Here’s your ultimate guide to the best Pokemon games ever released on Nintendo Switch.
Nintendo’s incredibly successful handheld didn’t have a large Pokemon lineup when it debuted in 2017. Things have changed, though, as the console now boasts a relatively large arsenal of Pokemon titles. And that’s only natural considering the franchise’s colossal influence on the world of entertainment.
Today, the Switch comes with 11 Pokemon games that you can dive into in 2023. But choosing the best one to sink your hours can be difficult.
That’s where we run to your aid as we rank the Pokemon games on Switch from worst to best. Let’s dive into the top Pokemon releases on Nintendo’s portable video game console.
Nintendo Switch: Best Pokemon Games
Ranking every Pokemon game on Switch from worst to best is no easy task. You probably won’t have any issues jumping into one that perfectly scratches your Pokemon itch. From classic monster-hunting to taking Pokemon photographs in the wild, the genre diversity in the Pokemon games on Switch is quite surprising.
Here are the top titles ever released on Switch to delve into monster-taming endeavors.
11 – Pokemon Quest
Pokemon Quest is a free-to-play action-adventure game that tries to offer a unique spin on the usual Pokemon formula. It especially does that with its charming voxel visuals and cube-shaped Pokemon depictions.
At first, your experience with this game might feel like a nice, casual gaming session on the strange island of Tumblecube. It even gets better as the game offers camp and resource management alongside the traditional and legendary Pokemon-catching.
But despite its different gameplay layers and distinctive visual style, Pokemon Quest still falls short of other titles on this list. That’s because it really doesn’t take long before it evolves into a mobile game that starts playing itself.
Sink some hours more, and you might get exhausted because of its repetitive and oversimplified mechanics. Like many other mobile games, it features energy timers and constantly pushes in-game purchases.
Indeed, Pokemon Quest’s automated gameplay design with cube-shaped visuals offers a friendly and casual break from the franchise. But they also lose their luster pretty fast as the game begins leaning toward microtransactions. Yet again, you can still consider jumping into it for some Pokemon-themed pastime. But don’t wait for a full-fledged monster-catching experience.
10 – Pokemon Cafe ReMix
The original Pokemon Cafe Mix wasn’t your usual Pokemon game offering the classic monster-catching experience. The same goes for Pokemon Cafe Remix, the revamped version of the free puzzle game on Nintendo Switch.
This free-to-start puzzle game will have you clear many puzzles to create and improve your Pokemon cafe. It also allows you to recruit the most popular Pokemon and expand your menu offerings as you continue building the place.
Cafe ReMix comes with almost all the usual gameplay elements you see in other casual puzzle titles. It also hits a couple of unique spots by giving every Pokemon a special ability. This undoubtedly motivates you to recruit even more Pokemons to employ their special abilities and expand your cafe even more.
It doesn’t take long before you realize that Pokemon Cafe ReMix doesn’t offer the depth you would see in more appealing releases in the series. But it does compensate for its lack of complexity with highly polished casual gameplay and dynamic puzzle formula.
9 – Pokemon Unite
Pokemon fans are no strangers to seeing their beloved monsters in different game genres. Thanks to the franchise’s massive domain in the gaming landscape, you can see the series’ iconic monsters in the most distinctive gameplay formulas.
A great example of this would be Pokemon Unite. It is the franchise’s first Pokemon game to step into the multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) genre. And it is one of the most popular Pokemon games on Nintendo Switch in 2023.
Despite its balancing issues, this game boasts addictive gameplay that allows players to dive into some real MOBA shenanigans. It also comes with a comprehensive roster of 54 Pokemon.
The game’s concept should sound exciting for those who haven’t tried it yet. And the whole “Pokemon meets League of Legends” formula looks great on paper, too.
But Pokemon Unite begins to fail when offering an engaging MOBA experience. Despite checking the right boxes with its fun gameplay, the title often feels like it is simply a gutted-down genre game drenched in Pokemon sauce.
It comes with many free currencies that try to hide its highly-controversial pay-to-win mechanics. On top of those, it is far below the standard put by even the most mediocre MOBA games out there.
On the other hand, it can be a great choice for those looking for a refined MOBA game with a Pokemon theme. If your taste in gaming has become that specific, it is a great idea to grab Pokemon Unite on the Switch.
8 – Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX is a remake with wonderfully improved visuals and story presentation. It introduces a couple of new features, like the highly-appreciated auto-mode.
The remake of the 2005 original puts players in the shoes of a human who transforms into a Pokemon. Notably, this Kafkaesque approach to the Pokemon universe plays well in most parts.
And those would be the game’s successful gameplay mechanics like resource management and dungeon exploration. Rescue Team DX got positive reviews thanks to that blend of exploration, combat, and rescue missions. It was also praised for introducing a refreshing approach to the series.
But despite its new art style and ever-changing content, Rescue Team DX can’t avoid repetitive gameplay that begins to feel dull after a few hours. The new features like the Mega Evolution also don’t boost the title as we thought it would.
The remake does improve some weaker aspects of the original. But its core loop often feels dated, rendering Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX a rather uninteresting dungeon RPG that ticks only a few right boxes.
7 – Pokken Tournament DX
Pokken Tournament DX is the first Pokemon game released for Nintendo Switch. That said, it made its debut on Wii U in 2016 and was later ported to Switch with a couple of improvements.
The enhanced port for the Switch revamps the original with new characters, a ton of new modes, and a couple of DLC packs. And it allows players to choose one of 21 Pokemon to fight in diverse sceneries using special moves and flashy combos.
It is safe to say that Pokken Tournament DX is a fresh departure from the classic Pokemon games. It offers a combination of Tekken-like combat mechanics enriched with a diverse roster and a ton of different game modes.
The local and online multiplayer features introduced in the Switch port also add to the pros of Pokken Tournament DX. While it may not be one of the best Pokemon games on Nintendo Switch, it is an excellent option for those who crave one-on-one Pokemon battles.
Despite its solid features, it tends to get a bit more casual with its oversimplified fighting mechanics. It also doesn’t allow you to explore a fighter and develop new strategies. Like many other games on the list, it takes a few decent inspirations from the genre and offers a casual experience.
6 – Pokemon Sword and Shield
Sword and Shield are another solid pair of Pokemon games that you can play on Nintendo Switch in 2023. As the mainline Pokemon RPGs on Nintendo’s handheld, they also mark the eighth generation of Pokemon in the franchise.
While they have some exciting features, Sword and Shield’s games were heavily criticized due to their super linear gameplay. Although they introduced brand-new regions along with new Pokemon, this pair of games’ limited structure also resulted in many negative reviews.
In addition to the poor performance, the graphics were under fire following the game’s debut. As the mainline Pokemon games, Sword and Shield felt they were way behind other Nintendo games regarding overall visual quality.
Despite their easy and linear gameplay, you can still consider diving into Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield for some handheld monster-taming action.
5 – Pokemon: Let’s Go Eevee and Let’s Go Pikachu
Spiritual successors to Pokemon Yellow, this pair of games comes with a more simplified approach to gameplay and exploration.
But there is nothing wrong with that, as both of these games successfully deliver when it comes to the classic Pokemon experience. They also support Pokemon Go integration alongside accessibility features for newcomers to the franchise. The way you catch monsters is the same as the mobile entry in the series. This means that there are no random encounters anymore too.
The pair of games takes players to the Kanto region, where they get to catch the original 151 Pokemon. Moreover, Let’s Go Eevee and Let’s Go Pikachu include Mega Evolved forms of the original Pokemon.
These titles are great for those who are looking for a nostalgic ride. While they come with a few version-based differences, you will have a ton of fun in Kanto regardless of the editions.
4 – Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl
Another great remake pair is Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, which are packed enough to make it on our list.
These highly faithful remakes take all the best aspects of the original Diamond and Pearl games in the Nintendo DS lineup. They take the players to the Sinnoh region, where they try to be the best Pokemon trainer by taking down Team Galactic.
While they were criticized for their rather dull presentation, both games received favorable reviews from critics worldwide. And despite the lack of new features, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are solid titles to dive into the Pokemon franchise on the Switch.
If you missed the original DS games, these accessible remakes will have you onboard thanks to their quality-of-life improvements. While they may not be the best Pokemon games on the console, they are still great for those who missed the fourth-generation experience.
3 – New Pokemon Snap
New Pokemon Snap successfully makes it to the top three with its immersive and brilliant gameplay. Sequel to the classic Pokemon Snap on Nintendo 64, the refreshing sequel puts you in the shoes of a Pokemon photographer.
It is one of the best Pokemon games on the Switch, thanks to a plethora of reasons. The Pokemon spin-off’s wonderful gameplay takes players to diverse landscapes where they try to take photographs of various Pokemon across different species.
Taking photos of different creatures is no easy task, though. The game requires you to find each photograph’s best pose and composition. This allows you to experiment with different strategies to get the best shots.
Undoubtedly, New Pokemon Snap will immerse you with its stunning visuals and fresh perspective on the franchise. It is easily among the top Pokemon games on the Switch.
2 – Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet became one of the most controversial titles in the series on Nintendo’s handheld soon after their debut.
The games have a promising core loop that is super addictive. But the performance issues and the lack of post-game content resulted in a negative backlash from the community.
Make no mistake, Scarlet and Violet have a stunning open world that delivers at nearly every level. But the glitchy combat and atrocious performance issues often render the games unplayable.
When we rule out the poor optimization, though, Scarlet and Violet are some of the best Pokemon releases on Switch. And that’s thanks to their blend of open-world exploration and a great storyline consisting of three paths and an impressive final arc.
On top of those, the titles boast a phenomenal soundtrack you will keep listening to after you finish them.
1 – Best Pokemon Game on the Switch: Pokemon Legends: Arceus
For many fans, Pokemon Legends: Arceus is simply the best Pokemon game on Nintendo Switch. It takes players to the Sinnoh region, where they get to sink their time into crafting, exploring, completing side quests, and catching Pokemon.
The massive action RPG offers a refreshing take on the series with its long and exciting storyline. It takes players to the Sinnoh region and tasks them with creating the first Pokedex of the area. On top of that, it also comes with a barrage of side quests that will keep you invested for tens of hours.
Catching Pokemon in a long-gone era opens up a new dimension in the entire series. That’s why players need to craft their own Pokeballs and other accessories conveniently found in other titles in the franchise.
While the quest loop tends to get repetitive after a while, Pokemon Legends: Arceus should be your go-to game on Switch. It is also ideal for newcomers and the series’ veterans.
What is the best Pokemon game on Nintendo Switch?
You can’t go wrong with Pokemon Legends: Arceus if you want open-world exploration combined with action RPG elements. But if you’re looking for a more casual experience, consider grabbing Scarlet or Violet or New Pokemon Snap from the store.
What is the best Pokemon game to start with on the Switch?
Pokemon: Let’s Go Eevee and Let’s Go Pikachu are the perfect games to start your monster-hunting action on the Switch. Since these games are the spiritual successor to Pokemon Yellow, they offer a great entry point for newcomers and returning fans.
Wrapping Up
It is safe to say that the long-running Pokemon franchise has had all types of releases on the Switch in the past decade. Some were a solid hit, whereas others couldn’t pack enough to be worth our time. In any case, Nintendo Switch now has a pretty diverse lineup of Pokemon games that offers new gameplay experiences from different genres. From fighting to MOBA, linear gameplay design, and open-world exploration, these releases should scratch that Pokemon itch nicely.
