The Pokémon Games franchise is ongoing for over 25 years, and there are installments that Game Freak is certainly not proud of. As a long-standing Pokémon fan myself, I admit that Game Freak dropped the ball not once but multiple times.
If there are the best Pokémon games in the storied franchise, there are certainly the worst games in the series. Ranking the best games of the series is easier than ranking the worst, especially for a diehard Pokemon fan such as me.
But to improve, we must learn how to discern quality. This article is for those who want to join in on the Pokemon bandwagon so you can manage your expectations. Not every new pokemon game is a gem, unlike the ones that made the Top 5 Best list.
5. Pokemon Sword and Shield
Pokémon Sword and Shield succeeded in bringing some new ideas to the table, although there are areas where Game Freak could have done better. There are moments contained within that are the best the series has ever been, but there are contrasting moments that left me disappointed.
It’s an experience full of highs and lows, from the unadulterated wonder and joy of seeing a brand-new Pokémon in a stadium full of cheering crowds, to the monotonous and dragged-out dialogue we just wanted to skip.
4. Pokemon X and Y
Pokemon X and Y looked like a decent installment at first glance. The transition to full 3D is gorgeous, even if you only get the full effect of the 3DS hardware during battles and cutscenes. The Mega Evolutions are similarly impressive, and the introduction of fairy Pokémon offered a solution to the dominant dragon type.
The biggest issue with X and Y is simply a lack of content. Even by Pokémon standards, it is an especially easy entry in the series, and there is little post-game content. While it might have been great for its time, it is not an entry that trainers are going back to.
3. Pokemon Sun and Moon/ Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon
Pokemon Sun and Moon tweaked the traditional Pokémon formula, but it produced mixed results. Alola, the new location heavily inspired by Hawaii, is gorgeous.
The trials, which require battling powered-up Pokémon, are a nice change of pace from the usual gym battles. Even though Pokemon is a game that people do not play for the story, Sun and Moon’s story just drags on with no real purpose.
The Ultra follow-ups released a year later did not do much to fix the issues with the original games. It only worsened one of the biggest issues by featuring an even longer story. Add in some rather tepid new Pokemon designs, and you have one of the weaker entries in the series.
2. Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl
Diamond and Pearl are one of the best games in the Pokémon franchise, but the recent remakes have been underwhelming. The issue is that Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are almost too close to the originals.
The few changes do not add enough oomph to justify a return trip to Sinnoh for most gamers. I am not even sure if this is a remake or just a remastered version. For most gamers, the original titles remain superior if you have access to them.
1. Pokémon Let’s Go Pikachu!/Let’s Go Eevee!
The original Pokémon games were arguably due for another remake, but the Let’s Go games never quite match the spirit of the originals. It certainly is a huge disappointment for the fans of the game who wants a good Kanto remake.
They look a lot better, and the addition of mega-evolutions is nice, the motion controls just feel gimmicky. Additionally, the game’s difficulty is ridiculously easy despite the original games not even being that difficult.
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