Although thePokemonseries hasbeen around for more than a quarter of a century, Nintendo and Game Freak have been able to keep it at the forefront of the gaming industry. It may have started out as just another video game series, but now even most non-gamers know at least a couple of Pokemon due to the franchise’sanime,trading card game, and the impact that it’s had on modern pop culture.
Some of thePokemonspin-off titlesmay not have been received all that well, but nearly every mainline game in the franchise has been appreciated by both fans and critics. However, the very best mainlinePokemongames really are in a league of their own, offering both innovation and enjoyment in equal measures.
Updated July 16, 2025, by Tom Bowen:When a series has been around for as long as Pokemon has, it’s somewhat inevitable that things are going to start to feel a little stale eventually. In fact, since its debut back in the late nineties, the series has featured many highs and lows. The latest of these lulls arrived fairly recently, with many bemoaning a perceived lack of innovation throughout the past few generations of games.The best mainline Pokemon gamesmanage to rise above this criticism though, with titles like Sun & Moon, X & Y, and Sword & Shield showing that there’s still plenty of life in the franchise yet.
12Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! & Let’s Go, Eevee!
Metacritic Rating: 80 (Pokemon: Let’s Go, Eevee!)
Had the site been around in the mid to late nineties, it seems safe to assume that the Gen 1 games would have ranked pretty highly among the bestPokemongames on Metacritic. Their 2018 Switch remakes do feature on the review aggregator site though, withLet’s Go, Eevee!boasting a fairly impressive 80 rating.
TheLet’s Gogames offer players vastly improved graphicsas well as a whole bunch of other new features that helped to drag the Gen 1 titles into the twenty-first century. Many still prefer the originals for the nostalgia factor that they bring, but those looking for a way to explore the Kanto region on modern hardware could certainly do a lot worse.
11Pokemon Black 2 & White 2
Metacritic Rating: 80 (Pokemon Black 2)
Prior to the release ofPokemon Black 2&White 2Game Freak had refrained from ever releasing direct sequels, instead opting to release a tweaked third installment before moving on to the next generation. It’s for this reason that the gen 5 titles cause such a stir, though not all of the discussion surrounding them was positive.
As was the case withUltra Sun&Ultra Moonmany years later, many fans felt that the games just didn’t do enough to earn the right to be called sequels. Of course, they were far more so than the likes ofYellow,Crystal, andPlatinumbefore them, but that didn’t help the games' review scores all that much.
10Pokemon FireRed & Leaf Green
Metacritic Rating: 81 (Pokemon FireRed)
In 2004, Game Freak and Nintendo releasedPokemon FireRed andPokemonLeafGreenon the Game Boy Advance. Although these games aren’t typically recognized as being among the very best mainlinePokemongames, the gen three titles marked the first time the companies decided to release enhanced remakes of old titles.
By the time the third generation rolled around, manyPokemonfans were still playing their original game boys. This game allowed both old and new fans to visit theoriginalPokemonregion of Kanto, while also introducing a few new mechanics and improving the visuals quite a bit.
9Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire
Metacritic Rating: 82 (Pokemon Ruby)
By the timePokemon Ruby&Sapphirehit the market, the franchise already had a dedicated fan base around the world. Although many fans had low expectations for the series,RubyandSapphiremade exciting changes to the franchise, like adding double battles and 135 new Pokemon to catch and battle.
Although the game’s visuals are pretty bad by modern standards, they were incredibly impressive for their era. The Game Boy Advance ensured thatRuby&Sapphirehad far better visuals than any of their predecessors and a lot of the competition too.
8Pokemon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire
Metacritic Rating: 83 (Pokemon Omega Ruby)
Eleven years after the originalPokemon Ruby&Sapphire, Nintendo decided it was time for fans to revisit the Hoenn region. While the games are remakes of the original titles, there are a few tweaks, like the addition of the “Delta Episode”, which gave older fans a reason to return.
Unlike the original games,OmegaRuby&AlphaSapphireused the new visual style that was first introduced inPokemonX&Y,as well asMega Evolutions. Thanks to this new 3D art style, the Hoenn region explored in the Gen 3 remakes really is a visual treat for both new and old fans alike.
7Pokemon Platinum
Metacritic Rating: 83
During the fourth generation ofPokemongames, Game Freak released a follow-up toPokemon Diamond&PearlnamedPokemon Platinum.In this title, players once again visit the Sinnoh region. Despite some changes and new content though, fans and critics faultedPokemon Platinumfor being too similar to the other titles.
Some small changes were made inPlatinum,like the addition of the “Wi-Fi Plaza”, though for those who had already picked up one of the other Sinnoh region titles,Platinumis generally considered to be one of the more skippable installments in the series.
6Pokemon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon
Metacritic Rating: 84 (Pokemon Ultra Sun)
Pokemon Ultra Sun&Ultra Moonwere the last games released on the 3DS before the franchise made the jump to the Nintendo Switch. Although the games were built off of the foundations laid by the originalSun&Moon,they failed to perform as well when it came to critic reviews.
While the games still scored fairly well with critics, they changed very little when it came to both the story and the gameplay. Despite offering players an excuse to revisit Alola, many felt that it was easier to simply replay the originalSun&Moona second time than shell out for one of the sequels.
5Pokemon Diamond & Pearl
Metacritic Rating: 85 (Pokemon Diamond)
Released on the Nintendo DS as the first generation four titles,Pokemon Diamond&Pearlintroduced fans to the Sinnoh Region. While these games did very little to change up thePokemonformula, the addition of the second screen on the DS allowed them to add the Poketch, which essentially worked as a smart device for the handheld console.
AlthoughDiamond&Pearlare now more thanfifteen years old, fans still love them because they took everything from earlyPokemontitles and tweaked them for the better. The games were remade and released in late 2021, but neither reviewed anywhere near as well as the originals.
4Pokemon HeartGold & SoulSilver
Metacritic Rating: 87 (Pokemon HeartGold)
Much likeDiamond&Pearl, Pokemon HeartGold&SoulSilvershow why the fourth generation ofPokemongames are still loved by fans to this day. Although the games are remakes of two second-gen games, HeartGoldandSoulSilverare recognized as some of the best mainlinePokemongames of all time.
While the remakes gave the older titles some much-needed visual enhancements tothe Johto region, the best part of them is that they allowed fans to go back and capture some of the most iconic Pokemon that — at the time, at least — were unobtainable on any of the newer games.
3Pokemon Black & White
Metacritic Rating: 87 (Pokemon Black)
When asking a fan of the series whichPokemongame is their favorite, there is a good chance that they will sayPokemon Black&White.While the games are not the highest-rated according to Metacritic, other sites like IGN and Famitsu Weekly praised the titles highly.
Although many of the games beforeBlack&Whitetook place in regions that were based on Japan,Black&White’sUnova regionwas inspired by New York. In switching the focus, the developers were able to change things just enough to visually entice fans while still ensuring that the games still felt very familiar.
