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00:04Welcome to MojoPlays and today we're ranking every Pokemon game. In this list
00:10we're going to count down every mainline entry in the core Pokemon series, so we
00:15won't be listing the dozens of spin-offs and side games.
00:24Before we begin, we publish new content all week long, so be sure to subscribe and ring
00:29the bell to get notified about our latest videos.
00:33Number 20, Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu and Let's Go Eevee.
00:44One criticism that the Pokemon franchise has received over the years has been its desire
00:49to return to the past again and again, particularly with the Kanto region. Let's Go marked the
00:55second time that Gen 1 had been remade, this time drawing primarily from Yellow version.
01:00The games also sought to draw in a younger audience while cashing in on the success of
01:06the Pokemon Go mobile game. The decision to appeal to a more casual crowd left some feeling
01:11let down. Despite the nostalgic appeal of the games, many long-time fans were turned off
01:16by the flat difficulty curve and the game's motion controls.
01:27Number 19, Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.
01:36After a run of highly successful remakes that both old and new fans swooned over, hype had built for
01:43years for Return to the Sino region. However, that hype quickly dissipated when details emerged about
01:49the games and their chibi graphical style. That criticism only intensified upon release, dividing
01:56many critics and fans. But it was unfortunately not the only issue. Being the first core games in the
02:03series not to be directly developed by Game Freak, it was clear something was missing. Common criticism
02:09also included the lack of popular features implemented in Platinum, and unlike past remakes, a failure to innovate.
02:22Number 18, Pokemon Sun and Moon.
02:31Entering its third decade, the Pokemon franchise had begun to grow a bit stale, so it was overdue for the
02:38formula to be shaken up someone. Sun and Moon did just that, replacing gym battles with island
02:45challenges. While this was a positive step in theory, the execution left something to be desired.
02:51The fact that there was little for players to engage with outside of the plot, which was notoriously
02:56slow for the first few islands, drew criticism, as did the generational gimmick Z-Moves. While the introduction
03:03of regional variants was praised, the decision to feature exclusively on Gen 1 Pokemon was unfortunate.
03:10Enhanced Ultra versions of the games would add to the plot and implement fun features,
03:15but were largely the same games as before.
03:34Pokemon had become a global phenomenon in the late 90s, with video games, cards,
03:40and particularly the anime creeping into almost every aspect of pop culture.
03:45So naturally, many of the fans won by the anime sought to play the games on which it was based,
03:51but were confused by the vast differences in the stories. To appease these fans, a new version of
03:57Pokemon Red and Blue was created that partially mirrored the plot of the TV show. Those changes
04:02included receiving Pikachu as a starter and introducing characters original to the show.
04:08While some of the features in the game, such as a walking Pokemon, have returned in later entries,
04:12the game was seen as a diversion, released in Japan just months before the next generation of games.
04:23Number 16, Pokemon Sword and Shield.
04:31After existing on exclusively handheld devices for its entire history, there were bound to be some changes
04:37changes when the core Pokemon games moved to the hybrid console, the Nintendo Switch. One of the most
04:42notable ways it did this was by introducing a long-awaited open-world element in the games,
04:48named the Wild Area. However, there were drawbacks as well, with the so-called Dexit being one of the
04:54most notorious moments in the fandom. Due in part to the sheer number of Pokemon in existence,
05:00for the first time, a number of them were unavailable by any means in the game, which drew the ire
05:06of many fans.
05:08Other complaints included the linear path of the region, the graphics, and the overall story.
05:22Number 15, Pokemon X and Y.
05:37Transitioning from the charming sprites the Pokemon had used from the beginning to fully 3D models was a
05:43bit of a mixed bag. While it was impressive to finally see these beloved creatures fully realized,
05:49not all of them translated perfectly to the new dimension, and battle animations could be awkward
05:55at times. However, there was a lot more to love than to complain about with X and Y.
06:01Pokemon began their streak of generational gimmicks with one that is still a favorite,
06:06Mega Evolutions. While Mega Evolution hasn't stuck around consistently,
06:10other beloved additions such as more player customization and the fairy type are enduring parts of the franchise.
06:27Number 14, Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire.
06:40The other half of Generation 6, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire brought all of the improvements from X and Y
06:47to the fan favorite region of Hoenn. The games kept much of what made the originals such a great experience,
06:53while also adding in several elements from Emerald, although some were upset about the lack of the battle frontier.
07:00It also expanded on those games though, with the much beloved epilogue titled The Delta Episode.
07:05Other elements carried over from the originals though, like HMs and the Abundant Sea Routes,
07:11drew the same ire as before. Too much water apparently.
07:21Number 13, Pokemon Diamond and Pearl. By the time the fourth generation of Pokemon arrived,
07:27the formula had become well established, and this pairing of games did little to shake that up,
07:32providing a familiar yet fun experience. However, on a technical level, the games advanced by leaps
07:39and bounds. The jump in hardware from the Game Boy Advance to the Nintendo DS was fully taken advantage
07:45of by Game Freak, who implemented the second screen to great effect. Perhaps more importantly,
07:50however, was the addition of Wi-Fi. This meant that you no longer needed to have a friend with a
07:56link
07:56cable and a copy of the opposite version to complete your Pokédex. Thanks to the GTS,
08:01you could trade with strangers on the other side of the world.
08:15Number 12, Pokemon Fire Red and Leaf Green.
08:30Starting a long-standing tradition, Fire Red and Leaf Green were the first remakes in the franchise.
08:36The games took the familiar and beloved original entries and updated them for the GBA. The beloved
08:42story was given pristine graphics and an abundance of quality of life improvements that would have been
08:48impossible in the past. For the first time, Kanto was explorable as a lush, colorful world,
08:54with both the overworld and trainer battles looking better than ever. The expanded plot involving the
09:00Seve Islands connected it to the generation's other games, Ruby and Sapphire, meaning the player had
09:06access to over 350 Pokémon.
09:13Number 11, Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire.
09:21While the first two entries were set in the connected regions of Kanto and Johto,
09:26Ruby and Sapphire were set in the totally new island of Hoenn.
09:29This meant that along with the additional 135 Pokémon introduced, an entirely new league,
09:36routes, and even weather made their debut. More than just the amount of Pokémon possible and
09:41graphics improved, however, as many elements core to the Pokémon experience first appeared.
09:46These included natures and abilities for Pokémon, as well as double battles. The plot, different for
09:52each version, was also vastly expanded and involved saving the world from a villainous team and
09:58incorporating the legendaries into the story rather than having them as unconnected optional catches.
10:08Number 10, Pokémon Crystal.
10:15Unlike the previous third version, which was aimed squarely at more casual fans,
10:20Crystal version added a number of elements designed to appeal to the more hardcore fans of the series.
10:25This included the Battle Tower, offering a challenge for more seasoned players.
10:30Graphical and quality-of-life improvements meant that for the first time, a Pokémon game
10:35wasn't playable on the original Game Boy. Another first was very basic player customization.
10:40For the first time, players could choose to play as a boy or a girl. The game laid a blueprint
10:45for creating a successful and worthwhile third version that generations after would emulate.
10:55Number 9, Pokémon Platinum.
11:03Whether this was your first time in the Sinnoh region, or you'd already beaten Diamond or Pearl,
11:08Platinum offered a rewarding experience. This was because while retaining the core of what made those
11:14games great, it also expanded on the adventure. The most notable way it did this was with Giratina
11:20and the Distortion World, which enhanced the story and provided a new element of gameplay.
11:26It also greatly expanded the Pokémon available in the game, giving players more options for team
11:31building, particularly with Fire-types, which had been almost non-existent before. However, this also meant
11:37gym leaders and the Elite Four had access to more Pokémon, giving them more cohesive and type-appropriate teams.
11:53Number 8, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.
12:05After flirting with an open world in the entries leading up to them, finally in Scarlet and Violet, Pokémon
12:11would finally receive a fully open world with the Paldea region. However, much like the first
12:17generation, these games were plagued by bugs and technical issues. Those are primarily a result of the
12:23freedom afforded to the player for the first time, letting them explore the region in any order they
12:28choose, following three main storylines or just exploring and training to their heart's content.
12:34Those three disparate stories eventually crossed over in a grand finale where the player and the
12:39various friends they had made along the way teamed up. The end result was one of the best and most
12:44emotionally resonant finales in Pokémon history.
12:54Number 7, Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver.
13:03The, no pun intended, gold standard of video game remakes, HeartGold and SoulSilver drew not just from
13:10what made Gold and Silver so special, but from all the best aspects of the entire franchise to that point.
13:17This, of course, included elements and story beats that carried over from Crystal, but it also tied up
13:22plots introduced in FireRed and LeafGreen, walkable Pokémon, the ability to re-battle gym leaders with
13:28improved teams, and many more elements. The games became some of the best-selling ever on the Nintendo DS,
13:35and now hold almost as much nostalgia for gamers as the games they remade.
13:45Number 6, Pokémon Emerald.
13:55Simply put, Emerald took what made Ruby and Sapphire great and perfected them. While in those games,
14:01either Team Aqua or Magma were villains, with the other team being allies, the third version made
14:08both teams into antagonists. This made their ultimate clash and attempt to control the forces
14:13of nature and the Pokémon that controlled those all the more intense. This leads to an encounter with
14:19the legendary Raziquaza, which serves as a fitting conclusion to the story. However, that doesn't mean
14:25you have to stop playing, as there was plenty of added content following the story's conclusion,
14:30and the defeat of the Elite Four. In particular, the Battle Frontier set the standard for Pokémon
14:36post-game content.
14:44Number 5, Pokémon Legends Arceus.
14:51As we've seen, Pokémon has made a few attempts at retooling its familiar formula, but none were as
14:58radical or as successful as in Legends Arceus. The game shifts from focusing on a trainer making his
15:04way through the Pokémon League, to one where they must navigate an ancient and often harsh wilderness.
15:10Set in Sinnoh's past, known as Hisu, players for the first time could be attacked directly by wild Pokémon,
15:17and featured new catching and battling mechanics. This somewhat increased difficulty, along with more
15:23mature themes and its art style, made it appeal less to casual fans and more to gamers that had been
15:29with
15:29the franchise for years or even decades.
15:38Number 4, Pokémon Black 2 and White 2.
15:48Game Freaks surprised everyone when rather than releasing a third version of the same game,
15:54they instead created direct sequels for the fifth generation. Players were treated to a proper sequel
15:59set two years after Black and White. The game expands upon themes introduced in the first games,
16:05once again featuring a complex plot with complicated morality. New areas of the map were opened while other
16:11areas were changed forever, as are many returning characters. They also feature one of the coolest
16:17features in any Pokémon game, the World Tournament. Gym leaders and champions from every entry in the
16:24series could be battled in a single elimination style tournament.
16:34Number 3, Pokémon Red and Blue Versions.
16:42Nothing on this list would have been possible without the original. Despite the many remakes and
16:48updates on far more capable hardware, these versions remain some of the most replayable in the entire
16:53series. The charm of the simple graphics and sprites were practically undeniable, and even the glitches
17:00were fun rather than game-breaking. The basic formula that nearly every subsequent Pokémon game used was
17:05near perfect from the start. Defeating the Pokémon League, besting the surprise champion, your long-time
17:12rival, all while toppling an evil organization made the game legendary. As did the quest to catch them all,
17:19something you could only do with the help of some real-world friends, making the games an engaging
17:25social experience in the real world and helping to ignite the worldwide craze.
17:37Number 2, Pokémon Black and White.
17:45The fifth generation of Pokémon was notable for taking some big chances and making a few massive
17:51departures from the series. The most obvious ways this was done were the region and the Pokémon
17:57themselves. The first game not to be based on a region of Japan, the Unova region drew inspiration
18:03from the New York metropolitan era. It also featured an entirely new selection of Pokémon,
18:09which made the games feel fresh, introducing the most new Mon of any generation. The exceptional
18:15story is remembered for its complex themes and thrilling finale. It asked moral questions
18:20frequently through the player's enigmatic rival, N.
18:38The second pairing of Pokémon versions took the brilliant concept laid out in the original games
18:43and perfected it. Everything from held items to breeding to shiny forms and even an internal clock
18:50debut in Gold and Silver. Meanwhile, broken mechanics and balancing issues were fixed with
18:55the introduction of Steel and Dark types. The sequels brought players into a new region
19:01with new Pokémon for the first time, as it battled through Johto and featured a truly powerful
19:06redemption arc for the games' rival. Players that defeated the Elite Four had a special prize,
19:12returning to Kanto, giving players a chance to explore a familiar landscape somewhat changed
19:17from the original. Here you would clash with, who else, but the player from the first game in a
19:22spectacular showdown. Which game was your favorite to catch them all in? Let us know in the comments.
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