21, 2014
• Platform: Nintendo 3DS

Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire is the remastered version of the third generation Ruby & Sapphire. Graphics were upgraded while keeping everything else intact, just how the fans wanted it!

Mega Evolutions were introduced to spice things up. Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire was also the first Pokémon game with full 360 viewing angles.

Seventh Generation

The seventh generation can be credited as the most unique. This gen was started on the Nintendo 3DS but ported successfully onto the new Nintendo Switch. A total of 88 new Pokémon comprised of the seventh generation, but they weren’t released all at once.

A new set of Pokemon was released to accompany the Nintendo Switch, but they were categorized under gen 7.

1. Pokémon Sun and Moon

• Release Date: November 18, 2016          
• Platform: Nintendo 3DS

Pokémon Sun and Moon was the first game of the seventh generation released on the 3DS. The game takes place in the Alola region, inspired by Hawaii. A lot of new gameplay features were introduced.

Trainers were now visible in Pokemon battles and the commands were organized differently to play along with the touch interface.

Gyms were replaced by Island Challenges where the trainer had to take on various trials with Totem Pokémon. In the end, they had to defeat the Kahunas or the leader of each island to progress.

At the time, the Battle Royale games were heating up so Nintendo added their own version of the Battle Royale to the Sun and Moon.

A new battle type, called Battle Royal, was introduced where four players with three Pokemon each could enter a battle all at once. The battle ends when one of the three trainers loses all of their Pokemon.

2. Pokémon Sun Ultra and Moon Ultra

• Release Date: November 17, 2017
• Platform: Nintendo 3DS

Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon was the revised version of Pokémon Sun and Moon. The gameplay and features were retained and some graphical improvements were made.

The most exciting feature of the Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon was a photo mode called the Alola Photo Booth. Here, trainers could click a picture with their Pokemon. The player can change the background, pose, etc.!

3. Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go Eevee!

• Release Date: November 16, 2018          
• Platform: Nintendo Switch

Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go Eevee! are the first Pokemon games for Nintendo Switch. The gameplay is a blend of Pokemon Yellow, the first-gen special, and Pokémon Go, the insanely popular AR mobile game.

The game is set in the original Kanto region with 151 first gen Pokemons and a few from Alola island. A player starts with either Pikachu or Eevee, based on their version of the game.

Catching Pokemon is pretty similar to Pokémon Go, where Nintendo collaborated heavily. Players need to swish their Joy-Con to throw a Pokeball and capture a Pokemon. Just that the AR from Pokémon Go was missing.

While Nintendo includes it in the main series, most players and professionals regard Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go Eevee! as a side titles, among the more recognized spin-off games under the same production.

Eighth Generation

The eight-generation is the latest and current generation, released in late 2019. A total of 81 new Pokemons were introduced. All Pokemons and the Galar region itself are loosely based on English and Irish mythology.

1. Pokémon Sword and Shield

• Release Date: November 15, 2019          
• Platform: Nintendo Switch

Pokémon Sword and Shield is the latest Pokémon game, welcomed well by fans and critics alike.

The biggest change is that wild Pokemon now roam the grass world where they can be seen in the open world, the Wild Area.

Gyms make a comeback to replace Islands. A notable change is Dynamax, where trainers can grow their Pokemons to massive sizes.

Conclusion

Pokémon video games brought the global gaming industry closer.

Despite similar gameplay and plot featured in dozens of titles released over a decade and a half, new Pokémon video games still trend big. Looking at the current and historic trends, we’re sure to see more Pokémon games in order!

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