Pokemon, the largest entertainment franchise in the world, a behemoth that has spread itself across everything from trading cards to health apps and even aeroplanes, started life on the little console that could. The Game Boy.
From there, through to the Game Boy Advance, 12 games were released, either refining the incredible mechanics of the debut of Red and Blue (or Green in Japan) orspinning off into other genres.
Every Pokémon Spinoff Series, Ranked
Gamers old and young love the Pokémon series, but have you played all their spinoffs? DualShockers put together a massive, ranked list of every one.
For this list, I’ll be ranking these releases based on a mix of impact, staying power, Metacritic score and personal opinion. Are you ready to Catch ‘Em All, once more?
12Pokemon Pinball
Pinball Wizard
Pokemon Pinball
One of the first of many spin-offs that use the inherently transferable nature of 151+ creatures into other genres, Pokemon Pinball does what it says on the tin. It’s pinball. With Pokemon.
There are two boards – Red & Blue, with the ability to capture Pokemon by hitting the pop bumpers six times in a two-minute period. You can also evolve Pokemon, which is the only way to get the evolutions.
You do this by collecting items hidden in 3 of 6 or 7 different targets depending on the board, again, in two minutes. You can collect all 151 Pokemon as well, no buying two versions required!
Overall, this spin-off was well received, with a slight criticism on the physics of the pinball being a bit off, which I guess is actually quite a big problem.
11Pokemon Trading Card Game
Gotta Collect ‘Em All
Pokemon Trading Card Game
Released two years after the introduction of the Pokemon TCG into the wallets of children and adults everywhere, thePokemon Trading Card Gamesuccessfully converts the tabletop game to the Game Boy Color.
You play as a young boy who travels around the world, defeating trainers and club masters on their way to the Grand Masters. Once these are defeated, you are able to take home the Legendary Cards, as long as you may defeat your rival,Ronald.
Potentially prophetic rival name aside (given the prevalence of Pokemon TCG in McDonald’s Happy Meals), the game is able to offer an entertaining, and more cost-effective, way of playing the TCG, even if it can’t quite beat the rush of opening a pack in real life.
Japan was also given a sequel called Pokémon Card GB2: Here Comes Team Great Rocket! which added in enhancements such as the fourth Pokemon Card set, centered around Team Rocket, a new story and the ability to rate the effectiveness of your deck via the Deck Diagnosis.
10Pokemon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire
A Gem Amongst Spin-Offs
Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire
Can you guess what this game is about? That’s right! Pinball meets the third generation of Pokemon.
Just like its predecessor, the game sports two boards, one based on Ruby and the other on Sapphire. There are 204 Pokemon to catch, with all the Pokemon, except for Deoxys from the Hoenn Pokedex, showing their faces.
This is alongside the three Johto starters, and somewhat inexplicably, Aerodactyl. To capture them you can go via four different modes, with Catch ‘Em Mode and Evolution Mode returning from the first game, albeit with slightly different goals.
You also have Egg Mode which is like Evolution Mode but for baby Pokemon, and Travel Mode where you get to travel to new areas.
Overall, the physics seem to have improved in this sequel and, with a colorful palette and vibrant sound, it’s a nice little game to play on the go.
9Pokemon Red, Blue & Green
Give A Hand For Those That Started It All
Pokemon Red and Blue
Released asPokemon Red& Green in Japan and Red &Bluein the rest of the world, these are the games that started Pokemania.
An addictive concoction of collecting, battling and trading that was basically perfected from the get-go, Red & Green/Blue have to gain points for starting the whole franchise off to such a fantastic start.
If it wasn’t for the remakes of these games, I’d say they’re still worth a play, even if the black-and-white graphics and absence of some of the deeper systems like split Physical/Special Attack missing can make them hard to go back to.
8Pokemon Gold & Silver
Double The Pokemon, Double The Fun
Pokemon Gold and Silver
Pokemon Gold&Silverare the first games of the second generation of Pokemon, bringing a fantastic evolution and refinement to the series.
While thestory isn’t much to right home about, the games improve the gameplay tenfold, with new mechanics like Breeding, a Day/Night Cycle and Baby Pokemon.
Of course, there’s also one of the biggest surprises in Pokemon, when you beat the Champion and the entirety of Kanto opens up to explore again.
16 Gym Badges in one Pokemon game? Now that’s bang for your buck. Also, Togepi was introduced in this generation, so that’s an extra ten points, easily.
7Pokemon Puzzle Challenge
Otherwise Known As Panel De Pon
Pokemon Puzzle Challenge
Pokemon Puzzle Challenge by Intelligent Systems, creators ofFire Emblem,Paper Marioand more, is asort of reverse Tetris game.
You have to swap blocks around horizontally as more blocks fill in from the bottom, clearing rows and creating combos.
10 Games To Play If You Love Tetris
If you love spending time playing Tetris, these games may scratch that same itch.
The Pokemon elements of this game amount to themed assets based on Gold & Silver and a challenge mode whereby you face off against various computer-controlled opponents in the guise of trainers and gym leaders.
It’s a shame we haven’t had another entry in this franchise. It’d be a perfect fit for the Switch, maybe even a99 versionlike Tetris.
6Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire
Fire & Water For The Game Boy Advance
Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire
Ruby & Sapphire, heralds of the third generation of Pokemon, arrived on the Game Boy Advance with a bang, becoming the best-selling games on the system.
The games brought even more features to the series with double-battles, natures, and abilities, which I can’t imagine the series without now, especially in the competitive scene.
The evil teams take a step-up in this generation as well. Not just being content with stealing Pokemon and creating mischief, instead Team Aqua and Magma are trying to control and change the world’s landscapes, with you,the child herobeing sent out to stop them.
5Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team
The Slightly Worse Of Two Halves
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Teamis the final Pokemon game released for the Game Boy Advance and the first in the cult classic Pokemon Mystery Dungeon franchise.
In RRT, you take control of a human who has been turned into a Pokemon and complete missions across procedurally created dungeons, while getting invested in the surprisingly deep and emotional story.
Like many games in the main series, it is one of two versions of the same game released. However, it has the unique problem among Pokemon games of being released on the weaker console, with Blue Rescue Team being released on the DS.
Therefore, it lacks certain graphical and sound upgrades that Blue Rescue Team had as well as not having dual-screen capability. While this doesn’t affect the gameplay too much, it’s always nice to have instant access to a map, which Blue has.
4Pokemon Yellow
An Anime Special
Pokemon Yellow
Pokemon Yellowis a special case within the main series. Simultaneously, it’s the enhanced version of Red & Blue as well as a companion piece to the anime, adhering more closely to the latter’s story.
This includes the decision to give you a Pikachu as your starter,just like Ash, who follows you around and showcases their moods in little emoticons.
Pokemon Anime: 10 Best Kanto Episodes
The Pokemon Anime continues to pull viewers, but the Kanto Region were home to some of the shows best episodes.
The Pokedex is also more similar to the anime with certain Pokemon not showing up as they weren’t able to be caught by Ash, such as Meowth.
The best of the original generation of games, however, it has been eclipsed by later entries in the series.
3Pokemon Crystal
Enhanced And Refined
Pokémon Crystal
Pokemon Crystalis the enhanced version of Gold & Silver bringing further refinements to the series, making it the best way to play the second generation on the Game Boy system.
Of course,HeartGold and SoulSilverwill knock these games out of the park on the DS, but we’re not there yet.
The first purely enhanced version of the previous games in the generation, some of the more cynical among us would suggest that this game’s ideas should have been included in Gold & Silver and that it’s a bit of a cash grab.
However, with animated sprites, an extended story featuring the Legendary Dogs and the ability to play, for the first time, as a female-presenting player character, Pokemon Crystal is still worth diving into.
