One of the most memorable features of Pokémon spinoff game Pokémon Stadium is its assortment of mini-games. The classic Nintendo 64 title ignores exploration in favor of focusing on Pokémon Battles but fleshes things out with features like the Kids Club section. Nine mini-games allow those who are tired of repeatedly taking part in Gym Battles to take a break and unwind with some fun challenges. The best Pokémon Stadium mini-games, much like Nintendo's very own Mario Party, are quick and simple tasks where up to four players can compete for victory.
With Pokémon Stadium coming to Nintendo Switch Online on April 12, this Pokémon side series and its mini-games are being given the attention they deserve for the first time in years. While all of Pokémon Stadium's mini-games are fun in their own right, some of them are definitely more frustrating than others. These nine mini-games can be ranked on how much fun they are to play, which includes how well they control and how much strategy goes into it, and how good the overall presentation is, including how well they implement Pokémon themes into the game concept.
9 #9 - Dig! Dig! Dig!
In Dig! Dig! Dig!, players take control of the Ground-type Sandshrew as it attempts to dig a hole in the earth to find water. Players control the Mouse Pokémon by alternating presses of the L and R buttons on the N64 Controller. These controls are extremely frustrating to keep up with, making the game nearly impossible beat quickly. Also, the repeated mashing motion can quickly lead to hand cramps, or broken buttons on the controller. With how uninteresting the design of Dig! Dig! Dig! is, it's not worth the potential damage, even in the Pokémon Stadium online multiplayer that the Switch offers.
8 #8 - Magikarp's Splash
For Magikarp's Splash, the player must repeatedly jump with Magikarp, reaching a certain height and trying to get as many jumps in as possible. The key to winning this jumping contest lies in the player's ability to time the jumps perfectly for when Magikarp touches the ground. The premise is extremely simple, making it a forgettable mini-game in Pokémon Stadium despite featuring fan-favorite Water-type Pokémon, Magikarp. With no features beyond pressing one button with a certain rhythm for a short amount of time, Magikarp's Splash simply doesn't offer much room for engagement or player improvement.
7 #7 - Run, Rattata, Run
In this game, the player must mash the A button to quickly run as a Rattata, dodging hurdles to stay ahead. While Run, Rattata, Run is another mashing game, the hurdles, as well as the racetrack visuals, help keep it from becoming too repetitive. However, the camera angles in Run, Rattata, Run can at times become atrocious, preventing players from easily dodging hurdles and giving others an unfair advantage. Other than that, this mini-game is just another that proves to be a little basic.
6 #6 - Thundering Dynamo
Thundering Dynamo, the mini-game featuring Electric-type Pokémon Pikachu and Voltorb, falls again into the category of a button-mashing mini-game. Being the last and best of those games, Thundering Dynamo has players quickly pressing the A and B buttons depending on which is prompted. If the button press is correct, the meter fills up, if it is incorrect, the meter rapidly drains. This game is short and sweet, perfect for its simple mechanics. Also, the aesthetic of Thundering Dynamo is great, though it could stand to feature more of Pokémon's many Electric-types.
5 #5 - Clefairy Says
Clefairy Says, featuring Pokémon's near replacement for Pikachu, Clefairy, is a memory based mini-game tasking players with memorizing the pattern of directions that Clefairy points in. This game features some of the strongest aesthetic value, placing participants in a classroom, and having the Clefairy sing and dance as it follows the pattern. This alone is enough to bring it to the number 5 spot. The gameplay itself is fun, but uninteresting as there is no special strategy that goes into the game, besides having a better memory. Unlike Thundering Dynamo however, Clefairy Says utilizes its mascot Pokémon extremely well.
4 #4 - Ekans' Hoop Hurl
Ekans' Hoop Hurl will always be an interesting example of a mini-game that is extremely fun, presenting both Diglett and Ekans in interesting ways, yet falls flat in terms of controls. The game has players competing to toss Ekans to circle Digletts and score points. Since it's a free for all, and golden Digletts can appear for extra points, a lot of strategy and planning goes into each ring toss. However, the controls in this mode are very touchy, making it extremely hard to quickly line up shots in the fast-paced chaos, leaving the middle row of Digletts all but unobtainable for human players. Despite these downsides, Ekans' Hoop Hurl is still a blast to play.
3 #3 - Snore War
Snore War hits all the right notes in terms of style, gameplay, and replayability. In this game, players have to time button presses with the swinging of a pendulum to keep their Drowzee awake. As it picks up speed, players are left in a frantic battle to rapidly keep pace with their opponents. The winner being the last Drowzee standing adds to the level of fun, leading to hectic scenarios and nail-biting finishes. Plus, the music and atmosphere in this game mode are fantastic, perfectly fitting Drowzee's aesthetic and making for one of the best Pokémon Stadium mini-games.
2 #2 - Rock Harden
"Rock Harden" is by far the most mechanically unique mini-game in Pokémon Stadium, and one of the most fun to play as well. Featuring everyone's favorite mid-evolution Bug-types, Metapod and Kakuna, players must use the ability Harden to block rocks before they come crashing down on their heads. The player can use harden as long as they press the A button, but holding it down will drain their health.
This leads to many strategies, from playing it safe and using long hardens to avoid massive damage from the rocks to trying for frame-perfect presses of the A button. The only thing lacking in the game is fun Pokémon aesthetic. While not as bad as a few of the other mini-games, the game could have involved more of the best rock-type Pokémon. Rocks could have potentially been Geodudes instead of plain boulders, or even launched from a Pokémon like Rhyhorn. However, the use of the iconic move Harden and nod to Bug-type Pokémon's natural weakness to rock saves it, landing it the second place finish in the rankings.
1 #1 - Sushi Go-Round
Finally, the number one spot has to go to Sushi Go-Round, the mini-game featuring Lickitung. This game features the perfect combination of all three elements of a good Pokémon mini-game: fun gameplay, good Pokémon aesthetic, and the potential for strategy. Players in this mode must eat various sushi around a conveyor belt, trying to rack up the highest bill possible. Eating the same sushi in a row will increase a score multiplier, giving massive points.
From this, many interesting strategies emerge, like going for cheaper, but more common, food items, or only eating the most expensive item, and trying to gain a huge bonus from its multiplier. On top of this, the use of Lickitung and its retractable tongue running around a sushi bar is extremely charming, and controls very well, being one of the few mini-games that do. Sushi Go-Round is definitely the mini-game to look out for in Pokémon Stadium on the Nintendo Switch.
While some mini-games stand out more than others, each one has their place in the overall game. Although the best Pokémon Stadium mini-games aren't the focus of the title, many cherish fond memories of playing these diversions. With the game's rerelease coming on April 12, it's finally time for fans of Pokémon Stadium to visit these memories again.