The Best Pokemon Generations, All 7 Ranked

7. Generation V (Black/White/Black 2/White 2)

The Best Pokemon Generations

There aren’t really any bad Pokemon generations, but the weakest of the bunch definitely has to be generation V. The timing of its release somewhat gave the impression that developer Game Freak was hesitant towards truly advancing the series. Pokemon Black and White released in Japan on the original DS mere months before the 3DS came out. Fast-forward two years, though, and their direct sequels Black 2 and White 2 were again released on the same outdated hardware. Fans hungry for a mainline Pokemon on Nintendo’s new generation of handhelds were surely disappointed.

Notably, Generation V is often criticized for having “lazy” Pokemon designs, many of which are simply inanimate objects with facial features. Other frustrations include the fact that only the 150 new Pokemon are available before the post-game. And the fact that players don’t run into a Pikachu until around twenty hours into the story likely rubbed some people the wrong way.

Despite the sense of stagnation, however, Black and White were actually solid games. In particular, the robust narrative and excellent score were highlights. They featured two of the best friends in any of the games: Cheren and Bianca. And the player’s main rival, N, is also a somewhat menacing individual, making a nice change of pace. This was the only generation to receive a direct sequel. Black 2 and White 2 take place two years after the original game and give you a chance to see how the world has grown. It’s a neat concept, however, the story of the sequels don’t quite stack up to the quality of the originals. If you’re going to play one game from this generation, make it the first Black/White.

6. Generation VII (Sun/Moon/Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon)

The Best Pokemon Generations

Generation VII shares a similar story to generation V in that it is also the second main series Pokemon game on its respective system. However, to compensate, Pokemon Sun and Moon go further to separate themselves from what preceded it. A problem with the Pokemon series is that it doesn’t take many risks – nor should it, seeing how well each new entry sells. As a result, innovations to the series are taken in baby-steps. Sun and Moon are different. They implemented a bunch of new and unique ideas, making them exciting regardless of being on the same system as their predecessors.

It’s the break in formula that is central to the importance of Sun and Moon. For the first time in the series, there are no longer eight gym leaders that you have to defeat. This system was replaced with the island challenge, where each trial could task you with several different objectives, such as finding a designated item or defeating a totem Pokemon. SOS battles, however, were not a fun improvement. Because wild Pokemon can call a buddy to join them before you can take your attack, you can end up being stuck in a frustrating loop for quite a while.

5. Generation IV (Diamond/Pearl/Platinum)

The Best Pokemon Generations

Pokemon Diamond and Pearl were the first games to appear on the Nintendo DS, and as such, featured a wide array of extra features that weren’t possible before. The form factor of the DS allowed for some quality of life improvements thanks to the touch screen. The Poketch appears on the touch screen and has a number of different handy applications. Some of the more useful ones include the itemfinder, the happiness checker and the marking map.

Diamond and Pearl were the first games to include online functionality. The GTS, which allows you to make specific trade requests, was an incredibly convenient addition that made filling your Pokedex a much more reasonable task.

Pokemon Platinum refines the experience by speeding up the battles. The new inclusion of the Distortion World makes the encounter atop Spear Pillar more exciting, bringing a much more tragic end to the villain, Cyrus. Platinum also introduced the staple character Looker, who goes on to become a recurring character in the series, and a very important character to the overall lore.

4. Generation VI (X/Y)

The Best Pokemon Generations

Generation VI was a massive leap forward for the series as it finally pushed the main games into 3D. There was a lot of hype surrounding these games before launch, as it seemed that Game Freak was finally pushing the series forward after the stagnation of generation V, in comparison. Instead of only including brand new Pokemon on your journey, X and Y feel like they’ve taken the best of what each generation had to offer and thrown it all together. You can catch so many Pokemon in X and Y that they had to divide the Pokedex into regional sections.

Additional updates to the formula helped the old Pokemon not feel stale. The inclusion of the brand new fairy type – the first new type since generation II – helped make a bunch of older Pokemon more interesting, like Clefairy and Ralts. Furthermore, generation VI added a new temporary evolution stage known as mega evolutions. Not only did this feature add more power to some of our favorite Pokemon from generations I to V, it also added some interesting new design ideas. Unfortunately, not all mega evolutions are created equally, just look at the new design for Slowbro.

3. Generation I (Red/Green/Blue/Yellow)

The Best Pokemon Generations

The original games are certainly some of the most popular in the series, but popularity isn’t the only reason why generation I is so fondly remembered; Pokemon Red, Green, and Blue are simply great video games. They’re expansive games with some of the largest worlds on the Game Boy, just waiting for you to sink hours into. They’re home to some of the most memorable locations in the series, like the Pokemon Tower, the Silph Company and the Unknown Dungeon. And who can forget defeating the snarky rival character Blue at the end of the Indigo Plateau to become the champion?

The first 151 remain iconic to this day, and still contain some of the most popular Pokemon. Especially the electric mouse, Pikachu. He was so popular that a special edition of the original games, Pokemon Yellow, was created which allowed you to explore the world beside your very own Pikachu.

2. Generation III (Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald)

The Best Pokemon Generations

Generation III is a significant turning point for the main games as it completely over-hauled the battle mechanics, while keeping the core fundamentals the same. Natures, abilities, weather effects and double battles all got their start in Ruby and Sapphire.

I particularly love the inclusion of the two teams – Team Magma and Team Aqua – who had the intense goals of fighting to expand the landmass and flood the world, respectively. Ruby and Sapphire were the first Pokemon games to include a significant optional quest in the form of contests, which allowed you to raise your Pokemon for something other than battling.

Pokemon Emerald is the best updated edition of a Pokemon game that there has been and adds some significant new features, like the Battle Frontier. The biggest improvement, however, is in the story department. Unlike Ruby and Sapphire, both Team Magma and Team Aqua are villains in Emerald, and both Groudon and Kyogre are woven in very nicely. These improvements debatably make Emerald the best way to experience the Hoenn games, perhaps beating out Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire.

1. Generation II (Gold/Silver/Crystal)

The Best Pokemon Generations

Gold and Silver are phenomenal games – the best in the series. Most games are set in far-off regions and only contain small references to the ones that came before them. The first sequels differ in that the region of Johto is set right next door to the previous region of Kanto. As a result, the game feels like more of a sequel, quickly established by the reappearance of Professor Oak towards the beginning of the game. One of the main reasons these games are loved so much is that you can hop on a boat and go back to Kanto, where you can revisit all of the old locations, catch more Pokemon, and challenge another eight gym leaders. Post-game content is an important factor in a Pokemon games overall enjoyment, and Gold and Silver have the most of this without a doubt. After obtaining all 16 badges, you get to battle the main character Red from the original games. We recently honored this battle as the most memorable battle in Pokemon history, deservedly so.

Gold and Silver also made some great advancements, some of which remain staple features: baby Pokemon, breeding, the brand new dark and steel types, a day/night cycle, berries, held items, roaming Pokemon, timed-exclusive events, and shiny Pokemon. There were also some cool features exclusive to Gold and Silver, such as the telephone, the radio, and the ability to have your mom save money for you. Top all of this off with one of the best chiptune soundtracks ever conceived, it’s no wonder why people look back on these games so fondly.

So there you go. Generation II is the very best like no one ever was. Which generation of Pokémon is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!