The mainline Pokemon video games make up one of many best-selling online game franchises of all time. From Pokemon Pink and Blue to the newest entries within the collection, these video games have amassed an enormous viewers that simply retains coming again for extra.
If you have not performed the entire Pokemon video video games within the collection, nonetheless, you might end up in a little bit of a dilemma attempting to determine the place to start out. Many of the main titles within the collection are wonderful standalone video games to dive into, however if you wish to begin from the start, there are two alternative ways to play so as: Chronologically or by launch date.
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How you can Play the Pokemon Video games in Chronological Order
The Pokemon timelne could appear fairly linear at first look, however with out sufficient apparent particulars to go off of, it may be fairly complicated to attempt to comply with the chronology from title to title. Fortunately, a now deleted tweet from Toshinobu Matsumiya has given us a place to begin for a number of the video games. For the remainder, we are able to solely make educated guesses primarily based on a couple of key particulars witin the video games.
1. Pokemon Legends: Arceus
The primary recreation within the chronology could be very clearly Pokemon Legends: Arceus seeing because it’s set in a time when the connection between people and Pokemon was solely simply beginning to kind. You spend a big portion of your time operating round an enormous open wilderness catching and battling wild Pokemon, and the folks you work together with are clearly simply starting to grasp the world of Pokemon. This recreation options crafting and analysis duties, which significantly differentiates it from the same old gymnasium battle formulation we’re used to.
Although we do not know simply how way back Pokemon Legends: Arceus takes place in comparison with the opposite video games within the collection, we do atleast know that it appears to characteristic the ancestors of Diamond and Pearl characters.
2. Pokemon Pink, Blue, and Yellow
As the unique video games within the collection, Pokemon Pink, Blue, and Yellow are up subsequent within the timeline. Bringing the first-generation Pokedex and introducing us to the traditional Pokemon recreation formulation, these best-selling video games are what began all of it.
Though we won’t know for certain that these Sport Boy video games are up subsequent within the timeline, the deleted Tweet from Sport State of affairs author Toshinobu Matsumiya confirmed that the collection begins with these. The expertise featured within the recreation can also be pretty restricted in comparison with a number of the newer video games — although nonetheless superior sufficient to carry fossils again to life!
Bonus: Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen
Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen are remakes of the unique Pink and Blue video games and thus are on the similar precise level within the timeline. A lot of the plot is identical because the originals with some key variations — together with visiting the Sevii Islands after turning into champion of the Elite 4.
3. Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald
Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald introduced all new Pokemon and throws you into the Hoenn area — which is a long way from each the Kanto and Johto areas. Contemplating this recreation options the third technology of Pokemon and a few new expertise, it appears most certainly that it might happen after each Pink and Blue and Gold and Silver. Nonetheless, in line with that very same deleted tweet from Matsumiya, Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire happen on the similar cut-off date as FireRed and LeafGreen.
This additionally implies that Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire are on the similar level within the timeline right here seeing as they’re remakes.
4. Pokemon Gold, Silver, and Crystal
Because the second recreation within the collection (when it comes to launch date) Pokemon Gold and Silver happen three years after the occasions of Pink and Blue. With some thrilling new Gen 2 Pokemon and a number of the greatest post-game content material within the collection, Gold, Silver, and Crystal have been a wonderful comply with as much as the unique video games. By touring to the Kanto area after turning into the champion of Johto, you get a firsthand take a look at the passage of time. You even get to battle the protagonist from the primary video games, Pink, who is sort of sturdy.
This placement within the chronology additionally applies to the remakes: HeartGold and SoulSilver. Though the remakes supply some extra content material, they’re primarily simply up to date variations of the originals.
5. Pokemon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum
When it comes to collection launch order, Pokemon Diamond and Pearl got here a couple of years after Ruby and Sapphire. Nonetheless, we now know from that deleted tweet from Matsumiya that Diamond and Pearl really takes place concurrently HeartGold and SoulSilver. This may increasingly appear a bit of bit complicated contemplating the developments in expertise we see in Diamond and Pearl, however we are able to possible simply chalk it as much as the precise date the video games have been created quite than the chronology throughout the Pokemon universe.
This could additionally imply that the remakes, Sensible Diamond and Shining Pearl are set in the identical level of the timeline. Although the timeline will get a bit wonky with the inclusion of Fairy-type Pokemon contemplating these weren’t launched till X and Y.
6. Pokemon Black and White
That includes the fifth-generation of latest Pokemon, Black and White was the second mainline recreation to come back out on the Nintendo DS. Though we do not know precisely when the story takes place within the Pokemon universe, we try this it takes place after Diamond and Pearl due to Matsumiya’s tweet. Since there are not any apparent hyperlinks to the earlier video games, we are able to solely assume that Black and White takes place greater than 3 years after Pink and Blue.
7. Pokemon Black 2 and White 2
As a real sequel to Black and White, Pokemon Black 2 and White 2 supply a reasonably apparent transition by way of the chronological timeline. We see modifications the place gymnasium leaders go on their duties to the subsequent technology, Group Plasma has superior their plot, and there’s a new Champion. Between all of these items, we all know that roughly two years have handed since Black and White, progressing the timeline ahead in an uncharacteristically linear vogue.
8. Pokemon X and Y
As the primary recreation within the collection to permit payers to discover and battle in 3D, Pokemon X and Y was a contemporary tackle the traditional Pokemon formulation. Whereas that is largely as a consequence of it being the primary title within the collection to be a Nintendo 3DS recreation, it undoubtedly helped arrange future video games. Whereas we do not know precisely when the sport matches within the chronology, due to Matsumiya we atleast know that X and Y happen concurrently Black 2 and White 2. Nonetheless, it is potential that it’s set in a distinct universe as a consequence of Mega Evolution being a factor.
9. Pokemon Solar and Moon
Occurring a couple of years after X and Y, Pokemon Solar and Moon takes us to the Alola area. Whereas we have no info from Matsumiya about the place this recreation matches within the timeline, it options a couple of characters from X and Y that point out that point has handed between video games. An grownup Pink and Blue additionally make an look, although their precise age is not revealed, so we nonetheless do not know precisely how a lot time has progressed since Pink, Blue, and Yellow.
This additionally implies that Pokemon Extremely Solar and Extremely Moon happen on the similar cut-off date as they’re primarily remakes of Solar and Moon with some extra content material.
10. Pokemon Sword and Defend
With the arrival of the Nintendo Change got here the primary Change-exclusive mainline Pokemon recreation: Sword and Defend. That includes a brand-new area, new Pokemon, and the introduction of Gigantamax, Sword and Defend is basically a gentle reboot of the collection. In order that being stated, we don’t know the place it matches on the chronological timeline. There aren’t actually any onerous references to the earlier video games, so there isn’t a approach of precisely becoming it into the recognized Pokemon universe.
One of many solely clues now we have in regards to the timeline comes within the type of new expertise. The addition of the Rotom Telephone seemingly locations us additional within the chronology than Pink and Blue on the very least, however that is all we are able to actually collect. It is potential that Pokemon Sword and Defend merely takes place in a completely totally different universe than any of the opposite video games.
11. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
As the newest entry within the collection, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet brings all-new Gen 9 Pokemon and the open-world Paldea area to the Nintendo Change. The sport would not arrive till Friday, so we sadly haven’t got sufficient info to attempt to precisely place it on a timeline. That being stated, if it follows the chronological construction of earlier mainline video games, it is potential that it takes place concurrently the occasions of Pokemon Sword and Defend.
How you can Play the Pokemon Video games by Launch Date
I you need to play the video games within the order they have been launched quite than attempt to making an attempt to undergo the convoluted chronological timeline, listed here are the entire mainline Pokemon video games by launch date:
- Pokemon Pink and Blue – February 27, 1996 – Sport Boy
- Pokemon Yellow – Sport Boy – September 12, 1998 – Sport Boy
- Pokemon Gold and Silver – November 21, 1999 – Sport Boy Colour
- Pokemon Crystal – December 14, 2000 – Sport Boy Colour
- Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire – November 21, 2002 – Sport Boy Advance
- Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen – January 28, 2004 – Sport Boy Advance
- Pokemon Emerald – Sepember 16, 2004 – Sport Boy Advance
- Pokemon Diamond and Pearl – September 28, 2006 – Nintendo DS
- Pokemon Platinum – September 13, 2008 – Nintendo DS
- Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver – September 12, 2009 – Nintendo DS
- Pokemon Black and White – September 18, 2010 – Nintendo DS
- Pokemon Black 2 and White 2 – June 23, 2012 – Nintendo DS
- Pokemon X and Y – October 13, 2013 – Nintendo 3DS
- Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire – November 21, 2014 – Nintendo 3DS
- Pokemon Solar and Moon – November 18, 2016 – Nintendo 3DS
- Pokemon Extremely Solar and Extremely Moon – November 17, 2017 – Nintendo 3DS
- Pokemon Sword and Defend – November 15, 2019 – Nintendo Change
- Pokemon Sensible Diamond and Shining Pearl – November 19, 2021 – Nintendo Change
- Pokemon Scarlet and Vilolet – November 18, 2022 – Nintendo Change
Which Pokemon Video games Ought to You Really Play First?
Selecting the place to start out boils right down to what Nintendo console you at the moment have. For those who solely have a Nintendo Change, you can begin with Let’s Go Pikachu or Let’s Go Eevee, that are type of like remakes of the unique Yellow model from 1998. You too can play Sensible Diamond and Shining Pearl for an additional remake expertise. Pokemon Legends: Arceus can also be an choice, however it is vitally totally different from the opposite mainline video games.
For those who’re desirous to dive proper into Pokemon Scarlet and Violet when it comes out, it is price noting that you simply possible will not be lacking out on any overly pertinent info from the earlier video games. The one video games in the primary collection you won’t need to soar proper into is Black 2 and White 2 as these are sequels.
In search of extra Pokemon content material? Take a look at our information to the greatest Pokemon motion pictures and Pokemon Video Video games for extra.
