Nintendo has kept gamers entertained for nearly 35 years, but it wasn’t until 1996 that the Game Boy welcomed a new franchise to the family – Pokémon. Today, that franchise is a $100 billion empire beloved by nearly 100 million fans worldwide.

Enter the Nintendo Switch. Initially released in 2017, Nintendo has sold more than 125 million units of the Switch and released thousands of games across dozens of genres. Still, Pokémon remains in a league of its own in the Nintendo community, with new games being added to the Switch every year.

The first Pokémon game to debut on the Nintendo Switch was Pokkén Tournament DX – a port of a Wii U game some Pokémon fans may have completely forgotten about. Since then, Nintendo has released 17 other Pokémon games for the Nintendo Switch, and they’re each unique in their own way – some more popular than others.

Those new to the Nintendo Switch or Pokémon community likely feel a little overwhelmed by their options. Don’t worry – we’ve all been there. That’s why I’m going to rank every Pokémon game for the Nintendo Switch – starting with the free games and continuing with the ones you have to purchase.

 

Pokémon Switch Game Ranking

18. Pokémon HOME

Released: February 11, 2020
Price: Free
What Is It? An app that allows you to store and trade Pokémon from one game to the next.

Technically, it’s not a game, but Pokémon HOME is available on the Nintendo Switch, so it’s on this list. If you’re someone who trades Pokémon often or wants a single hub to show off all their Pokédexes – this app is perfect for you. If you don’t trade Pokémon, you won’t have a lot of use for something like this.

With that said, it’s worth giving a chance. It’s a little off-putting that you need a phone and a Switch to use all of its features. Not being able to trade on the Switch is also disappointing (to say the least), and the app doesn’t make it easy to search for your Pokémon – something they could improve greatly on.

Even those who pay the ‘Premium Plan’ aren’t getting their money’s worth – the primary difference between the Premium and Free version is you get more storage space with the Premium version. Unless you have a massive collection, the Free version will do just fine.

 

17. Pokémon TV

Released: August 26, 2021
Price: Free
What Is It? A streaming service that allows you to watch a wide range of Pokémon content (including the TV series).

Another app (not a game), but this is definitely the better of the two Pokémon apps on the Nintendo Switch. For those who enjoy the Pokémon TV series or other Pokémon-related programming, this app is for you. It’s a great idea, especially for kids, but I wish Pokémon did more with it.

First off, they have the six most recent seasons available (Seasons 20-25), which is great. Unfortunately, they only give you four other seasons to watch, and they often cycle through which ones they are. Sure, it’s a free app, but some fans would definitely pay money for access to all episodes – a feature they don’t offer.

The Specials are good, though. And the ‘Junior’ tab is definitely a great tool for parents.

 

16. Pokémon Café ReMix

Released: June 23, 2020
Price: Free
What Is It? A free-to-play puzzle game where you complete missions to keep your Pokémon Café afloat.

Another free game that’s more of a ‘time-waster’ than anything – not a lot of substance to it, but it is great for killing time. So, why is it so low on these rankings? It’s not that worthy of being a Switch game. On your phone, this game makes a lot of sense on your phone and can be quite enjoyable. On the Switch, not so much.

While I found myself playing the game frequently and consistently (at first), it was one of those games I would only play for a couple of minutes before getting distracted by something else. And if you’re someone who opens the app often, it’s a pain to have to lug your Switch out just to play for a few minutes.

It’s much easier to maintain interest in the game after downloading it onto your phone.

 

15. Detective Pikachu Returns

Released: October 6, 2023
Price: $49.99
What Is It? A mystery-solving game modeled after the original Detective Pikachu game and Pokémon Detective Pikachu film.

Right off the bat, one of the primary reasons this game ranks so low is because it’s clearly a game tailored toward kids and juniors. That’s not to say adults can’t enjoy it, but I wasn’t a fan of it – I’m already not a big fan of point-and-click, visual novel-like games, so this just wasn’t it for me.

Another major issue with this game is that it was released a little too late. The original game (which came out in 2016) did well enough that they made a movie about it in 2019, but it took them four years to make a sequel game for the Switch – the Switch was released in 2017.

With that said, the sequel movie is supposed to come out sometime in 2024, so a better game (made for adults) may come out in the future. For now, stick with some of the others on this list.

 

14. Pokémon Shining Pearl

Released: November 19, 2021
Price: $59.99
What Is It? A remake of Pokémon Pearl, which was initially released on the Nintendo DS in 2006.

Considering this was released in 2021 (two years after Sword and Shield, and just a few months before Legends: Arceus), a lot of us (including me) were hoping to get a remake of the 2005 game, but with the visuals and graphics of the modern-day games. Unfortunately, that’s not the game we got out of it.

The chibi-style characters were disappointing, especially since that’s not how they marketed it. They made some improvements (affection system, EXP share), but it would’ve been better if it got the Let’s Go! treatment with the graphics – it didn’t. Instead, everyone paid $60 for something they already had for the Nintendo DS.

Pearl and Diamond were already two of my least favorite Pokémon games, but having them on the Switch didn’t make it any better – honestly, I would rather play them on the DS. And even then, I would’ve rather had a Platinum remake over a remake of Pearl or Diamond.

The Sinnoh region is awesome, but Pokémon didn’t do it justice with Shining Pearl. And Dialga is cooler than Palkia, so that’s why Brilliant Diamond ranks higher.

 

13. Pokémon Brilliant Diamond

Released: November 19, 2021
Price: $59.99
What Is It? A remake of Pokémon Diamond, which was initially released on the Nintendo DS in 2006.

A lot of what was said about Pokémon Shining Pearl applies here – they’re essentially the same game, but with a different set of version-exclusive Pokémon. Aside from Dialga, Brilliant Diamond features Tyranitar, Scyther (and Scizor), Aggron, Rampardos, and Hunchkrow – none of which are in SP.

That’s not to say Shining Pearl doesn’t have decent version exclusives (Pinsir, Slowbro, Houndoom, Walrein, Salamence, Mismagius), but the lineup on Diamond is better – though it ultimately comes down to personal preference.

With that said, it still lacks what many of us were hoping for from the BDSP release on Switch – better graphics. Honestly, they should’ve put all that time and energy into a proper remake of Platinum.

 

12. Pokémon Quest

Released: May 29, 2018
Price: Free
What Is It? A free-to-play action-adventure game that features cube-shaped, voxel-style Pokémon called ‘Pokéxel.’

A free game with Minecraft-like graphics that resembles something you would find on the Apple App Store. It includes all 151 original Pokémon (which is great), it’s an excellent way to kill some time when you’re bored, and it can be quite addicting (like most mobile games), but it doesn’t have much of a storyline.

That said, it’s one of those games that loses its appeal quickly. It gets repetitive; you don’t battle Pokémon like in a main series game (it’s more of a tap-to-attack type of game), and you technically don’t catch Pokémon (you attract them by cooking). It’s great for kids, but I deleted it after playing for a few hours.

Maybe I would give it another shot if it were a little more engaging and interactive.

 

11. Pokémon UNITE

Released: July 21, 2021
Price: Free
What Is It? A free-to-play 5-on-5 team battle arena game played online with other UNITE players.

Of the three free Pokémon games on the Nintendo Switch, Pokémon UNITE is the best. It’s still a far cry from the paid games on this list, but this one deserves some respect since it doesn’t cost a penny to play. I love that it’s centered around teamwork and that you can play with other people online.

The graphics resemble that of a mobile game, but that’s essentially what this is – a good one, though. I’m also a big fan of the Pokémon roster they chose. With it being a MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena) game, things can get very intense quickly, keeping you entertained during the 10-minute battles.

It’s not going to compete with most of the paid games, but it’s worth the free download if you have some time to kill.

 

10. Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX

Released: March 6, 2020
Price: $59.99
What Is It? A roguelike, dungeon-crawling video game where you build a rescue team of Pokémon to make the universe a safer place.

I’m not much of a fan of roguelike RPGs, but Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX changed my mind. For starters, it’s a great game, and it’s clear why so many people like it, but $60 is a little too steep for something that’s quite literally a remake (with little-to-no improvements) of a 2005 Game Boy Advance (and later, Nintendo DS) game.

With that said, it is a long game with a lot of substance to it. It’s not something you’ll get bored with, and the post-game content was enjoyable – in fact, the post-game play was better than the main storyline. It’s also a very challenging game, so don’t expect to succeed right away.

It’s a great game, but it’s just hard to justify the $60 price – it would probably be higher on this list if it were half the price.

 

9. Pokémon Sword

Released: November 15, 2019
Price: $59.99
What Is It? A main series Pokémon game that takes place in the Galar region and features Zacian – a Legendary Hero Pokémon.

At the time of their release, Sword and Shield were by far my favorite main series Pokémon games of all time. They gave us a taste of what an open-world game might look like (with the Wild Area), and I’m a big fan of the Galar region – fit with beautiful visuals and incredible landscapes – but it doesn’t quite match up to the games that have been released since.

As awesome as the Wild Area was in 2019, it was a relatively new concept, and with that comes sacrifices. The graphics weren’t the best (compared to what we have now), and it wasn’t that vast – it was more or less a big field with wild Pokémon. They were clearly on to something, but just not there yet.

That said, it was definitely a top-5 (maybe top-3) Pokémon game on the Nintendo Switch.

 

8. Pokémon Shield

Released: November 15, 2019
Price: $59.99
What Is It? A main series Pokémon game that takes place in the Galar region and features Zamazenta – a Legendary Hero Pokémon.

A lot of the things that were said about Sword can be said about Shield. Both of these games are great games, especially if you like the Galar region, but we have better options now – that’s why they’re so far back on this list. It received a lot of hate at first, but there were also a lot of people who loved it.

The story is a little short, the animations are a little lazy, and the Wild Area is limited, but it’s worth the $60 cost, and the Dynamax feature is cool (though a lot of people don’t seem to agree). The only reason I have Shield ranked higher than Sword is because it has better version exclusives and team leader designs.

While this game doesn’t quite match up to the Scarlet & Violet duology, you won’t regret buying it.

 

7. Pokémon Violet

Released: November 18, 2022
Price: $59.99
What Is It? An open-world, main series game that takes place in the Paldea region and features Miraidon – a Paradox Pokémon from the future.

Let’s address the elephant in the room straight away – the performance issues, bugs, and glitches. It was enough to set a lot of people off, but not me – to be honest, it’s almost expected with any open-world game. Plus, the bugs are at their worst when playing with friends – I play solo, so it didn’t affect me too much.

With that said, Scarlet and Violet seemed a bit rushed, messy, and half-put-together – it was just a lousy game, in general. If they had taken their time with it, this game would easily be in the top five of my ranking, but it missed the mark in that aspect. Don’t worry – it shouldn’t stop you from enjoying it.

The real money-maker here is the ending – one of the best endings to a Pokémon game in a long time. They do a great job of bringing together the three different pathways (Victory Road, Starfall Street, and Path of Legends), which makes for an epic and satisfying ending.

 

6. Pokémon Scarlet

Released: November 18, 2022
Price: $59.99
What Is It? An open-world, main series game that takes place in the Paldea region and features Koraidon – a Paradox Pokémon from the past.

A lot of people say Sword and Shield are better than Scarlet and Violet, but I disagree. The performance issues are bad, but SV makes up for it with solid gameplay and a great storyline. To be honest, you’ll be having so much fun with the game that you won’t even notice any of the issues until you get to the end.

As far as why I’m ranking Scarlet ahead of Violet, I have a soft spot for the Ancient Pokémon – they look cooler, honestly. And I’ve traditionally preferred Fighting-type Pokémon over Lightning-type Pokémon, so Koraidon (Scarlet) wins here.

 

5. Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu!

Released: November 16, 2018
Price: $59.99
What Is It? A remake of Pokémon Yellow (1998) with better graphics and an improved way of catching Pokémon – similar to Pokémon GO.

There’s nothing better than taking a trip down memory lane – and that’s exactly what this game does to anyone who grew up playing Pokémon Yellow. The graphics were great, and it’s one of the more visually pleasing games out there – it brought to life what my mind was imagining 25 years ago.

It’s also a great game for those who like Pokemon GO. While battling wild Pokémon to catch them is fun, Let’s Go, Pikachu! Combined GO’s catching mechanism with a main series game. It was also our first look at Pokémon roaming in the wild (instead of having them pop up randomly), which was awesome.

Even five years after its release, I still play this game occasionally – though I’ll always prefer the Game Boy Color version.

 

4. Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee!

Released: November 16, 2018
Price: $59.99
What Is It? Similar game to Let’s Go, Pikachu!, but with version-exclusive Pokémon – and you start out with Eevee instead of Pikachu.

Pikachu has been the face of the Pokémon franchise for as long as anyone can remember, and that was the case with Pokémon Yellow – instead of choosing between three starter Pokémon, you start with Pikachu. That was the case with Let’s Go, Pikachu! (hence the name), but Let’s Go, Eevee! was different.

Instead of Pikachu, you get to start with Eevee. Besides the version exclusives (which are pretty even between both games), starting with Eevee is the only reason I’m ranking Let’s Go, Eevee! higher than Let’s Go, Pikachu! – it’s nice to give a different Pokémon the spotlight, and Eevee is the best choice.

Like its Pikachu companion, Let’s Go, Eevee! was a fun trip down memory lane and allowed me to experience a 1998 favorite in a way I could only imagine in my mind. They nailed it with this one.

 

3. New Pokémon Snap

Released: April 30, 2021
Price: $59.99
What Is It? An on-rails first-person photography game where you take photos of Pokémon in the wild – almost like you work for National Geographic, but in the Lental region of the Pokémon universe.

If you were a fan of Pokémon Snap two decades ago, you’ll be excited to learn that it is available to play on the Switch. The first thing I noticed about the game was the graphics – which were spectacular. Seeing some of my favorite Pokémon interacting with their natural habitat was something that really lured me in.

The motion controls are excellent, and it improves on the original in virtually every way possible. While some people complain that it’s a short game, it has dozens of courses to work through and a ton of replay value – it’s one of those games you’ll never really get bored of.

This is one of the chillest Pokémon games available on the Switch, and I would recommend it to any Pokémon fan with a little patience.

 

2. Pokkén Tournament DX

Released: September 22, 2017
Price: $59.99
What Is It? A 1-on-1 arcade-style fighting game that closely resembles Tekken, Street Fighter, Super Smash Bros, Mortal Kombat, etc.

The storyline is terrible, but that’s not  why most people bought this. If you’re someone who enjoys 1-on-1 arcade-style fighting games, then you should have no complaints about this one. It’s everything people like about Tekken, but with Pokémon characters.

The graphics are incredible, you can play the game for hundreds of hours and still get enjoyment out of it, and there are so many movesets to learn that it’ll keep you interested. Being able to battle against your friends is a massive plus – fighting against the computer is fun, but fighting against friends is better.

I dream of the day we get a proper reboot of this game – modern-day graphics would do this game justice in ways we’ve never seen before.

 

1. Pokémon Legends: Arceus

Released: January 28, 2022
Price: $59.99
What Is It? An open-world, role-playing game that allows you to roam free throughout the Hisui region, filling out your Pokédex and completing missions.

Legends: Arceus is everything many fans have ever wanted in a Pokémon game. The performance is much better than Scarlet and Violet, the gameplay is excellent, the storyline is incredible, it gets more challenging as you go, but never so complicated that you give up, and there are a lot of Pokémon to catch and evolve.

I sometimes spend hours just running around collecting berries, making Poké Balls, or leveling up my Pokémon – it’s therapeutic, in a way. The side quests give it substance, but you can go at your own pace, which I enjoy. Not only that, but there are seven different maps with unique landscapes and Pokémon.

Legends: Arceus makes me excited about what the future has in store for Pokémon games on the Switch. Now, all we can do is wait for the next release, whenever/whatever that is.

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