How to Play the Pokemon Games in Chronological Order

The primary recreation within the chronology may be very clearly Pokemon Legends: Arceus seeing because it’s set in a time when the connection between people and Pokemon was solely simply beginning to kind. You spend a big portion of your time working round an enormous open wilderness catching and battling wild Pokemon, and the individuals you work together with are clearly simply starting to grasp the world of Pokemon. This recreation options crafting and analysis duties, which vastly differentiates it from the standard fitness center battle components we’re used to.

Although we do not know simply how way back Pokemon Legends: Arceus takes place in comparison with the opposite video games within the collection, we do atleast know that it appears to function the ancestors of Diamond and Pearl characters.

2. Pokemon Purple, Blue, and Yellow

As the unique video games within the collection, Pokemon Purple, Blue, and Yellow are up subsequent within the timeline. Bringing the first-generation Pokedex and introducing us to the traditional Pokemon recreation components, these best-selling video games are what began all of it.

Though we will not know for certain that these Sport Boy video games are up subsequent within the timeline, the deleted Tweet from Sport State of affairs author Toshinobu Matsumiya confirmed that the collection begins with these. The know-how featured within the recreation can also be pretty restricted in comparison with a number of the newer video games — although nonetheless superior sufficient to convey fossils again to life!

Bonus: Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen

Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen are remakes of the unique Purple and Blue video games and thus are on the similar actual level within the timeline. A lot of the plot is similar because the originals with some key variations — together with visiting the Sevii Islands after changing into champion of the Elite 4.

3. Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald

Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald introduced all new Pokemon and throws you into the Hoenn area — which is a long way from each the Kanto and Johto areas. Contemplating this recreation options the third era of Pokemon and a few new know-how, it appears most probably that it might happen after each Purple and Blue and Gold and Silver. Nevertheless, in response to that very same deleted tweet from Matsumiya, Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire happen on the similar time limit as FireRed and LeafGreen.

This additionally implies that Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire are on the similar level within the timeline right here seeing as they’re remakes.

4. Pokemon Gold, Silver, and Crystal

Because the second recreation within the collection (when it comes to launch date) Pokemon Gold and Silver happen three years after the occasions of Purple and Blue. With some thrilling new Gen 2 Pokemon and a number of the greatest post-game content material within the collection, Gold, Silver, and Crystal have been a superb comply with as much as the unique video games. By touring to the Kanto area after changing into the champion of Johto, you get a firsthand take a look at the passage of time. You even get to battle the protagonist from the primary video games, Purple, who is sort of sturdy.

This placement within the chronology additionally applies to the remakes: HeartGold and SoulSilver. Though the remakes supply some further content material, they’re primarily simply up to date variations of the originals.

5. Pokemon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum

By way of collection launch order, Pokemon Diamond and Pearl got here just a few years after Ruby and Sapphire. Nevertheless, we now know from that deleted tweet from Matsumiya that Diamond and Pearl truly takes place concurrently HeartGold and SoulSilver. This may increasingly appear just a little bit complicated contemplating the developments in know-how we see in Diamond and Pearl, however we will probably simply chalk it as much as the precise date the video games have been created moderately than the chronology throughout the Pokemon universe.

This may additionally imply that the remakes, Sensible Diamond and Shining Pearl are set in the identical level of the timeline. Although the timeline will get a bit wonky with the inclusion of Fairy-type Pokemon contemplating these weren’t launched till X and Y.

6. Pokemon Black and White

That includes the fifth-generation of latest Pokemon, Black and White was the second mainline recreation to return out on the Nintendo DS. Though we do not know precisely when the story takes place within the Pokemon universe, we do this it takes place after Diamond and Pearl because of Matsumiya’s tweet. Since there are not any apparent hyperlinks to the earlier video games, we will solely assume that Black and White takes place greater than 3 years after Purple and Blue.

7. Pokemon Black 2 and White 2

As a real sequel to Black and White, Pokemon Black 2 and White 2 supply a reasonably apparent transition by the chronological timeline. We see adjustments the place fitness center leaders cross on their duties to the subsequent era, Crew Plasma has superior their plot, and there’s a new Champion. Between all of this stuff, we all know that roughly two years have handed since Black and White, progressing the timeline ahead in an uncharacteristically linear trend.

8. Pokemon X and Y

As the primary recreation within the collection to permit payers to discover and battle in 3D, Pokemon X and Y was a contemporary tackle the traditional Pokemon components. Whereas that is largely because of it being the primary title within the collection to be a Nintendo 3DS recreation, it undoubtedly helped arrange future video games. Whereas we do not know precisely when the sport suits within the chronology, because of Matsumiya we atleast know that X and Y happen concurrently Black 2 and White 2. Nevertheless, it is doable that it’s set in a distinct universe because of Mega Evolution being a factor.

9. Pokemon Solar and Moon

Occurring just a few years after X and Y, Pokemon Solar and Moon takes us to the Alola area. Whereas we have no info from Matsumiya about the place this recreation suits within the timeline, it options just a few characters from X and Y that point out that point has handed between video games. An grownup Purple and Blue additionally make an look, although their actual age is not revealed, so we nonetheless do not know precisely how a lot time has progressed since Purple, Blue, and Yellow.

This additionally implies that Pokemon Extremely Solar and Extremely Moon happen on the similar time limit as they’re primarily remakes of Solar and Moon with some further content material.

10. Pokemon Sword and Defend

With the arrival of the Nintendo Swap got here the primary Swap-exclusive mainline Pokemon recreation: Sword and Defend. That includes a brand-new area, new Pokemon, and the introduction of Gigantamax, Sword and Defend is basically a tender reboot of the collection. In order that being mentioned, we don’t know the place it suits on the chronological timeline. There aren’t actually any arduous references to the earlier video games, so there is no such thing as a means of precisely becoming it into the recognized Pokemon universe.

One of many solely clues we have now concerning the timeline comes within the type of new know-how. The addition of the Rotom Telephone seemingly locations us additional within the chronology than Purple and Blue on the very least, however that is all we will actually collect. It is doable that Pokemon Sword and Defend merely takes place in a wholly completely different universe than any of the opposite video games.

11. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

As the most recent entry within the collection, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet brings all-new Gen 9 Pokemon and the open-world Paldea area to the Nintendo Swap. The sport does not arrive till Friday, so we sadly haven’t got sufficient info to attempt to precisely place it on a timeline. That being mentioned, if it follows the chronological construction of earlier mainline video games, it is doable that it takes place concurrently the occasions of Pokemon Sword and Defend.

The right way to Play the Pokemon Video games by Launch Date

I you wish to play the video games within the order they have been launched moderately than attempt to making an attempt to undergo the convoluted chronological timeline, listed below are all the mainline Pokemon video games by launch date:

1. Pokemon Purple and Blue – February 27, 1996 – Sport Boy
2. Pokemon Yellow – Sport Boy – September 12, 1998 – Sport Boy
3. Pokemon Gold and Silver – November 21, 1999 – Sport Boy Colour
4. Pokemon Crystal – December 14, 2000 – Sport Boy Colour
5. Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire – November 21, 2002 – Sport Boy Advance
6. Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen – January 28, 2004 – Sport Boy Advance
7. Pokemon Emerald – Sepember 16, 2004 – Sport Boy Advance
8. Pokemon Diamond and Pearl – September 28, 2006 – Nintendo DS
9. Pokemon Platinum – September 13, 2008 – Nintendo DS
10. Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver – September 12, 2009 – Nintendo DS
11. Pokemon Black and White – September 18, 2010 – Nintendo DS
12. Pokemon Black 2 and White 2 – June 23, 2012 – Nintendo DS
13. Pokemon X and Y – October 13, 2013 – Nintendo 3DS
14. Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire – November 21, 2014 – Nintendo 3DS
15. Pokemon Solar and Moon – November 18, 2016 – Nintendo 3DS
16. Pokemon Extremely Solar and Extremely Moon – November 17, 2017 – Nintendo 3DS
17. Pokemon Sword and Defend – November 15, 2019 – Nintendo Swap
18. Pokemon Sensible Diamond and Shining Pearl – November 19, 2021 – Nintendo Swap
19. Pokemon Scarlet and Vilolet – November 18, 2022 – Nintendo Swap

Which Pokemon Video games Ought to You Truly Play First?

Selecting the place to begin boils right down to what Nintendo console you at the moment have. In the event you solely have a Nintendo Swap, you can begin with Let’s Go Pikachu or Let’s Go Eevee, that are type of like remakes of the unique Yellow model from 1998. You can too play Sensible Diamond and Shining Pearl for one more remake expertise. Pokemon Legends: Arceus can also be an possibility, however it is rather completely different from the opposite mainline video games.

In the event you’re desirous to dive proper into Pokemon Scarlet and Violet when it comes out, it is value noting that you just probably will not be lacking out on any overly pertinent info from the earlier video games. The one video games in the principle collection you may not wish to leap proper into is Black 2 and White 2 as these are sequels.

On the lookout for further Pokemon content material? Try our information to the most effective Pokemon films and Pokemon Video Video games for extra.