Game · in order
Pokémon Games in Order
The mainline Pokémon games in release order, grouped by generation, from Red and Blue through Scarlet and Violet. Each game is standalone, so any generation is a fine place to start.
Pokémon Games in Order — complete list
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Why this order?
The good news for newcomers is that there is no required order for the Pokémon games. Each mainline generation is set in its own region with its own self-contained story, new starter Pokémon, and a fresh roster of creatures to catch. You can pick up Scarlet and Violet without ever having touched Red and Blue and miss nothing essential. That makes "where do I start" mostly a question of which era's art style, region, and hardware appeals to you.
So why offer a release order at all? Because playing chronologically by release date is the clearest way to see how the series evolved: from the two-color Game Boy origins of Generation I, through the addition of breeding and day-night cycles in Gold and Silver, the jump to 3D models in X and Y, the open-world experiments of Sword and Shield, and finally the fully open regions of Legends: Arceus and Scarlet and Violet. We group the list by generation so the structure of the franchise is obvious at a glance.
A few things trip people up. Paired versions (Red/Blue, Sword/Shield, and so on) are the same game with minor exclusives, so we count each pair as one entry. Several generations also have remakes: FireRed and LeafGreen remake Gen I, HeartGold and SoulSilver remake Gen II, and Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl remake Gen IV. These are great modern entry points but are not separate generations. Pokémon Legends: Arceus is the unusual one: it is a core-series Generation VIII release (the same generation as Sword and Shield and Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl), but it is set in the ancient past of the Sinnoh region and plays very differently from the traditional games, with an open-world, action-focused style. We list it on its own line for clarity, but it sits squarely inside the numbered-generation system rather than outside it.
If you enjoy the monster-collecting loop, the spin-off Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series and competitors like Digimon and Yo-kai Watch scratch a similar itch, though none are required to enjoy the mainline games.
Timeline 1996–2022
Every entry plotted by release year — see the gaps, clusters and revivals at a glance.
Where to play it today
- Nintendo Switch (current and recent generations)
- Nintendo 3DS eShop (older entries, limited availability)
- Original cartridges on Game Boy, DS, and 3DS hardware
Affiliate links (Bookshop.org for books, store links for games/films) slot in here.
Frequently asked questions
How many Pokémon games are there?
There are nine numbered mainline generations, from Red and Blue (Gen I) through Scarlet and Violet (Gen IX). This list has ten rows because Legends: Arceus is broken out separately for clarity, though it is itself a Generation VIII title (paired versions counted as one). Counting remakes and spin-offs, the total is much larger.
What order should I play (or watch) Pokémon in?
There is no required order. Each game is standalone, so start with any generation that appeals to you. Release order, grouped by generation, is the best way to see how the series evolved over time.
Do I need to play the older games first?
No. Every mainline Pokémon game has its own region, story, and starter Pokémon, with no plot carried over. You can begin with the newest entry, like Scarlet and Violet, and miss nothing.
What about the remakes like Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl?
Remakes such as FireRed/LeafGreen, HeartGold/SoulSilver, and Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl modernize older generations. They are excellent entry points but are not separate generations.
Is Pokémon Legends: Arceus a mainline game?
Yes. It is a core-series release and part of Generation VIII, alongside Sword/Shield and Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl. What sets it apart is its style, not its generation: it is set in ancient Sinnoh and uses an open-world, action-focused approach rather than the classic format.
When did the first Pokémon games come out?
Pokémon Red and Green launched in Japan in 1996, with Red and Blue following internationally in 1998. They began Generation I and the entire franchise.
Last updated · Sources: en.wikipedia.org, Wikidata
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