The Nintendo Switch is nearly five years old, and almost a dozen Pokémon games were released for Switch. It doesn’t matter whether you are a seasoned Pokémon lover or a newbie who has been out of the game since the days of Pokémon Red and Blue; it does matter if you aren’t aware that Pokémon is one of the massive franchises in the gaming world. Despite having a vast collection of Pokémon titles, it doesn’t mean that Switch has only good games to play; in short, there are a few objectively good titles. Therefore, we’ve compiled a list of the Best Pokémon Games for Switch.
Furthermore, Nintendo Switch is a sweet home of some best Pokémon titles that might provoke praise after getting criticism. Undoubtedly, the Pokémon series has ruled over almost all Nintendo Consoles, ranging from Game Boy Advance to the 3DS; however, Nintendo Switch is no different. Apart from that, the system has a variety of primary series, along with their spin-offs, for you to engage yourself for endless hours of fun. Besides, regarding Switch, you have limited options regarding Pokémon titles. So, at that time, the main question is selecting a suitable game worth your time.
What’s the best Pokémon game for Nintendo Switch?
Pokémon is a series of video games introducing weird and stunning monsters battling against each other in tournaments and battlefields. You assume a trainer’s role who is responsible for exploring the land to find rare or average monsters and train them to fight against competitors in tournaments. The battle occurs in a turn-based system, where showing off your skills on your turn is mandatory.
Choosing which game to play could be challenging, whether you are a seasoned Pokémon trainer or a newbie. It also depends on whether you want a title to experience the wonderful world of Pokémon or want to experience the Classic Pokémon Adventure. Furthermore, you would be happy to know that the series is getting stronger day by day, especially after getting the release date of two new titles this year. If you’re a Switch Owner and don’t know where to start, keep reading this article to start things off in your favor and find the best Pokémon Games.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus
Undoubtedly, Pokémon Legends: Arceus is acknowledged as one of the best Pokémon games on the Nintendo Switch. After crossing Sword and Shield, Arceus becomes the highest-rated title on Switch, proving that the best Pokémon title doesn’t need to stick to a particular feature because it did matter a few decades ago. Besides, it serves as the 8th generation of the series, the prequel to Pokémon Diamond and Pearl.
The plot centers on the protagonist, who finds himself back in time to travel through the Hisui region. During the game, the player explores a few open areas fully loaded with weird creatures, meanwhile accomplishing the objective of becoming a roster of the region. In this title, the player can roam freely on an open world map divided into five parts of biomes. Therefore, it can be the best option if you love playing adventures when fighting against opponents.
Pokémon Sword and Shield
It ranks second in our list of Best Pokémon Games on Switch and supports single-player and Multiplayer modes. It was specially released for Switch only on 15 November 2019 and has brought lots of adventure to your gaming console to experience. Besides, the game offers you a traditional RPG gameplay experience, wherein you control a character intending to dethrone the Pokemon League Champion, Lean, in a tournament.
Moreover, it serves as the first entry in the 8th generation of the series and the second title, following Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! Similar to the previous entry, the game shows you a struggle of a Pokémon Trainer who aims to become a champion. The perfect mix of Adventure and RPG elements gives you thrilling gameplay and a fixed camera perspective; however, in some places, you can use free camera movement. During the gameplay, you must catch and train cute monsters and try to win battles against competitors. You will receive experience after defeating opposing Pokémon in turn-based battles. Apart from that, the newly introduced features are Raid Encounters, Gigantamaxing, and Dynamaxing.
New Pokémon Snap
It will be released on 20 April 2021 for the Nintendo Switch console. New Pokémon Snap only supports single-player mode and mixes the First-person Rail Shooter and Photography game elements. If you are one of those players who aren’t interested in competing in turn-based battles against opposing Pokemon, then New Pokémon Snap is designed for you. It is a sequel to Pokémon Snap, released in 1999 for Nintendo 64. During the game, the player must travel across the Lental Region with the help of on-rails hovercraft to research Pokémon using a camera.
Moreover, the gameplay is identical to its predecessor, and players have witnessed the return of the island setting, along with unlockable stages, photography mechanics, and real-time interaction. In short, you can interact with the environment using unlockable items. A new feature is also introduced: an option to view courses at different day stages, including nighttime and daytime. Introducing the view courses feature may help players capture the other Pokémon. The protagonist of New Pokemon Snap is controlled by a researcher Professor Mirror. Besides, he receives an invitation from his assistants to explore the entire island and conduct research to unlock new courses.
Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee!
It is a Single-player and Multiplayer Role-playing video game released by Game Freak for Nintendo Switch. It serves as part of the seventh generation and is the first title in the main series to be introduced for a Home Game Console. Since it follows the series’ footsteps, most settings, gameplay, and mechanics are unchanged. The game introduces the most common aspects of the series, such as fighting against NPCs and Gym Leaders with their caught monsters.
Moreover, whenever you confront a wild monster, the game uses a system borrowed from the mobile spin-off game “Pokémon GO,” rather than using the traditional battle system like in past titles. Furthermore, the plot and the story remain unchanged compared to Pokémon Yellow. Eight gym leaders are available to compete, and the members of Elite Four have returned. Don’t forget about Team Rocket which may stop you from becoming the world’s best trainer. The team rocket may include the following characters from the series, such as Meowth, James, and Jessie.
Pokken Tournament DX
Instead of focusing on Role-playing, Adventure, and Exploration genres, Pokken Tournament DX introduces Action and Fighting gameplay. It gives you direct control of one of 21 Pokemon fighters to defeat other monsters in Arena Fights. The newly introduced feature is Support Pokemon, which you can call upon to assist in a fight to reveal a unique Burst Attack.
Defeat monsters one by one to climb the rank on the leaderboard and become the world’s best fighters. Besides, many new features are introduced, and the game has given you a new way to battle with friends. For example, Scizor, Croagunk, Darkrai, etc., are new characters.
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl
Both titles serve as part of the 8th generation Pokémon series and offer similar gameplay to previous titles. They were released on 19 November 2021, followed by an adventure of a young trainer who embarks on an adventure to train and battle Pokémon while trying to take down a criminal organization, Team Galactic. In addition, these titles bring something new to the series, including Internet Play over Nintendo Connection, modifications to Mechanics, and Contests.
Besides, some new Pokémon are also introduced. It offers similar gameplay to the original title, Pokémon Diamond and Shining Pearl. At the start, you are introduced to a fictional region of Sinnoh, where your objective is to struggle for your title and become the world’s best trainer after catching and training monsters.
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet are two different titles but offer the same gameplay, graphics, and mechanics; both were released on the same date on 18 November 2022 for Nintendo Switch. Both serve as the first release in the Ninth generation series; however, they were first announced to be released in Feb 2022. Skipping the tradition of following the Pokémon franchise, Scarlet and Violet introduce themselves in an open-world environment, where the player requires to explore the Paldea region when unfolding three different stories.
Almost 103 newly introduced Pokémon are available, along with two new forms, enabling players to transform their Pokémon into an exclusive Tera Type. However, when it comes to basic gameplay structure, both titles have the same pattern as previous Pokemon games, where the player needs to explore the land to obtain monsters through catching and trading; later on, the player can use them in battles against opposing trainers.
Pokémon Unite
You can experience Multiplayer Online Battle Arena gameplay in Pokémon Unite, which is close to what you have in League of Legends. However, it offers utterly different gameplay compared to the rest of the series and supports only Multiplayer mode. Besides, it runs on mobile devices and Nintendo Switch only. The matches happen between two teams, each with five players, with a limited time of 10 minutes.
The team with the most captured points or the highest point is announced as the winner by the end of the match. Apart from the highest points, team A will win if team B surrenders. Give Pokémon Unite a try if you love playing MOBA games.
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX
Not all introduced Pokémon games for Switch are offering the same genres, as they are different in terms of gameplay, graphics, and mechanics. Although deciding which game suits you on Switch and is worth your time isn’t easy; however, you can pick them up quickly when you decide whether you want to play adventure games or explore the colorful open world.
Pokémon Café ReMix
Pokémon Café ReMix offers Puzzle and Single-player by Genius Sonority for Mobile Devices and Nintendo Switch. It is also known as Pokémon Café Remix and is free to play. Suppose you have already played the Disney Tsum Tsum and Yo-kai: Wibble Wobble. In that case, the gameplay might be familiar with the gameplay, wherein your goal is to control a character to connect icons to advance through missions.
In short, the plot follows two characters, the protagonist and Eevee, who are the owner of a café where they have to serve delicious food and drinks to Pokémon. To prepare food, the player has to solve a puzzle, requiring clearing on-screen icons by connecting them in a string while collecting particular items. Your character level up as you develop menu items and utilize them to attract more customers.
Pokémon Quest
Pokemon Quest was released for Mobile Devices and Nintendo Switch on 30 May 2018. It delivers Action-Adventure gameplay and takes you to a block-based world similar to Minecraft, where you experience the voxel-style design. It takes place in a Tumblecube Island, borrowed from the original lineup, and it lets you control a base camp and a team of Pokémon.
Your ultimate goal is to achieve all objectives and complete all levels on the island to become a master by defeating the wild Pokémon. There are four parts: Base Camp Management, Training and Optimizing Pokemon, and more. Each part has different gameplay and a variety of objectives to complete.
