What’s The Difference Between Pokémon Scarlet & Violet?

One of the defining features of mainline Pokémon games is that they often release as multiple games. It’s a tradition that started all the way back with Pokémon Red and Blue, and now that Pokémon is approaching the ninth generation, it’ll be continued with Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. If you’re looking to get into the world of Pokémon, or even if you’re a veteran player, knowing the differences between Scarlet and Violet can help you make an informed decision.

Here’s everything you need to know about the differences between Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

 

How Are Pokémon Games Typically Different?

Functionally, both Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are the same game, in that you’ll go through similar journeys and storylines, but the Pokémon and characters you’ll encounter will be different along the way. This has been true of Pokémon games since the series began. Pokémon that are exclusive to one specific game can be traded with players who own the other game though, so you can swap with a Violet owner if you play Scarlet and fill out your Pokedex that way.

 

What’s In Pokémon Scarlet?

The exclusive basic Pokémon that are available in Pokémon Scarlet are as follows:

– Larvitar
– Pupitar
– Tyranitar
– Stonjourner
– Armarouge (a brand new Pokémon that’ll be introduced in Scarlet)

There’s also an exclusive Legendary Pokémon in the form of Koraidon, who will also be used in-game as a mode of transportation. Koraidon can transform into different ways, allowing the player to explore from land, sea and air.

 

What’s In Pokémon Violet?

Pokémon Violet also has its own list of exclusive Pokémon, which can of course be traded with Scarlet players and vice versa. The Violet exclusive basic Pokémon are as follows:

– Bagon
– Shelgon
– Salamence
– Eiscue
– Ceruledge (a newcomer to the Pokémon series, exclusive to Violet)

Like Scarlet, Violet also boasts its own exclusive Legendary Pokémon called Miraidon, who will serve the same purpose as Koraidon in Scarlet. It’s just a question of which one you think looks cooler.

 

What’s The Key Differences Between Pokémon Scarlet & Violet?

While Pokémon games in the past have always featured exclusive Pokémon and sometimes exclusive gym leaders, it feels like Scarlet and Violet have the most differences of any Pokémon game.

It’s not yet known if there will be exclusive gym leaders between Scarlet and Violet, but the academy that the main character attends will be completely different depending on the version you choose.

The main character attends a school in Mesagoza, the largest city in the Paldea region, where Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are set. In Pokémon Scarlet, the school is called the Naranja Academy, while in Pokémon Violet, it’s called the Uva Academy. These names mean “orange” and “grape” respectively in Spanish, with the colour scheme and uniform of both academies changing to orange and purple depending on the game you’ve picked. This change also affects the outfits of Team Star, an antagonistic group within the game who also attend the same school.

In a first for Pokémon games, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet also feature two completely different professors, meaning that the person who gives you guidance throughout the game will be completely different depending on the version you’ve picked. If you’re a Pokémon Scarlet player, you’ll be greeted with Professor Sada, while Violet players will be helped on their quest by Professor Turo.

The change in professors between versions is also a good time to point out that both games seemingly have a huge difference in world design and themes, specifically regarding time. Pokémon Scarlet is channelling a prehistoric motif, with Professor Sada’s cavewoman aesthetic and Koraidon’s primal appearance offering a stark contrast to Professor Turo and Miraidon’s futuristic look in Pokémon Violet. Sada and Turo are also derived from the Spanish words for past and future too (pasada and futuro respectively).

 

Which Version Should I Buy?

Originally, the choices between Pokémon games often came down to which color you preferred, and that’s mostly still true with Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. If you, or the person you’re buying it for, loves the color orange or red, pick up Scarlet. If they prefer cooler tones like blues and purples, go for Violet instead. It’s still going to be the same game.

However, the past vs future motif also adds an additional element of choice. As much as blue is my personal favorite color, the world design of Pokémon Scarlet seems way more appealing. Ultimately, the choice doesn’t matter too much, but if you’re buying Pokémon Scarlet and Violet for a kid who might prefer dinosaurs over jet bikes, Scarlet will probably be the best call.

READ MORE: Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: 8 Facts You Should Know