The massive size of the Pokémon franchise makes it an intimidating series to get into, and poses difficulty in choosing a first Pokémon game to play. From the anime series and the Pokémon Trading Card Game to the various spin-offs that have appeared over the course of the franchise, newcomers have a lot to parse. Nearly any of the video games would make a fair starting point, but a specific pair arguably offers perfect choices for the Pokémon game to start with.
The original Pokémon titles on Game Boy were wildly successful, and the franchise's popularity has only grown over the years. Today, there are dozens of Pokémon games to play, so many newcomers likely question exactly where they should begin. When starting out, it's probably best to avoid the spin-offs. Games like New Pokémon Snap are entertaining in their own right, but the core gameplay is different from what makes the main series so compelling. Pokémon is about exploring a fantasy world populated with a plethora of mystical creatures, and the core entries nail this feeling best. Still, that leaves 32 games to choose the best Pokémon game for beginners from.
FireRed & LeafGreen Are The Best Pokémon Games To Start With
While the Pokémon games (mostly) don't need to be played in any order for story reasons, those wanting to play the best Pokémon game for beginners should consider starting with the older titles. Players could easily start with new entries, but returning to the old games after getting comfortable with Pokémon Scarlet and Violet's open world will make those retro experiences a comparatively bumpy ride. The Game Boy Advance's FireRed and LeafGreen are a great balance. Although players will find more streamlined mechanics in later entries, FireRed and LeafGreen convey the charm of the original 151 monsters while being much smoother to play than the original Red and Blue.
Later Titles Reference The Best Pokémon Game For Beginners
As remakes of those two first games, starting with Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen will also make later games' references to them more effective. Fans of the Gen 2 titles can testify how memorable the final boss of Gold and Silver is, but his appearance won't make much of an impact on those who haven't played through FireRed and LeafGreen's Kanto region. In other games, including Sun and Moon and Black 2 and White 2, players also encounter characters from the originals in postgame content. A Pokémon Legends: Arceus Easter egg also pays specific homage to FireRed and LeafGreen, showing just how far knowledge of these games can go.
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, remakes of Nintendo DS titles, are currently the only mainline Pokémon games from earlier generations available on Switch. However, this doesn't have to remain true. With the addition of Game Boy Advance titles to the Nintendo Switch Online service, Nintendo has opened up an avenue for titles like FireRed and LeafGreen to potentially appear on its current console in the future. Hopefully, Nintendo will add the option to purchase FireRed and LeafGreen on Switch, along with other retro Pokémon titles, so fans can easily access the best Pokémon games to start with and some of the most influential RPGs the company has ever published.