The 10 Greatest Pokemon Games (Up to This Point)

So Pokemon X/Y is about to invade the video game industry and give the world more reasons to get a 3DS (To think it had a horrible start---now it’s on fire with this and Link to the Past 2 on the heels). But before we can get to this, we are going to count down the 10 greatest Pokemon games in its wildly successful history.





#10: Pokemon Stadium 2
System: N64

While this game lacks the energy, style, and intensity of the original, Pokemon Stadium 2 still features dazzling graphics, plenty of intriguing games to play and the transfer pack which back in the day was a mighty big deal. Bizarre that Gamecube and Wii versions of stadium-like gameplay were watered-down so ferociously when compared to the 1-2 punch of the N64 Stadium titles. The one element from here that needs to be in future Pokemon games is simply more tournaments; I would love to test my skills against the best of the best outside the gym leaders and the eventual Elite Four.





#9: Pokemon Trading Card Game
System: Game Boy Color

Instead of being some knock-off Pokemon spin-off, this game would not only be an engaging and deep video game, it would pave the way for all those Yu-Gi-Oh games that caught fire for a limited period of time. You would roam around the world taking on other people while perfecting your deck and coming up with the strongest possible combination of cards amongst the 200+ cards you could find in the game. So now I ask: why on earth isn’t there a trading card game side-quest in the RPG Pokemon games?!?!




#8: Pokemon Diamond/Pearl
System: Nintendo DS

They could have messed this one up badly. After all, Ruby and Sapphire made certain Pokemon extinct and FireRed and LeafGreen were essentially pointless. But with the first DS installment of Pokemon, Diamond/Pearl brought back the original design, gave it some nice DS touches, gave it a more realistic touch, and actually improved the franchise as a whole. More Pokemon, the old-schoolers came back, and the game as a whole looks better. While not a franchise-shifter, it gets the job done.




#7: Pokemon Pinball
System: Game Boy Color

Another case of looks-like-cash-in-but-is-actually-legit, Pokemon Pinball is the greatest pinball game in the history of video games as it combined your typical long-forgotten pinball gameplay and attaches it with the gotta catch them all theme and a multitude of mini-games and goodies WITHIN the two pinball machines featured. With so much addicting gameplay you forget that there are only two machines to choose from in the game itself. This is also another case of why-isn’t-this-a-mini-game-or-sidequest-in-an-actual-Pokemon-game. In my dream Pokemon game, you can be the Pokemon Master, and the Pinball Whiz at the same time.




#6: Pokemon Stadium
System: Nintendo 64

This made Pokemon a really, really, really big deal, as we see them battle on the big screen, as we see dozens of tournaments to fight in, a massive gym leader castle quest, and finally a great multi-player mode to wrap it all together. While this isn’t a legit 3D Pokemon adventure, it is a wonderful start. The showdown against Mewtwo was one of the highlights of N64 gaming. Once again I ask, WHY AREN’T THERE DOZENS OF TOURNAMENTS IN THE RPGS?!?!??!?!




#5: Pokemon Black/White 2
System: Nintendo DS

What makes this one in particular special is the fact that it connects to a previous Pokemon game better than any Pokemon game--even the one that eventually takes the #1 crown. It takes place a couple years after the events of the original Black/White, practically forcing you to re-play the previous installment, and then allowing you to admire the details of the sequel as you get to see the changes made. Then there’s the Tournament in the game----well, it’s a good start. Then there’s the ability to have a Hard Mode….now we are getting somewhere.




#4: Pokemon Puzzle League
System: Nintendo 64

Tetris Attack slapped by Pokemon works perfectly for more reasons than one. For starters, the presentation was absolutely amazing, as Pokemon sound like actual Pokemon, the art style is far more anime than the handheld games, and finally the soundtrack was absolutely outstanding. Then there’s the addicting puzzle-based gameplay that makes for classic multi-player mayhem and hours of entertainment. While this isn’t really connected well with the Pokemon mythos, its high on the list because its excellent evidence as to how future Pokemon games should look, sound, and feel. The anime introduction happened over a decade ago, why don’t we have one of those for our handheld games?




#3: Pokemon Snap
System: Nintendo 64

The N64 was the absolute peak of quality Pokemon games and spin-offs, and this was the ultimate example. A simple idea turned into a smash surprise hit, Pokemon gave the franchise and the world a sense of reality that only the anime could deliver. These living, breathing Pokemon that can be photographed gives it an edge that no modern-day Pokemon game could deliver. And the best part is that this game is so small, so simple, and can be an idea that can expand into exponential levels. Unfortunately, we have yet to see this expansion.




#2: Pokemon Red/Blue
System: Nintendo Game Boy

The original still shines in amazing fashion because of its originality, because of its surprising depth, and because it re-entered an entire system into the limelight and forever changed the landscape of the Japanese RPG genre. It spawned dozens of imitators, and also expanded the audience of Nintendo with its addicting rock-paper-scissors concept.

The personality of the original Pokemon remain the best and not because they are the original, but because the character design of this game remains the strongest by providing a steady flow of monsters that can just as easily be considered animals in the wild---a trait that latter Pokemon games have drifted far from. It is still a blast to play today, and a game that will still make good money if it re-released for the 3DS.

Pokemon is now synonymous with 90s gaming, as all the secrets, surprises, and outstanding moments hold up quite well since its debut back in 1998.





#1: Pokemon Gold/Silver

System: Nintendo Game Boy


Unlike every other Pokemon sequel, Gold/Silver took practically and literally everything from the previous installment and expanded upon it into exponential levels. More Pokemon, more showdowns against your rival, more encounters against Team Rocket, twice as many badges, twice as many locations to visit, twice as many legendary Pokemon, and twice as much to do once you collected all the badges.

An astounding amount of the features we now see in Pokemon games were introduced here. Raising baby Pokemon, day/night system, day of the week system, events scattered everywhere, different encounters depending on how much progress you’ve made, and just so much more. This game has no flaws, it was an essentially perfect game.

This is not just the best Pokemon game, but it is one of the greatest handheld games in the history of gaming, and one of the best RPGs that exists. To be able to pack so much content into a handheld game is quite an accomplishment, and one that has yet to be matched in terms of scope ever since. Pokemon X/Y seems to be going in the right direction, but the fact that its only 8 badges when we have seen so many new regions and places to visit with the past Pokemon games leaves a disappointing taste.



Although the Pokemon franchise isn’t the powerhouse it used to be, it still wreaks plenty of havoc and remains a force to be reckoned with. And even though Nintendo has nowhere near reached the full potential of Pokemon (The gripes can be found here, and here, and here, and here), we still have tons of great memories over the years with these gems.