00:00There's always going to be divided opinions when it comes to ranking the best Pokemon
00:15games. With so many fantastic options spanning the generations, we all have strong feelings
00:20about our Pokemon adventures. Whether it's because we grew up playing a certain entry
00:24or there's one that holds a special place in your heart for one reason or another. This
00:28list focuses on core games from the most recent additions like Pokemon Legends Arceus
00:33and Pokemon Sword and Shield to the series origins with Pokemon Red and Blue and more.
00:37So let's take a look at our rankings of the best Pokemon games to date.
00:48Pokemon Diamond and Pearl didn't do anything too groundbreaking, but one notable thing
00:52it did do was bring Pokemon trading into the modern age. Instead of using a link cable,
00:57they made use of the Nintendo DS's WiFi connectivity to trade Pokemon with other players. While
01:02some other new features did come into play too, most of them building on things previously
01:07introduced in Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire, it does also deserve some credit for its story.
01:11The evil Team Galactic conducts science experiments to try and take control of the legendaries
01:16in the Sinnoh region in some rather weird ways.
01:28Pokemon X and Y took Pokemon into the world of 3D on the Nintendo 3DS and was a significant
01:33change from titles before it. It truly marked the start of a new era with the charming sprites
01:38of yesteryear turned into gorgeous 3D models, elevating battle sequences to all new animated
01:43The Pokemon M.E. system was also introduced for the first time, which lets you interact
01:47with your Pokemon companions and form bonds with them. It was a welcome touch that finally
01:52let you pet and play with your favourite battling buddies.
01:55X and Y also brought in a lot more customisation, allowing you to change the look and style
02:00of your trainer. It also introduced yet more interesting Pokemon, including the new addition
02:05of the fairy type, as well as new social features.
02:15Arceus is as close as the franchise has gotten to a reboot in its long history. It's the
02:20first game that really opens up the world, giving you the chance to run into Pokemon
02:24in the wild, just like you would if we actually lived in a world populated by pocket monsters.
02:28We have an incredible story that takes you back in time and new gameplay elements that
02:33give the series a bit of a refresh. Pokemon Legends Arceus is a fantastic addition to
02:37the franchise that takes the tried and true formula and expands it outwards.
02:56Pokemon Sword and Shield was the first entry in the core series to land on Switch and introduce
03:01the Galar region, a delightful setting based on the UK, as well as Galarian form Pokemon
03:05variants. Getting to bond with your mons using the new camp feature was also a welcome touch.
03:11In our review we said it's a Pokemon game for the new generation. Thanks to some of
03:14the more accessible features it introduced, allowing new players to ease into the formula
03:19we know and love.
03:20While it might be a touch easier than the entries in the series, Sword and Shield offers
03:24a fantastically memorable experience, with a cast of colourful characters and Pokemon,
03:29and is easily the best looking Pokemon game to date.
03:39While a lot of the formula remained unchanged, Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire took the series
03:43into a vibrant world of colour on the Gameboy Advance, letting the Pokemon sprites pop from
03:47the screen like never before. This was also the first Pokemon game to introduce a lot
03:51of elements and features that continued throughout the series. Things like 2v2 double battles
03:56appeared for the first time, and Pokemon were also attributed with different natures
04:00which affected their overall stats. An extensive list of new abilities were also introduced,
04:05which were specific to different types adding more depth into battles. Contests were also
04:10brought in to add new challenges. The Hoenn region was also a great setting with some
04:13memorable legendary Pokemon in the shape of Groudon and Kyogre.
04:25Getting back to where it all began, Pokemon Red and Blue set us on the path to be the
04:29very best like no one ever was, and we haven't looked back since. The world of Kanto still
04:33feels just as magical as it ever did, and the original 151 Pokemon are still the most
04:38memorable in the franchise's history, right down to the classic starters Bulbasaur, Squirtle
04:43and Charmander. The Gameboy graphics have a nostalgic charm you don't quite get with
04:47the later entries, and it's still very playable to this day, which is a testament to just
04:52how good it is.
05:00After Pokemon Red and Blue put the world into a Pokemon frenzy, the sequel had some big
05:04shoes to fill, and thankfully, Gold and Silver delivered. Bigger and better than before,
05:09the second generation introduced 100 excellent and memorable additions to the Pokemon library,
05:14along with two new Pokemon types, and a whole host of new moves. It introduced a day and
05:19night cycle, added time-specific challenges, and brought in Pokemon that could only be
05:23caught at certain times of the day. Gold and Silver had all the hallmarks that made the
05:27first game so enjoyable, but expanded on the experience to cement itself as the superior
05:32Pokemon game. And better yet, when you reached the end of the game, you unlocked the Kanto
05:36region from Red and Blue, which allowed you to revisit all of the gyms and trainers.
05:41So that's our ranking of the best Pokemon games. Obviously, as we mentioned, everyone
05:45has their own favourites and their reason for that choice, so why not leave a comment
05:48explaining what's yours and why.
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