There are countless Pokémon games. Honestly, try to count them. See? Impossible. The mainline games are enough for anyone to spend hundreds of hours playing through, but there are literally dozens of spin-offs and sub-series for Pokémon fans to enjoy if they just can’t seem to get enough.
In this list we have collected together the ten best Pokémon spin-offs. This list is not ranked in a particular order, but you can rest assured that each and every one of these games is a certified hood classic, and will definitely get a welcome reception in a room full of Pikachu fans.
Kicking off this list is a certified classic. If you were there at the time, then you know. You just know. Pokémon Stadium 2 introduced the second generation of Pokémon to the N64, with full 3D models for the entire cast. Pokémon Stadium‘s main draw is being able to battle through different challenge cups with a cast of chosen Pokémon, or those you’ve been raising in the Game Boy games.
But in addition to that there are minigames – all of which are, shockingly, quite good – and a Pokémon academy where you are schooled on all of the aspects of Pokémon battles, with challenge battles to illustrate the basics the game is teaching you. How powerful can Pikachu’s Thunderbolt become against a Gyarados, with the perfect combination of buffs and held items? Very powerful indeed, and Pokémon Stadium 2 teaches you exactly how it all works.
Pokémon Pinball is the game that shouldn’t work, but for some reason does, and Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire is the sequel that fans didn’t know they needed. Sure, it lost the rumble pak built into the cart, but Ruby & Sapphire improved the pinball physics, added many more Pokémon and stages, and it looks sharp as hell.
This is one of those Pokémon spin-offs that will still manage to drain a few hours of your time if you switch it on, it’s just that good. Yes, sure, it’s just pinball, but you don’t say no to pinball when it’s this good.
There are dozens of things you can rightfully criticize Pokémon GO for, but the fact is, it’s an engaging game, and there isn’t much more we can ask for. It looks bland, the music feels uninspired, and it’s taken years of updates to make the game what it is today, but gosh it feels so good to add a brand new Pokémon to your collection.
The ability to earn coins through gyms and participate in regular Community Days mean that the best Pokémon in the game are almost always within your grasp, even if you never actually pay any money. The game now has robust PVP options in addition to all of that, and while the battling isn’t up to par with the mainline games, it’s still a popular and active scene to be a part of.
The Game Boy’s Pokémon Trading Card Game is one of few TCG spin-offs that have actually been released in the West, and it just so happens to be one of the best anyway. The upcoming Pokémon Trading Card Game Live may well become the best way to play the card game soon, but the original Game Boy adventure is unforgettable for plenty of reasons.
The music is actually memorable, the original card sets are all here, and there’s even a story that features you building decks to take down TCG gyms before challenging the Elite Four and earning yourself some legendary cards. There probably won’t ever be another story-driven Pokémon TCG title like this, and that’s a real shame.
No, not the movie, although that’s fun too. Detective Pikachu is a 3DS exclusive adventure featuring a talking Pikachu accompanying a young boy searching for his missing father. This is where the movie’s story was adapted from, and it’s one of the most unique Pokémon games.
The game focuses more on a traditional city that just happens to have Pokémon live among people here, unlike the mainline games in which every character’s life seems to revolve around the creatures. Pikachu interacts with crime scenes and other Pokémon in order to uncover information. The story never got a conclusion, but we can hold out hope for sequels in the future.
The Bandai Namco team took Pokémon and decided to make an entirely unique fighting game. Pokkén – a portmanteau of Pokémon and Tekken – takes a selection of fan-favorite monsters and pits them against one another in battles that dynamically switch between a 3D and 2D plane.
Competitive Pokkén Tournament DX tournaments have proven that there’s a deep and complex game to uncover under the surface. While most traditional fighting game fans aren’t likely to take it seriously, this is absolutely worth busting out for multiplayer nights with friends.
Pokémon Snap was an N64 classic, and New Pokémon Snap is an improvement on that original game in every way. More areas, more hidden routes, dozens more Pokémon, and some of the best visuals you can find in any Pokémon game on any platform – that’s a fact. Playing New Pokémon Snap can easily snap up dozens of hours, especially if you aim to get the best scores on individual Pokémon photographs, in addition to course scores.
Since launch the game has even had additional content introduced, with hints that we might see more in the future. It has been a while now so that seems uncertain, but New Pokémon Snap is one of the best revivals of a classic Nintendo franchise we’ve ever had.
Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness were the first attempts to make a fairly traditional Pokémon game but in full 3D. Gyms are gone and the only battles in these games are doubles, but that sets the game apart nicely from the rest of the series while incentivizing the use of optimized teams for doubles battles.
XD: Gale of Darkness is a direct sequel to Pokémon Colosseum, one in which you travel the Orre region while fighting against Team Snagem, an evil organization that has the ability to capture Pokémon from other trainers, and then corrupt their hearts to turn them into powerful Shadow Pokémon. You will travel the region, fight the villains, all while stealing back the Shadow Pokémon so you can free their hearts once again. Well worth playing, even now.
The Mystery Dungeon games are beloved, and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX has to be the best way to play for any fan of this sub-series. The art style has a charming filter that makes the world appear hand-drawn, and the games have overall been streamlined compared to the original entry.
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon isn’t the easiest Pokémon spin-off to recommend, but it is a favorite for many Pokémon fans.
This list is unranked – save for this entry. This is the best Pokémon spin-off, and to be clear, your opinion in this matter doesn’t actually matter. Pokémon Conquest, the odd combination between Pokémon and Nobunaga’s Ambition, is basically Pokémon meets Fire Emblem. It’s a turn-based strategy that takes place on a grid, and your Pokémon attacks have type effectiveness, different ranges, heights that they can reach, etc.
This is a shockingly deep and challenging Pokémon game, and the solid tactical and strategic gameplay will keep you playing straight through to the end. Possibly the only essential Pokémon spin-off.
Written by Dave Aubrey on behalf of GLHF.
