List of Pokémon video games facts for kids

The official logo of Pokémon for its international releases

Pokémon (which means "Pocket Monsters") is a super popular series of video games. It's all about catching, training, and battling amazing creatures called Pokémon! The main games are role-playing games (RPGs), where you go on an adventure, but there are also many other types of Pokémon games like puzzles, fighting games, and even digital pet games. Most Pokémon games have been made for Nintendo handhelds and consoles, from the old Game Boy to the newest Nintendo Switch.

Release timeline
1997
1996	Red and Green
1996	Blue
1998	Yellow
1999	Gold and Silver
2000	Crystal
2001
2002	Ruby and Sapphire
2003
2004	FireRed and LeafGreen
2004	Emerald
2005
2006	Diamond and Pearl
2007
2008	Platinum
2009	HeartGold and SoulSilver
2010	Black and White
2011
2012	Black 2 and White 2
2013	X and Y
2014	Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
2015
2016	Sun and Moon
2017	Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon
2018	Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!
2019	Sword and Shield
2020	The Isle of Armor (DLC)
2020	The Crown Tundra (DLC)
2021	Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl
2022	Legends: Arceus
2022	Scarlet and Violet
2023	The Teal Mask (DLC)
2023	The Indigo Disk (DLC)
2024
2025	Legends: Z-A

Main Pokémon Games and Remakes

These are the main adventure games where you become a Pokémon Trainer and explore a region.

Title	Details
Pokémon Red and Green (Japan) / Red and Blue (Worldwide) Original release date(s): ^{February 27, 1996} NA	Release years by system: 1996 – Game Boy 2016 – 3DS Virtual Console
	Notes: These were the very first Pokémon games ever! They introduced the first 151 Pokémon. Red and Green were only released in Japan. Red and Blue were the first Pokémon games released outside of Japan. Later, FireRed and LeafGreen were released in 2004 as updated versions for Game Boy Advance.
Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition Original release date(s): ^{September 12, 1998} AUS ^EU June 16, 2000	Release years by system: 1998 – Game Boy 2016 – 3DS Virtual Console
	Notes: This game was special because your Pikachu could follow you around outside its Poké Ball! It was inspired by the Pokémon TV show.
Pokémon Gold and Silver Original release date(s): ^{November 21, 1999} AUS ^{October 15, 2000} EU	Release years by system: 1999 – Game Boy Color 2017 – 3DS Virtual Console
	Notes: These games introduced the second group of Pokémon. They were set three years after the first games. HeartGold and SoulSilver were released in 2009 as updated versions for Nintendo DS. These were the first games to have shiny Pokémon and introduce Pokémon breeding.
Pokémon Crystal Original release date(s): ^{December 14, 2000} NA ^EU November 2, 2001	Release years by system: 2000 – Game Boy Color 2018 – 3DS Virtual Console
	Notes: This was an improved version of Gold and Silver. It was the first main Pokémon game where you could choose to play as a girl!
Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire Original release date(s): ^{November 21, 2002} NA ^EU July 25, 2003	Release years by system: 2002 – Game Boy Advance
	Notes: These games brought in the third group of Pokémon. They introduced new battle styles like double battles, and new features like abilities and natures for Pokémon. Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire were released in 2014 as updated versions for Nintendo 3DS.
Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen Original release date(s): ^{January 29, 2004} NA ^EU October 1, 2004	Release years by system: 2004 – Game Boy Advance
	Notes: These were updated versions of the very first Pokémon Red and Blue games.
Pokémon Emerald Original release date(s): ^{September 16, 2004} NA	Release years by system: 2004 – Game Boy Advance
	Notes: This was like a "director's cut" version of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, adding more story and features.
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Original release date(s): ^{September 28, 2006} NA	Release years by system: 2006 – Nintendo DS
	Notes: These games introduced the fourth group of Pokémon.
Pokémon Platinum Original release date(s): ^{September 13, 2008} NA	Release years by system: 2008 – Nintendo DS
	Notes: This was an improved version of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl.
Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver Original release date(s): ^{September 12, 2009} NA	Release years by system: 2009 – Nintendo DS
	Notes: These were updated versions of Pokémon Gold and Silver.
Pokémon Black and White Original release date(s): ^{September 18, 2010} EU	Release years by system: 2010 – Nintendo DS
	Notes: These games introduced the fifth group of Pokémon. They added new battle types like triple battles and rotation battles.
Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 Original release date(s): ^{June 23, 2012} NA	Release years by system: 2012 – Nintendo DS
	Notes: These were direct sequels to Pokémon Black and White, set two years later in the same region with new areas.
Pokémon X and Y Original release date(s): ^WW October 12, 2013	Release years by system: 2013 – Nintendo 3DS
	Notes: These games introduced the sixth group of Pokémon. They were the first Pokémon games released worldwide at the same time. They were also the first main games to use full 3D graphics and let you customize your trainer's look. Mega Evolution was introduced in these games.
Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire Original release date(s): ^{November 21, 2014} NA	Release years by system: 2014 – Nintendo 3DS
	Notes: These were updated versions of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire.
Pokémon Sun and Moon Original release date(s): ^{November 18, 2016} NA	Release years by system: 2016 – Nintendo 3DS
	Notes: These games introduced the seventh group of Pokémon. They brought in Z-Moves and regional forms for some Pokémon.
Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon Original release date(s): ^WW November 17, 2017	Release years by system: 2017 – Nintendo 3DS
	Notes: These were improved versions of Pokémon Sun and Moon, with new story elements and some new Pokémon.
Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! Original release date(s): ^WW November 16, 2018	Release years by system: 2018 – Nintendo Switch
	Notes: These games were updated versions of Pokémon Yellow. They let your Pokémon follow you around, just like in Pokémon Yellow. They also connected with the mobile game Pokémon Go.
Pokémon Sword and Shield Original release date(s): ^WW November 15, 2019	Release years by system: 2019 – Nintendo Switch
	Notes: These games introduced the eighth group of Pokémon. They brought in Dynamaxing and Gigantamaxing, which make Pokémon huge in battle. They also had downloadable content (DLC) expansions called The Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra.
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl Original release date(s): ^WW November 19, 2021	Release years by system: 2021 – Nintendo Switch
	Notes: These were updated versions of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus Original release date(s): ^WW January 28, 2022	Release years by system: 2022 – Nintendo Switch
	Notes: This game was a prequel to Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, set in an older version of the Sinnoh region. It changed up the usual Pokémon gameplay.
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Original release date(s): ^WW November 18, 2022	Release years by system: 2022 – Nintendo Switch
	Notes: These games introduced the ninth group of Pokémon. They were the first open-world Pokémon games, letting you explore freely. They also introduced Terastalizing, a new battle feature.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A Original release date(s): ^WW October 16, 2025	Release years by system: 2025 – Nintendo Switch
	Notes: This upcoming game is a sequel to Pokémon X and Y.

Side Games

These games offer different ways to experience the world of Pokémon, often focusing on battles or other activities.

Pokémon Stadium Series

Title	Details
Pokémon Stadium Original release date(s): ^{April 30, 1999} NA	Release years by system: 1999 – Nintendo 64 2023 – Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack
	Notes: This game let you battle your Pokémon from the Game Boy games in 3D on your TV!
Pokémon Stadium 2 Original release date(s): ^{December 14, 2000} NA	Release years by system: 2000 – Nintendo 64 2023 – Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack
	Notes: This sequel added Pokémon from the Gold and Silver games.

Other Side Games

Title	Details
Pokémon Colosseum Original release date(s): ^{November 21, 2003} NA	Release years by system: 2003 – GameCube
	Notes: This game had a story where you rescued "Shadow Pokémon" and purified them.
Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness Original release date(s): ^{August 4, 2005} NA	Release years by system: 2005 – GameCube
	Notes: This was a sequel to Pokémon Colosseum, continuing the story of Shadow Pokémon.
Pokémon Battle Revolution Original release date(s): ^{December 14, 2006} NA	Release years by system: 2006 – Wii
	Notes: This game let you battle your Pokémon from the DS games on the Wii.

Spin-off Games

These games explore different genres and gameplay styles within the Pokémon universe.

Mystery Dungeon Series

In these games, you wake up as a Pokémon and join a rescue team to help other Pokémon in a world without humans.

Title	Details
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team and Red Rescue Team Original release date(s): ^{November 17, 2005} NA	Release years by system: 2005 – Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS 2016 – Wii U Virtual Console
	Notes: Red Rescue Team was for Game Boy Advance, and Blue Rescue Team was for Nintendo DS.
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness Original release date(s): ^{September 13, 2007} NA	Release years by system: 2007 – Nintendo DS

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky Original release date(s): ^{April 18, 2009} NA	Release years by system: 2009 – Nintendo DS 2016 – Wii U Virtual Console
	Notes: This was an improved version of Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness.
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity Original release date(s): ^{November 23, 2012} NA	Release years by system: 2012 – Nintendo 3DS
	Notes: This was the first Mystery Dungeon game for the Nintendo 3DS.
Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon Original release date(s): ^{September 17, 2015} NA	Release years by system: 2015 – Nintendo 3DS
	Notes: This game featured all 720 Pokémon that existed at the time.
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX Original release date(s): ^WW March 6, 2020	Release years by system: 2020 – Nintendo Switch
	Notes: This was a remake of the original Blue Rescue Team and Red Rescue Team games with updated graphics.

Ranger Series

In these games, you play as a Pokémon Ranger who helps protect Pokémon and nature using a Capture Styler.

Title	Details
Pokémon Ranger Original release date(s): ^{March 23, 2006} NA	Release years by system: 2006 – Nintendo DS 2016 – Wii U Virtual Console

Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia Original release date(s): ^{March 20, 2008} NA	Release years by system: 2008 – Nintendo DS 2016 – Wii U Virtual Console

Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs Original release date(s): ^{March 6, 2010} NA	Release years by system: 2010 – Nintendo DS 2016 – Wii U Virtual Console

Rumble Series

These games feature toy Pokémon battling it out in action-packed arenas.

Title	Details
Pokémon Rumble Original release date(s): ^{June 16, 2009} NA	Release years by system: 2009 – WiiWare

Pokémon Rumble Blast Original release date(s): ^{August 11, 2011} NA	Release years by system: 2011 – Nintendo 3DS
	Notes: This was a sequel to Pokémon Rumble.
Pokémon Rumble U Original release date(s): ^{April 24, 2013} PAL	Release years by system: 2013 – Wii U
	Notes: This was a sequel to Pokémon Rumble Blast.
Pokémon Rumble World Original release date(s): ^WW April 8, 2015	Release years by system: 2015 – Nintendo 3DS
	Notes: This was a sequel to Pokémon Rumble U.
Pokémon Rumble Rush Original release date(s): ^{May 15, 2019} WW	Release years by system: 2019 – Android, iOS
	Notes: This mobile game was later stopped on July 21, 2020.

Snap Series

These games are about taking pictures of Pokémon in their natural habitats.

Title	Details
Pokémon Snap Original release date(s): ^{March 21, 1999} NA	Release years by system: 1999 – Nintendo 64 2007 – Wii Virtual Console 2017 – Wii U Virtual Console 2022 – Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack

New Pokémon Snap Original release date(s): ^WW April 30, 2021	Release years by system: 2021 – Nintendo Switch

Puzzle Games

These games challenge your brain with Pokémon-themed puzzles.

Pokémon Puzzle League Series

Title	Details
Pokémon Puzzle League Original release date(s): ^{July 26, 2000} NA	Release years by system: 2000 – Nintendo 64 2008 – Wii Virtual Console
	Notes: This puzzle game featured characters from the Pokémon TV show.
Pokémon Puzzle Challenge Original release date(s): ^{September 21, 2000} NA	Release years by system: 2000 – Game Boy Color 2014 – 3DS Virtual Console

Other Puzzle Games

Title	Details
Pokémon Shuffle Original release date(s): ^WW February 18, 2015	Release years by system: 2015 – Nintendo 3DS, iOS, Android

Pokémon Picross Original release date(s): ^{December 2, 2015} NA	Release years by system: 2015 – Nintendo 3DS

Pokémon Café Mix Original release date(s): ^WW June 23, 2020	Release years by system: 2020 - Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS

PokéPark Series

These games let you explore a park filled with Pokémon and play mini-games.

Title	Details
PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure Original release date(s): ^{December 5, 2009} EU	Release years by system: 2009 – Wii 2016 – Wii U Virtual Console

PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond Original release date(s): ^{November 12, 2011} NA	Release years by system: 2011 – Wii
	Notes: This was a sequel to PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure.

Pikachu Series

These games focus on interacting with Pikachu in unique ways.

Title	Details
Hey You, Pikachu! Original release date(s): ^{December 12, 1998} NA	Release years by system: 1998 – Nintendo 64
	Notes: This game let you talk to Pikachu using a special microphone!
Pokémon Channel Original release date(s): ^{July 18, 2003} NA	Release years by system: 2003 – GameCube
	Notes: In this game, you watched TV with Pikachu and explored.

Detective Pikachu Games

These games let you solve mysteries with a talking Detective Pikachu.

Title	Details
Detective Pikachu Original release date(s): ^{February 3, 2016} NA	Release years by system: 2016 – Nintendo 3DS
	Notes: This game was so popular it even inspired a movie!
Detective Pikachu Returns Original release date(s): ^WW October 6, 2023	Release years by system: 2023 - Nintendo Switch

Mobile Games

These are games you can play on your phone or tablet.

Pokédex 3D and Pokédex 3D Pro

Pokédex 3D was a free app for the Nintendo 3DS that showed you 3D models and information about Pokémon. You could unlock more Pokémon over time.

Later, Pokédex 3D Pro was released. This paid version had all Pokémon available from the start and added new features like background music and different modes. The original free app was removed when the Pro version came out. An iPhone/iPad version was also available for a while.

Pokémon Dream Radar

This was a downloadable game for the Nintendo 3DS that used augmented reality (AR). You could use your camera to find and catch Pokémon in your real-world surroundings. You could then send these Pokémon to your Pokémon Black 2 or White 2 game.

Pokémon Bank

Pokémon Bank was an online storage system for your Nintendo 3DS. It let you store up to 3000 Pokémon from various main series games, like X, Y, Sun, and Moon. There was also an extra app called Poké Transporter that let you move Pokémon from older games like Black, White, and the Virtual Console versions of Red, Blue, and Yellow. Pokémon Bank became free to use on March 27, 2023, when the 3DS eShop closed.

Pokémon Photo Booth

This mobile app, released in 2016, lets you edit your photos with Pokémon filters and banners.

Pokémon Go

Released in July 2016, Pokémon Go is a super popular mobile game that uses your phone's GPS to let you find and catch Pokémon in the real world! You walk around to find Pokémon, visit PokéStops to get items, and battle at Gyms. It started with the first group of Pokémon and has added many more from different regions over time. It's free to play, but you can also buy items in the game.

Pokémon Duel

Pokémon Duel was a strategy board game released for mobile phones in 2017. You moved Pokémon figures around a board and battled opponents. The game was stopped on October 31, 2019.

Pokémon Masters EX

Released in August 2019, Pokémon Masters EX is a 3-on-3 battle game for mobile phones. You team up with famous Pokémon Trainers from the series and their partner Pokémon to battle.

Camp Pokémon

Camp Pokémon is a free app for phones and tablets that offers fun mini-games and activities related to Pokémon.

Pokémon Home

Pokémon Home is a cloud service released in February 2020 for Nintendo Switch and mobile phones. It lets you store your Pokémon online and transfer them between different Pokémon games, like Sword and Shield, and even from Pokémon Go. There's a free version and a paid version with more storage.

Pokémon Smile

Pokémon Smile is a free mobile app released in June 2020 that uses your device's camera to make brushing your teeth into a fun game where you rescue Pokémon from bacteria.

Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket

This free mobile game, released on October 30, 2024, is a digital version of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. You can collect cards, build decks, and battle other players.

PC and Computer Titles

These are Pokémon games designed for computers.

Pokémon TCG Online

Pokémon TCG Online was the official digital version of the Pokémon Trading Card Game for computers and mobile devices. It was stopped on June 7, 2023, and replaced by Pokémon TCG Live.

Pokémon Project Studio

Released in 1999, this computer program let you create Pokémon-themed projects like calendars and greeting cards using different Pokémon artwork.

Pokkén Tournament

Title	Details
Pokkén Tournament Original release date(s): ^{July 16, 2015 (Arcade)} WW	Release years by system: 2015 – Arcade 2016 – Wii U
	Notes: This is a fighting game where Pokémon battle each other in a different style than the main games.
Pokkén Tournament DX Original release date(s): ^WW September 22, 2017	Release years by system: 2017 – Nintendo Switch
	Notes: This was an improved version of Pokkén Tournament for the Nintendo Switch.

Other Spin-offs

Title	Details
Pokémon Dash Original release date(s): ^{December 2, 2004} EU	Release years by system: 2004 – Nintendo DS
	Notes: This was a racing game where you controlled Pokémon using the DS touchscreen.
Learn with Pokémon: Typing Adventure Original release date(s): ^{April 21, 2011} EU	Release years by system: 2011 – Nintendo DS
	Notes: This game came with a wireless keyboard and helped you learn how to type!
Pokémon Conquest Original release date(s): ^{March 17, 2012} NA	Release years by system: 2012 – Nintendo DS
	Notes: This game was a crossover with a Japanese strategy game series called Nobunaga's Ambition.
Pokémon Art Academy Original release date(s): ^{June 19, 2014} EU	Release years by system: 2014 – Nintendo 3DS
	Notes: This game taught you how to draw different Pokémon.
Pokémon: Magikarp Jump Original release date(s): ^WW May 24, 2017	Release years by system: 2017 – Android, iOS
	Notes: In this mobile game, you trained a Magikarp to jump as high as possible.
Pokémon Quest Original release date(s): ^WW May 30, 2018	Release years by system: 2018 - Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS
	Notes: This game featured blocky, "voxel" versions of Pokémon.
Pokémon Unite Original release date(s): ^WW July 21, 2021	Release years by system: 2021 - Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android
	Notes: This is a team-based battle game where two teams of five Pokémon battle to score points.