The Pokémon franchise is currently on its eighth generation. And, after 898 Pokémon and thirty-two main series games - not counting the upcoming Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl or Pokémon Legends: Arceus - the franchise isn't showing signs of slowing down, with many fans eagerly awaiting the announcement of the inevitable Generation IX.
Nintendo and Game Freak usually release a minimum of two games with every new generation. Remakes are also a crucial part of the franchise, as evidenced by the upcoming Sinnoh games. With so many options to choose from, it may seem impossible to pick the best game in every generation, but players can arrive at a definitive answer when taking a closer look at each title.
Generation I: Pokémon Yellow
Generation I set the tone for every single game that would come after, establishing the gameplay basics and familiarizing players with the story's structure. Red & Blue came out in 1998, and the main difference between them is the version-exclusive Pokémon available to the player.
However, Yellow is undoubtedly the best version. It includes all three starters, and Charizard could learn Fly. The game forced the player to choose Pikachu as a Starter, and the yellow mouse was incapable of evolving, similar to its anime counterpart. Still, this requirement was worth it to access more Pokémon and get better sprites.
Generation II: Pokémon Gold
The enhanced version of the Johto games, Crystal, isn't the best option, despite what many would believe. It doesn't have Ampharos, one of Johto's strongest Pokémon and a staple of nearly every Gen II team. Instead, it's Pokémon Gold that rises to the top, thanks to a variety of factors.
Firstly, its legendary mascot is slightly better than Silver's Lugia due to a better type-combination. Ho-Oh is also vastly superior to Crystal's Suicune and is one of the region's best Fire-types, provided the player didn't choose Cyndaquill. Lugia doesn't coincide with any of the Starter's types, but it takes forever to learn a Psychic-type move, with training taking place until the ridiculous level of 99.
Generation III: Pokémon Emerald
Ruby and Sapphire each have their strengths and weaknesses. Team Aqua and Team Magma are equally lame, but Kyogre and Groudon are among the best Legendaries ever created. Still, Emerald combines the best parts of both games and becomes the superior version.
Rayquaza is, arguably, Generation III's most beloved Pokémon. Both evil teams participate in Emerald's plot, and more Pokémon become available. The new Champion, Wallace, isn't as good as Steven, but the Battle Frontier almost single-handedly makes the game better.
Generation IV: Pokémon Platinum
Many fans consider Pokémon Platinum to be one of the best games in the Pokémon franchise, and it's easy to see why. It not only improves the limited Pokédex from its predecessors, but it also adds extra story elements that make for an entirely different game.
Giratina and the Distortion World are some of the most ambitious storylines the franchise ever tackled. The visuals in the Distortion World were also quite impressive, pushing the boundaries for what the DS could achieve. The addition of Looker, a character that would go on to reappear in several games, and the Battle Frontier made for one of the best post-games in the franchise. And new Pokémon like Gligar, Electivire, and Magmortar gave an extra edge to an already incredible region.
Generation V: Pokémon Black & White
Gen V was a milestone in Pokémon, as the franchise introduced more complex topics into its narrative and made several changes to the gameplay. The result was the most thematically resonant and daring games since Red & Blue more than ten years earlier.
Black & White are homonyms in every way, from story to the exclusive Pokémon, so there's no way of definitively declaring one better than the other. Zekrom might be a more impressive Legendary than Reshiram, and Opelucid City is a tad more aesthetically pleasing in White, but the games are similar everywhere else that matters. Generation V was controversial at the time of its release, but players now hold it in high esteem, recognizing its shameless and undeniable ambition.
Generation VI: Pokémon X
In Gen VI, it was all about the Fairy. The newly-introduced character made a splash almost immediately by severely nerfing the almighty Dragons that ruled the previous five generations. With Fairy's arrival, the competitive landscape changed, and the franchise received its most considerable twist since the introduction of Steel and Dark four generations before.
Considering this, it's weird that the developers chose to only give the new type to one of Kalos' Legendary Pokémon. Alas, only Xerneas received the Fairy-type, and the intriguing yet underwhelming Yveltal got stuck with a boring Dark/Flying-type. Fairy/Dark would've been an ideal combo, especially if Xerneas got Fairy/Psychic. It didn't happen, and Pokémon X remains the best Gen VI game.
Generation VII: Pokémon Ultra Sun
Ultra Beasts are a bit of a mixed bag. Their designs are fittingly bizarre for alien Pokémon from other dimensions, but some fans can't wrap their heads around the concept. These overpowered and wild beasts play notable roles in both Ultra games, distinguishing them from their predecessors. However, the Ultra games are better in one crucial way.
Ultra Necrozma is, arguably, the franchise's most challenging boss battle. With a base stat total of 745, this massive creature gave several fans a run for their money, making up for the complaints that the Gen VI games were too easy. Both Ultra games are among the best in the series, but Ultra Sun gets a slight edge because of Solgaleo's convenient type combination.
Generation VIII: Pokémon Sword
The latest generation of games divided the community. Some appreciated the innovations such as the Wild Area and the changes to the familiar Gym system. Dynamax and Gigantamax were more controversial, as were the game's graphics and plot.
Of the two Galar games, Sword comes out on top thanks to its brilliant mascot. Zacian's Fairy/Steel combination is ridiculously overpowered, especially against Zamazenta's Fighting/Steel combo. Another thing working against Zamazenta is that it doesn't learn any Fighting moves via leveling up except for Close Combat at the obnoxiously high level of 77.