Since the Pokémon video game series 1996 Game Boy debut, the series has advanced significantly. Even though there have been a ton of amazing releases since Pocket Monsters Red and Green, many people still have a soft spot in their hearts for the original games, especially the elder Poké enthusiasts. The Nintendo Switch is currently Nintendo’s most recent console, and they have continued their association with Pokémon with a number of fantastic releases that you might have missed. The Pokémon lover has never had so many options, from remasters to entirely new storylines and Pokémon. But where do you even begin? How do you pick among all the intriguing releases? Here is where we come in.
We have chosen to build a list of the top 10 Pokémon games for the Nintendo Switch because we are somewhat Pokémon addicted and proud owners of a Nintendo Switch. We have combed through all the games to bring you the best, from competitive war games to adventurous RPGs and everything in between. You won’t have to wait long to begin battling if one of the Pokémon games we chose captures your attention since they are all now available and playable. Let’s look at it.
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX
When it was first released in 2005, the original Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Rescue Team garnered lukewarm reviews. The game received criticism from players for issues ranging from poor AI to a confusing plot. But the Nintendo Switch edition has been enhanced in practically every way, just like earlier Pokémon remakes. The main character, who was transformed into a Pokémon while he slept, must carry out mission-based tasks in order to earn Rescue Points in this game, which is primarily set in various dungeons. The 16 classic Pokémon from the first three generations that you start off as include Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and Meowth, to mention a few. Upon rising, you will be given a “personality test” to complete, which determines the Pokémon you are assigned.
Upgraded AI is among the most praised changes in the remake. Their previously very frustrating mechanics have been significantly improved, and they are now much smarter than they were in the first game. Since you start the game partnered with a Pokémon and can become fairly dependent on them, enhancing their abilities makes the game much more enjoyable. We also adore the artwork in the remake. Each and every element in the game is superb, and the hand-drawn aesthetic is almost storybook-like. You can tell that a lot of expertise and effort went into its art and design. It is a nice touch that we believe the artwork was inspired by the original game’s poster.
Pokemon: Shining Pearl
The companion game, Pokémon Shining Pearl, debuted in 2006 alongside Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and was later restored and released in 2021. The Sinnoh region of this open-world game is divided between wild and populated areas, allowing players to explore while gathering Pokémon. While there are numerous parallels between this and Brilliant Diamond, there are also some obvious variances. The legendary Pokémon you will finally have the chance to catch makes a major difference between the two games. The legendary Pokémon in Shining Pearl is Palkia, a Water/Drago type with the scary power to warp space. Palkia is featured on the game’s cover. The legendary Pokémon in Brilliant Diamond, however, is Dialga, a Steel/Dragon type with the ability to manipulate time.
Pokemon Violet
Pokémon Violet, the first game in the ninth generation of the Pokémon video game series, is one of the newest additions to our list. It was released in November 2022. Pokémon Violet, which takes place in the Paldea Region, is an entirely open-world video game in which the player can decide how they want to complete the game and there are no physical boundaries separating the various parts of the map. Though perhaps not entirely unexpected given the current craze for open-world video games, it is fascinating to see Game Freak and Nintendo adopt this tack.
Although it adheres to the tried-and-true structure of conventional Pokémon video games—catching and collecting Pokémon—the open world element is a lot of fun and gives the game new life. There are many well-known characters to capture, and we believe the range and accessibility of catchable Pokémon make this game incredibly gratifying. The game features numerous tales that are all very nicely done. There are also some moral lessons included for good measure, and it is clear that GameFreak put a lot of love into creating this game.
However, one of the greatest issues with this game is the occasionally lengthy load times. You will notice this the most while you are at the school, so be prepared to wait a bit for the loading screen to appear. That said, the recognizable gameplay and freshly enhanced game mechanics will appeal to both longtime and new Pokémon players.
Pokken Tournament DX
You might be puzzled by the name of this game: Pokkén? But as soon as you start playing, this is glaringly apparent. This hybrid of the Pokémon universe with the hugely popular fighting series Tekken was created by Bandai Namco Studios. Pokkén Tournament DX is the result of this. This fighting video game has just Pokémon characters, as the title would imply. The duel phase and the field phase are the two different game modes. Characters can move around at will during the field phase, but during the duel phase, they must move in relation to one another. Since the majority of Tekken games use the duel phase as their primary gameplay feature, doing this should be relatively easy for you.
In the Nintendo Switch version of the game, there are 23 different characters you may pick from, and you can battle with various characters including Charizard, Blastoise, and Weavile. The roster’s size could be criticized a little bit; we would have liked to have had more options from other eras. The characters you may fight with, though, look fantastic and have lots of texturing. This is a really entertaining game that will appeal to Pokémon enthusiasts looking for a different kind of game to play.
Pokemon: Legends Arceus
Pokémon: Legends Arceus, which debuted in January 2022 to acclaim from both fans and critics, went on to become one of the most well-received and lucrative Pokémon games in recent memory. Eight months later, the game had already sold more than 13 million copies, completely dominating the rest of the franchise’s games. Elden Ring edged out Pokémon Legends Arceus as the second-best-selling video game in the US during the first quarter, an incredible accomplishment.
Another Pokémon open-world video game, this one taking place in the fictional Hisui region, which was modeled around the Japanese island of Hokkaido. The setting of the game is early Japanese colonization, and it transports the player back in time. The game is divided into several distinct sections, which aids in the story, but even so, the regions feel big and are great pleasure to explore. As you explore the many regions of the globe, you’ll find yourself becoming lost while admiring the stunning graphics. Around every curve or over every hill, there is always something new to view or a new Pokémon to catch, giving the various locales a lively feeling.
Pokémon Legends Arceus’ gameplay mechanics are fresh and thrilling compared to earlier games. You will toss things in a variety of various settings because throwing is the game’s primary mechanic. You will find yourself tossing a lot of stuff, whether it’s to battle Pokémon, frighten off unaware Pokémon, or catch them. Since this is the game’s main objective, it is simple to pick up and play, and using this function alone, you can almost finish the game. The ability to swap between third and first-person perspectives, a first for a Pokémon game, is another intriguing concept.
New Pokemon Snap
A little different from the other games on our list is Pokémon Snap. You’ve undoubtedly realized by now that Pokémon video games typically don’t go much beyond the typical capture and combat Pokémon that you run into. Pokémon Snap, on the other hand, provides something a little unique. Pokémon Snap is a first-person photography game in which the player assumes control of Professor Mirror, a researcher whose goal it is to take photographs of luminescent Pokémon for scientific purposes. You basically explore the world while snapping pictures of Pokémon that illuminate in the dark. Do not be fooled by how simple something may seem. The game features a ton of endearing and distinctive interactions, many of which will make you smile. A star system is used to categorize various types of activities, which hooks you and makes you believe you are conducting reliable study.
This game is the follow-up to the first Pokémon Snap, which was made available for the Nintendo 64 in 1999. We highly recommend picking this up if you played the Nintendo 64 version because the great dose of nostalgia it injects. New players who are thinking about playing this game won’t be let down, especially if they appreciate meeting new creatures and interacting with them in a realistic, though slightly cartoonish, setting. Since this is still a Pokémon game, you shouldn’t hold too high of expectations for realism.
Pokemon Sword
Pokémon Sword was a brand-new installment in the main Pokémon series when it was first released. Sword is set in the recently discovered region of Galar and is the first game in the 8th generation of the video game franchise. This region, which has a strong resemblance to the United Kingdom, is made up of both rural and vast, spreading urban districts. There are many ‘routes’ connecting the zones, so you can’t simply wander around the bigger map like you would in an open world. stating that there is a ‘Wild region’ open-world region in the game where you may anticipate to encounter many wild Pokémon.
Pokemon: Lets go Evee
Let’s Go, Eevee, Pokémon! is among the remakes we listed. This 2018 Nintendo Switch game is a remake of the enormously well-liked Pokémon: Yellow. When the game first came out, Game Freak and Nintendo claimed it was made with the purpose of attracting new fans to the brand and satisfying the needs of gamers who have been playing since 1998. We happen to believe they’ve done a decent job at it! For those accustomed to powerful game consoles, the significant improvement in visuals looks spectacular. You won’t experience any lag or lengthy wait times during games because it is highly fluid. The gameplay is still quite similar to the original Pokémon RPG, where your goal is to explore, gather, and train Pokémon, despite the fact that the graphics have much improved since the Game Boy. Therefore, old heads need not fret because you will feel at home here.
You begin the game with an Eevee, as it is the character who is featured in the game. If you prefer a selection, keep in mind that, unlike other mainline games, you cannot decide between a Fire-type, Grass-type, and a Water-type. Since it’s actually pretty simple to find a wild Pikachu in the game, we chose the Eevee version of this game rather than the Pikachu one. After an hour of gameplay, a wild Pikachu is typically found.
Pokemon Shield
Along with Pokémon Sword, Pokémon Shield was also released in the first wave of the eighth generation. The two games, like earlier in-tandem Pokémon releases, have a lot in common, yet they also differ in some important ways. Your preference for one or the other sort of Pokémon will influence your decision. You won’t be too shocked to learn that the only distinction between the two episodes is the Pokémon that can be caught. We’ll concentrate on the Legendary Pokémon because there are many different catchable Pokémon between the two, which would make for an enormous list. The legendary Pokémon that you can catch in Shield is called Zamazenta. Shield’s cover features Zamazenta, a magnificent Pokémon that you will eventually get the opportunity to capture. Zacian, on the other hand, is the Legendary Pokémon you may catch using Sword.
The varied Gym Leaders to face off against are the other obvious distinction between the games. You will encounter Allister in Shield, a gym leader of the Ghost type who appears to be quite elderly. At the fourth gym, Allister will be waiting for you. The other exclusive gym leader is Melony, an Ice-type. She may challenge you in the sixth gym in the game. Even while the distinctions might be negligible, more seasoned players will already be aware of their favorite characters. So choose your choice wisely!
It is wonderful to see how the Pokémon legacy is being preserved through the many diverse games available on the Nintendo Switch. Both Pokémon and Nintendo have a lengthy history and credit each other for many of their achievements.
The Nintendo Switch has seen a number of intriguing new releases recently, preventing it from getting old. Pokémon fans have been drooling over fully realized open-world games for years, and Pokémon Violet can be recognized as the first one. With the ability to switch between first- and third-person perspectives, Pokémon Arceus enhanced these open-world gameplay elements and further piqued fans’ interest. This feature opened up a completely other immersive experience.
