Video Games
Pokémon Games Tier List Maker
Rank the main series Pokémon games, from Red and Blue to Scarlet and Violet.
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Drag items into a tier — or tap an item, then tap a tier.
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Meet every game (22)
These 22 games load into the maker above. Each write-up covers what the game is and what to weigh when you rank it. Facts were last checked on .
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Red / Blue
The 1996 Game Boy games from Game Freak that started the series. In Japan they launched as Pocket Monsters Red and Green, with Blue added later that year, and they reached other regions in 1998 and 1999.
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Yellow
An enhanced version of Red and Blue, titled Pokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition, which built the story around the mascot Pikachu. It was also remade in 2018 as Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!
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Gold / Silver
The 1999 Game Boy Color games that started the second generation and introduced 100 new Pokémon. They came out in Japan on November 21, 1999, and in North America on October 15, 2000.
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Crystal
An enhanced edition of Gold and Silver and the final entry in the second generation. It added extra story elements, a Battle Tower, animated sprites and the option to play as a female protagonist.
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Ruby / Sapphire
Game Boy Advance games from 2002 that start the third generation. The Pokémon Company published them in Japan itself in late 2002, and Nintendo published them internationally in 2003.
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Emerald
A 2004 Game Boy Advance game that serves as the final entry of the third generation. It was first released in Japan in 2004, and internationally in 2005, as the fifth version in the third generation.
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FireRed / LeafGreen
Game Boy Advance remakes from 2004 of the original Red and Green. They launched in Japan in January 2004 and in North America and Europe in September and October of that year.
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Diamond / Pearl
The first fourth-generation games, released for the Nintendo DS in 2006. They launched in Japan on September 28, 2006, and in North America, Australia and Europe in 2007.
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Platinum
A 2008 enhanced version of Diamond and Pearl for the Nintendo DS. Players choose Lucas or Dawn and start with a Pokémon from Professor Rowan, and the mascot Pokémon is Giratina.
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HeartGold / SoulSilver
Remakes from 2009 of Gold and Silver for the Nintendo DS that also include features from Crystal. They came out on the 10th anniversary of Gold and Silver in Japan, and elsewhere in March 2010.
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Black / White
Nintendo DS games from 2010 that start the fifth generation. They were first released in Japan on September 18, 2010, and in Europe, North America and Australia in March 2011.
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Black 2 / White 2
The first direct sequels in the main series, released in Japan in June 2012 and worldwide that October. They were the last first-party games for the Nintendo DS.
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X / Y
The first sixth-generation games, released for the Nintendo 3DS worldwide in October 2013. They were the first Pokémon games to have a simultaneous global release.
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Omega Ruby / Alpha Sapphire
Nintendo 3DS remakes of Ruby and Sapphire from 2014, with some features from Emerald. They launched on 21 November 2014 in several regions, exactly twelve years after the originals.
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Sun / Moon
The first seventh-generation games for the Nintendo 3DS, released worldwide on 18 November 2016 to commemorate the franchise's 20th anniversary. Enhanced versions followed a year later.
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Ultra Sun / Ultra Moon
Enhanced versions of Sun and Moon released worldwide on 17 November 2017. They were the final mainline Pokémon games for the Nintendo 3DS family, before the series moved to Switch.
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Let's Go, Pikachu! / Eevee!
Switch remakes of Pokémon Yellow from 2018, and the first main series games on a home console. They connect to Pokémon Go and support an optional controller, the Poké Ball Plus.
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Sword / Shield
The first eighth-generation games, released on 15 November 2019 for the Nintendo Switch. A DLC expansion pass followed, with The Isle of Armor in June 2020 and The Crown Tundra in October 2020.
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Brilliant Diamond / Shining Pearl
Faithful Switch remakes of Diamond and Pearl, developed by ILCA and released on 19 November 2021. They were announced at the 25th anniversary event alongside Legends: Arceus.
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Legends: Arceus
An action role-playing game released worldwide on 28 January 2022, and a prequel to Diamond and Pearl. The protagonist is sent back in time to the Hisui region.
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Scarlet / Violet
The first ninth-generation games, released on 18 November 2022 for the Nintendo Switch. A DLC storyline called The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero followed, starting with The Teal Mask in September 2023.
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Legends: Z-A
A 2025 action role-playing game for Switch and Switch 2, and a sequel to X and Y. It takes place entirely in Kalos's Lumiose City, five years after the events of X and Y.
Pokémon Games tier list questions
Which Pokémon games are on this list?
This list has the mainline games, from Red and Blue in 1996 to Legends: Z-A in 2025. Spin-offs such as Pokémon Go, Pokémon Unite and Pokémon Snap are not included, though you can add them as text items.
What is the difference between remakes and enhanced versions?
A remake, such as FireRed and LeafGreen, rebuilds an older game for a newer system. An enhanced version, such as Crystal, Platinum or Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, revises a game from the same generation.
How should I rank Pokémon games?
Common criteria include region and story, Pokémon roster, gameplay features, post-game content, music and nostalgia. Many people rank the paired versions together, as the differences between them are usually small.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these references on .