00:00There's always going to be divided opinions when it comes to ranking the best Pokemon
00:16games. 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.
00:28This list 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 it
00:52did do was bring Pokemon trading into the modern age. Instead of using a link cable, it made
00:57use 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
01:06introduced 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 in
01:16the Sinnoh region in some rather weird ways.
01:18Pokemon X and Y took Pokemon into the world of 3D on the Nintendo 3DS and was a significant change from
01:34titles before it. It truly marked the start of a new era, with the charming sprites of yesteryear turned
01:39into gorgeous 3D models, elevating battle sequences to all new animated types. The Pokemon Ami system was also
01:45introduced for the first time, which lets you interact with your Pokemon companions and form
01:49bonds with them. It was a welcome touch that finally let you pair and play with your favourite battling
01:54buddies. X and Y also brought in a lot more customisation, allowing you to change the look
02:00and style of your trainer. It also introduced yet more interesting Pokemon, including the new
02:04addition of 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 first game
02:20that really opens up the world, giving you the chance to run into Pokemon in the wild, just like
02:25you would if we actually lived in a world populated by pocket monsters. We have an incredible story that
02:30takes you back in time and new gameplay elements that give the series a bit of a refresh. Pokemon
02:35legends Arceus is a fantastic addition to the franchise that takes the tried and true formula
02:40and expands it outwards.
02:56Pokemon Sword and Shield was the first entry in the core series to land on Switch and introduce the
03:01Galar region, a delightful setting based on the UK, as well as Galarian form Pokemon variants. Getting to
03:06bond with your mons using the new camp feature was also a welcome touch. In our review we said it's a
03:12Pokemon game for the new generation, thanks to some of the more accessible features it introduced,
03:16allowing new players to ease into the formula we know and love. While it might be a touch easier than
03:21the entries in the series, Sword and Shield offers a fantastically memorable experience, with a cast of
03:26colourful characters and Pokemon, and it's easily the best looking Pokemon game to date.
03:39While a lot of the formula remained unchanged, Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire took the series into a
03:43vibrant world of colour on the Gameboy Advance, letting the Pokemon sprites pop from the screen
03:48like never before. This was also the first Pokemon game to introduce a lot of elements and features
03:52that continued throughout the series. Things like 2v2 double battles appeared for the first time,
03:57and Pokemon were also attributed with different natures which affected their overall stats. An
04:02extensive list of new abilities were also introduced, which were specific to different types adding
04:07more depth into battles. Contests were also brought in to add new challenges. The Hoenn region was also
04:12a great setting with some memorable legendary Pokemon in the shape of Groudon and Kyogre.
04:25Going back to where it all began, Pokemon Red and Blue set us on the path to be the very best
04:29like no one ever was, and we haven't looked back since. The world of Kanto still feels just as magical
04:34as it ever did, and the original 151 Pokemon are still the most memorable in the franchise's history,
04:40right down to the classic starters Bulbasaur, Squirtle and Charmander. The Gameboy graphics
04:45have a nostalgic charm you don't quite get with the later entries, and it's still very playable to
04:50this day, which is a testament to just how good it is. After Pokemon Red and Blue put the world into
05:02a Pokemon frenzy, the sequel had some big shoes to fill, and thankfully Gold and Silver delivered.
05:07Bigger and better than before, the second generation introduced 100 excellent and memorable additions
05:13to the Pokemon library, along with two new Pokemon types, and a whole host of new moves.
05:18It introduced a day and night cycle, added time specific challenges, and brought in Pokemon that
05:22could only be caught 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 Pokemon game.
05:33And better yet, when you reached the end of the game, you unlocked the Kanto region from Red and Blue,
05:37which allowed you to revisit all of the gyms and trainers. So that's our ranking of the best
05:42Pokemon games. Obviously, as we mentioned, everyone has their own favorites and their reason for that
05:47choice. So why not leave a comment explaining what's yours and why.
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