Best Pokémon Games That Still Hold Up Today
April 10, 2025
Pokémon games have been around for more than two decades. Some are worth playing again. Some aren’t. If you want the ones that matter, here are ten that still feel solid, even now. Each one is listed based on gameplay, replay value, and how well it holds up.
If you are looking for more games for nintendo you can read our best nintendo ds games article.
What’s Covered in This Best Pokémon Games List
1. Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver
These are remakes of Gold and Silver, but they feel like full new games. You get two regions instead of one. That’s rare. You beat the main game, and then you get a whole second region to play through. No other game gives that kind of follow-up.
The walking Pokémon feature also returned here. You see your lead Pokémon walking behind you. It’s small, but it makes the world feel alive. The pacing is clean, the sprite art is sharp, and the Pokéwalker was a fun side gadget at the time.
Platform: Nintendo DS
Region: Johto and Kanto
Why it's here: Two full regions, great pacing, classic feel
2. Pokémon Black and White 2
Most sequels in the series are just enhanced versions. Not this one. Black and White 2 continues the story. It’s a rare direct sequel in the Pokémon world, and it works well. The region feels fuller, the battles are better paced, and the Pokémon variety is strong from the start.
It also fixes the issue people had with the original Black and White—where you could only use new Pokémon until the postgame. In this one, older Pokémon are available early. The side content, like the Pokémon World Tournament, adds a lot of hours.
Platform: Nintendo DS
Region: Unova
Why it's here: Strong story, deep postgame, actual sequel
3. Pokémon Emerald
Emerald is the best version of the third generation. You get the full Hoenn region, plus the Battle Frontier. The pacing is a bit slow in water-heavy parts, but it adds more balance than Ruby or Sapphire did alone.
The Battle Frontier is what really stands out. It gives a challenge beyond the main story and rewards smart team building. It’s not about grinding. It’s about strategy. Most modern games don’t offer this kind of endgame depth.
Platform: Game Boy Advance
Region: Hoenn
Why it's here: Battle Frontier, best Gen 3 experience
4. Pokémon Platinum
Platinum fixed the issues with Diamond and Pearl. It added speed where things felt slow, gave better access to Pokémon, and added new locations. Giratina’s Distortion World is still one of the most unique places in the whole series.
The story is darker and more mysterious than most games. Also, Platinum feels more complete. It added new side quests, better sprites, and smoothed out the difficulty curve.
Platform: Nintendo DS
Region: Sinnoh
Why it's here: Complete version of Gen 4, better design flow
5. Pokémon Legends: Arceus
This one breaks the usual formula. There are no gyms. You don’t battle trainers on every route. It’s all about catching and studying Pokémon in open zones. It feels closer to an action RPG than a standard Pokémon game.
That said, it still feels like Pokémon. The research system is solid, and movement is smooth. You get to ride Pokémon, sneak through tall grass, and catch in real time. The story builds on Sinnoh lore in a way that actually adds to the series.
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Region: Hisui
Why it's here: Fresh format, strong lore, solid gameplay loop
6. Pokémon Crystal
This was the first game to add animated sprites. It also added the Battle Tower, which started the trend for later postgame battle facilities. It’s built on Gold and Silver but refines the experience.
It was also the first time you could choose to play as a girl. That might not seem big now, but at the time, it mattered. The Suicune-focused storyline gave a tighter story than the others in that generation.
Platform: Game Boy Color
Region: Johto and Kanto
Why it's here: Classic design, key series firsts
7. Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen
These were the first remakes in the series. They brought Red and Blue to a new generation without losing the original feel. But they didn’t just copy the old games. They added new areas like the Sevii Islands and quality-of-life updates.
Training and battling felt smoother. The graphics updated just enough without feeling off. If you want a Gen 1 experience that doesn’t feel dated, this is the way to go.
Platform: Game Boy Advance
Region: Kanto
Why it's here: Clean remake, extra content, stable performance
8. Pokémon X and Y
These were the first fully 3D mainline games. The jump was rough in some ways, but the visuals aged better than expected. X and Y introduced Mega Evolutions, which added a temporary power boost mid-battle. It gave team building a new layer.
The story was light and the postgame was weak, but the main adventure still had charm. Kalos had a different vibe with its France-inspired look and more detailed cities.
Platform: Nintendo 3DS
Region: Kalos
Why it's here: Mega Evolutions, solid base for modern design
9. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
This one is messy but worth noting. The open-world format changes everything. You can go wherever you want from the start. There’s no set path. That freedom is rare in Pokémon games.
It does have performance issues. Frame rate dips, bugs, and visual problems are part of the experience. Still, the story paths are strong, and the new evolution forms, called Paradox Pokémon, are creative. Despite the flaws, it shows what the series might become.
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Region: Paldea
Why it's here: Open world, creative structure, bold shift
10. Pokémon Yellow
This one came out right after Red and Blue. It followed the anime more closely. You start with Pikachu and it follows you on-screen. It can’t evolve, but it reacts to how you treat it. That was new back then.
It also gave you access to all three starters—Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle—which the originals did not. The level curve is a little off, but it’s a short, easy replay with a nostalgic feel.
Platform: Game Boy
Region: Kanto
Why it's here: First anime tie-in, early walking Pokémon
What Makes a Pokémon Game Worth Replaying
Not every Pokémon game hits the same way. Some feel rushed, some feel empty, and some just feel old. But the ten listed above still hold up for different reasons. Some have deeper battles, others offer more exploration, and a few just feel better paced. What they all share is a design that respects the player’s time.
If you’re looking to jump back in, it doesn’t always have to be the newest release. HeartGold still gives more content than most modern games. Legends: Arceus took a risk that worked. Platinum made small changes that had a big impact. You just need to pick what matters more to you—whether that’s story, region design, or replay value.
The best Pokémon game isn’t always the one with the best graphics or the newest mechanics. It’s the one you want to play again after you finish it. That’s what actually counts.
