How to play the Pokemon games in order? Here’s your ultimate guide to playing Pokemon titles according to the timeline or based on the order of release.
Pokemon is one of the most influential franchises in the world of entertainment. Its ever-growing domain in the gaming landscape extends even further with each title.
Moreover, the series become a lot more accessible in recent years, offering lots of games that can be entry points for newcomers. That’s why you can simply jump into one of the major titles that offer a blend of new and nostalgic Pokemon experiences.
But how does one get into the massive series of Pokemon video games to follow the timeline? What is the best game to get started with this colossal franchise? In this guide, we will focus on the two ways to play the Pokemon games – chronological and release order.
For those adamant about playing the releases from the beginning or according to the order of release, let’s dive right into it.
Pokemon Games in Chronological Order
One of the best-selling franchises in the entertainment world has many games on different gaming consoles. That’s why it can get a bit tricky to follow and play all of them while following their storylines.
Gaming giants like Nintendo tend to offer a smoother onboarding process for newcomers in each game. Of course, this results in messy timelines that make the lore veterans a bit frustrated. Worry no more, though, as we link the Pokemon games chronologically in the list below!
1. Pokemon Legends: Arceus
- Platform: Nintendo Switch
- Release Date: 2022
For many, Pokemon Legends: Arceus is one of the best entries of the massive franchise. The action RPG game takes players to the ancient region of Hisui, later known as the beloved Sinnoh region.
Your task is to create the region’s first Pokedex by exploring the land and surveying the wild Pokemon species. As the most recent entry in the series, Legends: Arceus received a whopping 8.1 user score on Metacritic.
It introduced a new blend of action RPG elements with the proven Pokemon formula and depicted an ancient world with archaic technology. Thanks to that, we can place Legends: Arceus as the first game in the chain of events throughout the Pokemon games.
In short, it is impossible to find the exact date the game is set. But we know that it takes place hundreds of years before the other titles in the series. In fact, Legends: Arceus features the ancestors of beloved Pokemon characters like Diamond and Pearl.
Legends: Arceus is also one of the best Pokemon games on Nintendo Switch.
2. Pokemon Red, Blue, Green, and Yellow
- Platform: Nintendo Game Boy
- Release Date: 1996 – 1999
Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow are the original games in the series that follow the same story while boasting a set of version-exclusive features. As can be seen, each version allows you to venture forth with a different Pokemon. The Pokemon accompanying you as you try to take down Team Rocket are Charmander, Bulbasaur, or Squirtle.
It is safe to say that these games take place in a fairly archaic world similar to Legends: Arceus.
But again, just like the previous game in the list, they also don’t reveal the exact timeline. Considering the level of technological advancements in these games, they probably take place after the events we see in Legends: Arceus.
On top of that, the scenario writer of these games, Toshinobu Matsumiya, revealed that these games were the first to kick off the timeline in the series. Matsumiya’s statement was a tweet, and it helped us clear our confusion regarding the timeline of Pokemon games.
Even though he removed the tweet, we know these four games are the next stop in your journey.
Remakes: Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen
- Platform: Nintendo Game Boy Advance
- Release Date: 2004
FireRed and LeafGreen once again take players to the Kanto region, where they get to start their journey in Pallet Town. These two remakes follow the same storyline as Pokemon Red and Blue and occur in the same timeline as the previous title.
Like 2018’s remakes, Let’s Go Pikachu! and Let’s Go Eevee!; FireRed and LeafGreen come with changes and improvements, like the option to play as a female protagonist. The remakes also come with a new Sevii Islands region where players can catch Generation II Pokemon.
4. Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald
- Platform: Nintendo Game Boy Advance
- Release Date: 2003
Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald are next in the timeline. These games also revolve around a couple of protagonists as they catch Pokemon and take down yet another crime organization.
These games also boast a ton of new Pokemon alongside a world with fairly advanced technology. That said, the trio of new games takes place simultaneously with their predecessors.
Based on Toshinobu Matsumiya’s words, despite the technological advancements, Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald occur at the same as FireRed and LeafGreen.
Since they are remakes of the original Red and Blue, this results in two separate timelines, which we often see throughout the series.
Remakes: Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
- Platform: Nintendo 3DS
- Release Date: 2014
The remakes of Ruby and Sapphire, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, expand upon the same formula of the original games. They also take players to Hoenn area on Nintendo 3DS, where they fight against a ton of Gym leaders and dive into a whole new story episode.
Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire introduce a significant concept at the core of the franchise – Mega Evolutions and Mega Stones. In addition to all that, the game offers the chance to fly on the backs of the best Legendary Pokemon as well.
5. Pokemon Let’s Go, Eevee! and Let’s Go Pikachu!
- Platform: Nintendo Switch
- Release Date: 2018
Indeed, Pokemon Red and Blue were the first in the timeline as they kicked off a colossal franchise. They also received excellent remakes called FireRed and LeafGreen.
But the Yellow version featuring Pikachu didn’t get a new remake until November 2018. That’s when Let’s Go, Eevee! and Let’s Go, Pikachu! took the scene as they made a successful debut on Nintendo Switch in celebration of Pokemon Yellow’s 20th anniversary.
It isn’t easy to pinpoint their exact date in the Pokemon timeline, though. But these two remakes should be the next games as they are based on Pokemon Yellow.
They are the next in line if you want to play the Pokemon games in chronological order.
6. Pokemon Gold, Silver, and Crystal
- Platform: Nintendo Game Boy Color
- Release Date: 2000 – 2001
Your next stop in the Pokemon series will be Gold and Silver, taking place three years after the events in Pokemon Red, Blue, Green, and Yellow.
Set in the Johto region, Gold and Silver offer a solid journey in the world of Pokemon, filled with great battles and an impressive story. These games also allow you to take on Red, one of the most powerful trainers in the series.
These enhanced remakes and the epic fight against Red finalize the original timeline.
Remakes: Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver
- Platform: Nintendo DS
- Release Date: 2009
Thanks to Mr. Matsumiya’s tweet, we also know that these games, along with their remakes HeartGold and SoulSilver, take place after Gold, Silver, and Crystal. Set in the Sinnoh region, the trio of games will have you dive into a whole new struggle against Team Galactic and get your hands on more than 100 Pokemon.
6. Pokemon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum
- Platform: Nintendo DS
- Release Date: 2007 – 2009
Another set of games saved by Toshinobu Matsumiya’s now-deleted tweet is Pokemon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum. Nintendo released these games after Ruby and Sapphire made their debut. So their place in the Pokemon games in release order is not that old.
But when it comes to the storyline, the events in these games actually occur simultaneously as the remakes, HeartGold and SoulSilver.
Remakes: Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl
- Platform: Nintendo Switch
- Release Date: 2021
The remakes of fourth-generation Pokemon games, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, landed on Nintendo Switch in 2021. As with the other remakes in the series, these titles revisit the storyline of the original games while bringing new features and improvements.
It gets a bit messy when placing them in chronological order, though. Just like the originals, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl don’t reveal their place in the exact timeline.
Due to the introduction of a new Pokemon species and many other events, these remakes probably occur in a separate universe.
Due to their messy placement in the timeline, they couldn’t get a solid positive reception following their release on the Switch. Currently, the user score on these games on Metacritic stands at a poor 5.3.
The reason behind the poor performance of the remakes was the game’s lackluster improvements upon the original releases. Indeed, these games are faithful remakes and live up to their predecessors in many aspects. But maybe too much loyalty to the source material wasn’t a good idea.
7. Pokemon Black and White
- Platform: Nintendo DS
- Release Date: 2011
Pokemon Black and White marks the beginning of the fifth generation in the series. Like other games in the franchise, these games also don’t give us sound clues about their placement in the timeline. But the deleted tweet of the game scenario writer provides us with an idea about their place in the convoluted timeline of Pokemon.
Called the “Black and White generation” in the series, the originals and the remakes introduce more than 150 Pokemon. Alongside reaching a new cap of 649, the games also introduced the Unova region, rotation battles, and a seasonal cycle.
As the first entries in the fifth generation, Black and White games boasted a brilliant transition in terms of graphics and performance as well. They successfully delivered the 20-year-old Pokemon formula in a modern setting.
They were superseded by two new mainline entries a year after their debut.
8. Pokemon Black and White 2
- Platform: Nintendo DS
- Release Date: 2012
The last entries in the fifth generation of Pokemon RPGs are Pokemon Black and White 2. These sequels improve their predecessors with a ton of new Pokemon and take place two years after the events of the previous games.
These beloved titles have players take on Team Plasma as they advance with their plot. Unlike the previous games, though, Black and White 2 separated Team Plasma into two different groups.
One of them aims to liberate all Pokemon from their Trainers either through theft or manipulation. The second group, on the other hand, aims to take over the region of Unova through any means.
9. Pokemon X and Y
- Platform: Nintendo 3DS
- Release Date: 2013
You will also have to jump into the sixth generation if you want to play the Pokemon games in chronological order. These Nintendo 3DS games come with all the features you want to see in a set of new Pokemon titles.
From customization options to stunning 3D graphics, Pokemon X and Y were some of the best games in the series. They didn’t only refine the traditional formula with a modern approach. But they also introduced exploration and won hearts with the Mega Evolutions feature.
Alongside these brilliant improvements, Pokemon X and Y tasked players with becoming the best Pokemon champion of the Kalos region. This time, they will have to brave the dangerous endeavors prepared by Team Flare.
10. Pokemon Sun and Moon
- Platform: Nintendo 3DS
- Release Date: 2016
In Pokemon Sun and Moon, players jump into an electrifying adventure that takes place in the Alola region. Like many other games in the series, Sun and Moon offers many new features alongside a different focus on the twenty-year-old Pokemon experience.
Additionally, the 2016 games expanded the Pokedex with 81 new Pokemon, resulting in a grand total of 802 in the series. As the pioneers of the seventh generation, they also added terrific changes like the Z-Moves and improved the battle mechanics like no other game in the entire franchise.
Despite the lack of Matsumiya’s input regarding their timeline, it is safe to place Sun and Moon after X and Y in the chronological timeline of Pokemon games. The titles feature some familiar faces we saw in X and Y.
Remakes: Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon
- Platform: Nintendo 3DS
- Release Date: 2017
This also applies to Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, the enhanced remakes of the original games. Like their predecessors, they take place in the Hawaii-inspired Alolah region and introduce a series of improvements.
It is also worth noting that the remakes come with five new Pokemon during the ongoing generation. This was a series first, and the entirely new Pokemon were Poipole, Stakataka, Naganadel, Zeraora, and Blacephalon.
11. Pokemon Sword and Shield
- Platform: Nintendo Switch
- Release Date: 2019
Getting really close to the current generation, Pokemon Sword and Shield are the eight mainline entries in the series. Released in 2019, the games arrived on Nintendo Switch and took players to the new Galar region, inspired by the United Kingdom.
Galar is not the only exciting thing about Sword and Shield, though. As one of the most popular and controversial Pokemon games on the Switch, they also introduced two new Pokemon forms, Dynamax and Gigantamax.
Another exciting element of the games is Max Raid Battles, which allow players to delve into some solid multiplayer action in thrilling team battles.
When it comes to their place in the timeline of Pokemon games, we look at the level of technology depicted in these games. As they don’t exactly reveal the time of their setting, certain devices like Y-Comm and Rotom Phone give us a clue about their place in the order of games.
And those who want to play the Pokemon games in chronological order will have to jump into these Nintendo releases despite the low user score on Metacritic.
12. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
- Platform: Nintendo Switch
- Release Date: 2022
Our last stop in the entire series is the duo of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, the highly-criticized Switch releases of the Gen 9 Pokemon.
The games arrived on the Nintendo handheld in November 2022 and came with some creative and experimental features. This blend of the nostalgic formula and the modern aspects might have seemed brilliant on paper. But they couldn’t get a positive reaction from either newcomers or Pokemon veterans once the games launched.
They also don’t provide much information about their place in the Pokemon timeline. But despite all that, Scarlet and Violet are two of the most accessible Pokemon games in 2023. Despite their sins, the open-world exploration mechanic can be your cup of tea.
How to play Pokemon games in order of release?
You might want to experience the first monster-hunting adventure from the beginning. If so, you need to play Pokemon games in the release order. Here are mainline entries, remakes of all Pokemon generations across Nintendo consoles, and release dates.
1996: Generation 1
- Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow (Game Boy – February 27, 1996)
1999 – 2001: Generation 2
- Pokemon Gold and Silver (Game Boy Color – November 21, 1998)
- Pokemon Crystal (Game Boy Color – December 14, 2000)
2002 – 2005: Generation 3
- Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire (Game Boy Advance – November 21, 2002)
- Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen (Game Boy Advance – January 28, 2004)
- Pokemon Emerald (Game Boy Advance – September 16, 2004)
2006 – 2009: Generation 4
- Pokemon Diamond and Pearl (Nintendo DS – September 28, 2006)
- Pokemon Platinum (Nintendo DS – September 13, 2008)
- Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver (Nintendo DS – September 12, 2009)
2010 – 2012: Generation 5
- Pokemon Black and White (Nintendo DS – September 18, 2010)
- Pokemon Black 2 and White 2 (Nintendo DS – June 23, 2012)
2013 – 2015: Generation 6
- Pokemon X and Y (Nintendo 3DS – October 13, 2013)
- Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire (Nintendo 3DS – November 21, 2014)
2016 – 2018: Generation 7
- Pokemon Sun and Moon (Nintendo 3DS – November 18, 2016)
- Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon (Nintendo 3DS – November 17, 2017)
- Pokemon Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! (Nintendo Switch – November 16, 2018)
2019 – 2021: Generation 8
- Pokemon Sword and Shield (Nintendo Switch – November 15, 2019)
- Sword and Shield: The Isle of Armor
- Sword and Shield: The Crown Tundra
- Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl (November 19, 2021)
- Pokemon Legends: Arceus (Nintendo Switch – January 22, 2022)
2022 – Present: Generation 9
- Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (Nintendo Switch – November 18, 2022)
- The Teal Mask
- The Indigo Disk
FAQ
What is the best way to play Pokemon games in order?
Pokemon has a complex timeline that is separated into different universes. That’s why it can be difficult to play the games in chronological order and follow the chain of events. On the other hand, getting a cohesive experience across different generations is also possible.
That’s why we recommend going with the following order. While it may not include some of the mainline entries in the series, the order below offers a rewarding journey for those who want to play the games while following the storyline.
- FireRed LeafGreen
- HeartGold and SoulSilver
- Pokemon Platinum
- Black and White
- Black and White 2
- X and Y
- Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
- Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon
- Sword and Shield
- Scarlet and Violet
Since most of the titles in the recommended order above are enhanced remakes, they utilize more polished and streamlined mechanics.
Which is the best Pokemon game for beginners?
Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen are simply the best Pokemon games to start with. While they may be the best, they might not be the most accessible games in the series. At any rate, you will have no issue despite the game’s 20-year-old mechanics, thanks to the game’s smooth onboarding process.
On top of that, the core of Pokemon is nearly perfect. The idea of running around and catching or befriending monsters to take down evil organizations is bulletproof. At least that’s how Nintendo, Game Freak, and The Pokemon Company keep churning out new releases every two years.
That’s why these 2004 games will do wonders when it comes to immersing you in the world of Pokemon. As one of the best releases in the Game Boy Advance lineup, you will enjoy the nostalgic ride in the world of Pokemon.
Since FireRed and LeafGreen also feature the original and the most iconic 151 Pokemon, you should feel at home while playing them.
Should you play the Pokemon games in chronological order?
You don’t have to play the Pokemon releases in chronological order. And you also don’t have to play these games based on their release date. Thanks to the 20-year-old Pokemon gameplay recipe, playing more appealing releases like FireRed and LeafGreen or HeartGold and SoulSilver would be perfect for diving into the series.
In conclusion, playing the Pokemon games in order of release or according to the timeline is unnecessary. Some of the best releases in the franchise will keep you satisfied throughout the story regardless of their placement in the timeline.
Besides that, we didn’t even include the best Pokemon spin-off games in this list, which would make things even more difficult.
Wrapping Up
Pokemon is a colossal franchise spanning different consoles and generations. Even deciding to get started with the series can be tiresome, let alone investing hundreds of hours into one of the games.
Regardless, we still can’t stop getting excited by every release and their ways of improving the series regarding story, characters, and gameplay mechanics.
