I’ve played a lot of Pokémon over the years, including pretty much every mainline game, as well as a few spin-offs as well. In fact, I only started playing after Pokémon Black and White released, and I had just reached the age of 10 (the good times), but I quickly made it my mission to return to the days of Red And Blueand browse the franchise catalog.
Although Pokémon games have had a rough time on Nintendo Switch, it’s nice to see a return to form as of late, with well-received releases and exciting new announcements to boot. OK, I don’t know if I’m a fan of the recently revealed entries for Pokémon Winds And Flows (even if Gecqua is rather solid). However, we obtained Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, Pokémon PokopiaAnd Pokémon XD: Dark Galley on Nintendo Switch 2 in just one month.
And with the recent influx of Pokémon titles on Switch 2, I got thinking. What are the best Pokémon games you can play on Nintendo’s latest hybrid console? So I’ve compiled a list of my top 5 pocket monster releases available on Switch 2. This list includes Switch games playable on Switch 2 and brings together spin-offs as well as main entries.
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I’m sure almost everyone will have a top five that’s different from mine – and even from each other – so let me know your favorite Pokémon games on Switch 2 in the comments! Okay, without further ado, let’s dive into my list.
5. Pokémon Scarlet and Purple
Okay, put your pitchforks away. Listen, as someone who pre-ordered Pokémon Violet in 2022, I shared much of the outrage over this game’s performance. Bad framerates – especially in built-up areas – and poor graphics quality were definitely a shame to see. But things have changed.
That’s right, Scarlet And Purple got a free upgrade on Switch 2, which increased the resolution and smoothed out the frame rates, and it seems SO It’s much better to play now.
But it’s not just about performance. I’m probably more positive than most on this entry, I admit, but I couldn’t help but admire its ambition. Instead of using a completely linear progression system, Scarlet And Purple has opted for multiple scenarios – one in which players collect gym badges, another in which they are tasked with defeating Team Star, and a third in which they must hunt down Titan Pokémon.
The latter route was my favorite, and while the omission of level scaling made the game’s difficulty far too low, I still enjoyed its more varied approach.
The decrease in linearity in story progression was also reflected in the open world. And while I’m not entirely sold on open-world Pokémon yet, I preferred this setting to Pokémon Sword and ShieldThe semi-open world of , which felt stuck in an awkward and unsatisfying environment.
More generally, I think Scarlet And Purple surpassed their predecessors. Your rival in Sword And Shield is a constant nuisance, the Pokédex is pretty weak (although I like the box-art entries and legendaries), and the Galar region is pretty forgettable. Personally, I found that Scarlet And Purple offered a more exciting experience, with more endearing characters and a better ensemble of ‘mons — including the iconic Lechonk and Tatsugiri.
Are Pokémon Scarlet And Purple Perfect? Absolutely not, even with performance improvements. And would I consider them excellent games? Still no. But I TO DO I think Pokémon fans will find something to enjoy here, and if you like open world environments, you may find a soft spot for this entry.
I recently had the chance to return to Pokémon Legends: Arceus on my Switch 2, following the release of Handheld Mode Boost on Nintendo’s latest console. This new feature gives the game a path best when playing on handheld, so now is the perfect time to return to this one – or to try it for the first time.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus was a big deal for fans of the series at the time of its release. This represented Pokémon’s move toward larger worlds, with large open areas and more freedom to explore. And while this entry doesn’t offer a “real” open world for players to venture into, being able to traverse Hisui on Wyrdeer, Ursaluna and co felt liberating.
Although the Legends games are technically considered main entries, they offer a departure from the usual formula.
You’re not there to collect gym badges, the battle system is updated with agile and powerful attacks, and trainers can even take damage from Pokémon in battle. Even if these new types of attacks did not convince me, I enjoyed swapping the format of the Gym Leader challenge with a mission consisting of building the first Pokédex in the Hisui region. And taking damage in combat allows for a more immersive and frenetic experience, as well as some truly memorable encounters.
Just catching Pokémon is surprisingly enjoyable in this game, even using the motion controls. Especially throwing Poké Balls from a distance to catch an oversized alpha ‘mon – honestly, it’s so satisfying.
As Scarlet And Purpleit’s far from a perfect entry – there’s uninteresting dialogue, visual quirks, and controversial combat mechanics to deal with. But overall, Pokémon Legends: Arceus brought a fun twist to the tried-and-true formula and kept me invested from start to finish.
3. Pokkén Tournament DX
Does anyone else remember this one? Although he has been forgotten by many, Pokkén Tournament DX is, for me, easily one of the best Pokémon games playable on Nintendo Switch 2.
For the uninitiated, Pokkén Tournament — which combines Pokémon with Bandai Namco mechanics Tekken games – is a fighting game, originally released for Japanese arcades in 2015. A year later, the game launched on Nintendo’s ill-fated Wii U console, and a Director’s Cut edition came to Switch in 2017.
As one of the (very) few people to own a Wii U, I really loved it Pokkén Tournament when it arrived on the system. It has an absolutely stellar roster of characters, mixes 2D and 3D fighting game mechanics brilliantly, and has a great soundtrack to boot. DX only expands on that, adding new fighters like Scizor and Darkrai, new support Pokémon, new game modes, and much more.
Other than Super Smash Bros.I don’t really like fighters, but Pokémon has always caught my attention, so I highly recommend it to everyone. Training mode is great for learning how to crush your opponents with combos, and there’s even a sort of story mode to advance. Well like Legends: Arceusthis title is much better with the new Handheld Mode Boost, so why not give it a try?
2. Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen
I really struggled to place this one at number one, but alas, it just falls short. Pushmon Fire Red And LeafGreen are among the biggest mainline games in the series and serve as spectacular remakes of the titles that started it all — Pokémon Red And Blue.
Venturing through Kanto feels fantastic in these entries – the gameplay is balanced, rather than too easy, a good pace is maintained throughout, and the original ‘mons look as good as ever. Honestly, the original 151’ mons lineup is phenomenal. Sure, I enjoyed using fan favorites like Raichu, Blastoise, and Ninetales, but I also felt compelled to try some less beloved pocket monsters, like the weird Mr. Mime.
While it would have been nice to see online trading and combat capabilities brought to this recent Switch and Switch 2 re-release, there’s also something nostalgic about playing with a friend locally. And I had a lot of fun challenging my friends and finding their exclusive versions (I chose LeafGreen, for anyone interested).
Plus, I like how this version included event tickets so you could see Deoxys, Ho-Oh, and Lugia.
If you want to play one of the definitive main entries on your Switch 2, there’s nothing better than Fire Red And LeafGreenin my opinion… that is, unless we get Ruby, SapphireAnd Emerald!
1. Pokémon Pokopia
Is it too early to say? Honestly, I’m not sure, but I’m going to do it anyway. Pokémon Pokopia is the best Pokémon game you can play on Nintendo Switch 2 and one of the best games the series has ever produced.
Like someone who didn’t love Animal Crossing: New Horizons and, in general, doesn’t really enjoy “comfortable” games, Pokopie was a revelation for me. It’s one of the most addictive games I’ve played in recent years, with charismatic and lovable characters, really enjoyable crafting and construction, and a mysterious post-apocalyptic setting.
Playing as Ditto, you can replicate the abilities of so many other Pokémon, and using them to cultivate new habitats, reshape the landscape, and rebuild a fractured world is immensely rewarding. By helping your fellow Pokémon, you will unlock new materials, recipes and items. And gradually gaining the means to build bigger buildings, better transportation links, and stronger bonds with your friends is a great way to reward you, the player.
A key reason why I put Pokopie the most important thing is t that it is brimming with personality. For me, the villagers of Animal Crossing: New Horizons didn’t always seem particularly interesting to me to interact with, but things are very different in Pokopie. You’ll hear people using Gen Z slang, shouting phrases like “let’s make this place HUMID” and all sorts of things. Unfortunately, Charmander doesn’t tell you that he “broke.” It was just a modification, guys.
Aside from a slightly frustrating storage management system, I have very few complaints. Pokopie. And as the only true Pokémon exclusive on Switch 2, I’m thrilled that this entry has what it takes to be number one.
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