For the clearest history lesson, play the core Pokémon RPGs in release order. Start with Red and Green (known internationally as Red and Blue), then move through each generation, its enhanced editions or sequels, remakes, and the Legends entries associated with that generation. You do not need to finish older games before starting Scarlet and Violet: each generation is designed as a mostly self-contained adventure. The list below includes 22 released entries through Pokémon Legends: Z-A (October 16, 2025), plus the announced 2027 pair Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves.
What is the correct order to play the main Pokémon games?
Use the numbered release order in the table below if you want to see the series evolve from Game Boy RPGs into its Nintendo Switch generation. A row can represent a paired release, an enhanced version, a direct sequel, a remake, or a Legends experiment; those are all part of the traditional core-series count. Spin-offs such as Mystery Dungeon, Stadium, Ranger, GO, and Snap are outside this list.
| # | Game | Generation and region | Original platform | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pokémon Red and Green (internationally Red and Blue) | I — Kanto | Game Boy | Japan: Feb. 27, 1996; North America: Sept. 28, 1998 |
| 2 | Pokémon Yellow | I — Kanto | Game Boy | Japan: Sept. 12, 1998; North America: Oct. 25, 1999 |
| 3 | Pokémon Gold and Silver | II — Johto | Game Boy Color | Japan: Nov. 21, 1999; North America: Oct. 15, 2000 |
| 4 | Pokémon Crystal | II — Johto | Game Boy Color | Japan: Dec. 14, 2000; North America: July 29, 2001 |
| 5 | Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire | III — Hoenn | Game Boy Advance | Japan: Nov. 21, 2002; North America: March 19, 2003 |
| 6 | Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen | III — Kanto remake | Game Boy Advance | Japan: Jan. 29, 2004; North America: Sept. 7, 2004 |
| 7 | Pokémon Emerald | III — Hoenn | Game Boy Advance | Japan: Sept. 16, 2004; North America: May 1, 2005 |
| 8 | Pokémon Diamond and Pearl | IV — Sinnoh | Nintendo DS | Japan: Sept. 28, 2006; North America: April 22, 2007 |
| 9 | Pokémon Platinum | IV — Sinnoh | Nintendo DS | Japan: Sept. 13, 2008; North America: March 22, 2009 |
| 10 | Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver | IV — Johto remake | Nintendo DS | Japan: Sept. 12, 2009; North America: March 14, 2010 |
| 11 | Pokémon Black and White | V — Unova | Nintendo DS | Japan: Sept. 18, 2010; North America: March 6, 2011 |
| 12 | Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 | V — Unova sequel | Nintendo DS | Japan: June 23, 2012; North America: Oct. 7, 2012 |
| 13 | Pokémon X and Y | VI — Kalos | Nintendo 3DS | Worldwide: Oct. 12, 2013 |
| 14 | Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire | VI — Hoenn remake | Nintendo 3DS | Worldwide: Nov. 21, 2014 |
| 15 | Pokémon Sun and Moon | VII — Alola | Nintendo 3DS | Worldwide: Nov. 18, 2016 |
| 16 | Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon | VII — Alola enhanced versions | Nintendo 3DS | Worldwide: Nov. 17, 2017 |
| 17 | Pokémon Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! | VII — Kanto reimagining | Nintendo Switch | Worldwide: Nov. 16, 2018 |
| 18 | Pokémon Sword and Shield | VIII — Galar | Nintendo Switch | Worldwide: Nov. 15, 2019 |
| 19 | Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl | VIII — Sinnoh remake | Nintendo Switch | Worldwide: Nov. 19, 2021 |
| 20 | Pokémon Legends: Arceus | VIII — Hisui | Nintendo Switch | Worldwide: Jan. 28, 2022 |
| 21 | Pokémon Scarlet and Violet | IX — Paldea | Nintendo Switch | Worldwide: Nov. 18, 2022 |
| 22 | Pokémon Legends: Z-A | IX — Kalos | Nintendo Switch | Worldwide: Oct. 16, 2025 |
| 23 | Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves | Announced future entry | Nintendo Switch (official schedule) | 2027; unreleased |
The earliest dates are Japanese launches, followed by the North American date where the early releases were staggered. From X and Y onward, the listed launches are worldwide; The Pokémon Company identifies X and Y as the first core games to launch simultaneously around the world.
Do I have to play every older game before Scarlet and Violet?
No. Each generation is built to stand on its own, so you can begin with a current Switch game without knowing the plots of Kanto, Johto, or any other earlier region. Release order is valuable for historical context, not a prerequisite for understanding the next adventure.
Choose release order for series history
Starting at number 1 lets you watch the hardware progression from Game Boy to Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, and Nintendo Switch. It also shows how the series moved from paired regional releases to enhanced editions, sequels, remakes, and the different structure of Legends.
Choose a modern-first route for convenience
If you want current hardware, begin with one of the Switch entries: Sword and Shield, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, Legends: Arceus, Scarlet and Violet, or Legends: Z-A. You can then return to earlier generations when you have access to their original hardware or an official rerelease.
Choose one representative game per generation
A full historical run is long. For a shorter route, play one title from each generation, then add the enhanced edition, sequel, or remake only when you want that release’s distinct version of the region. Keep a paired generation together conceptually—such as Ruby/Sapphire or Sun/Moon—but you do not need to own both versions to follow the generation’s main journey.
What counts as a main-series Pokémon game?
The traditional core definition includes four kinds of release: a new generation and region, an enhanced or “third” version, a direct sequel, and a remake. The convention also groups the Legends games with the generation to which they belong.
New regional pairs
Red and Green, Gold and Silver, Ruby and Sapphire, Diamond and Pearl, Black and White, X and Y, Sun and Moon, Sword and Shield, and Scarlet and Violet introduce the numbered generations and their regions. The paired names indicate parallel versions of one generation, not separate positions in the chronology.
Enhanced versions
Yellow, Crystal, Emerald, Platinum, and Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon revisit an existing region with an enhanced release. They remain separate entries because they were released later and represent a different version of that generation.
Sequels
Black 2 and White 2 are the direct sequel entry in the list. They belong after Black and White, rather than replacing those games in the release timeline.
Remakes
FireRed and LeafGreen, HeartGold and SoulSilver, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, and Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl retell earlier regional adventures on newer hardware. A remake is therefore both connected to an older region and a distinct playable release in chronological order.
Legends entries
Legends: Arceus and Legends: Z-A are grouped with Generations VIII and IX respectively. They are experiments within the core family rather than spin-offs, so place them where the table shows them when you are tracking the complete series.
Are the remakes part of the main-series order?
Yes. Include each remake as its own row if your goal is to play every core release. Do not delete the original game from the chronology: the remake’s later launch, hardware, and updated presentation are part of the series history.
| Remake | Revisits | Released on | Where it appears |
|---|---|---|---|
| FireRed and LeafGreen | Kanto | Game Boy Advance | After Ruby and Sapphire, before Emerald |
| HeartGold and SoulSilver | Johto | Nintendo DS | After Platinum |
| Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire | Hoenn | Nintendo 3DS | After X and Y |
| Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl | Sinnoh | Nintendo Switch | After Sword and Shield, before Legends: Arceus |
The placement follows release date, not the fictional chronology of the region. For example, a Kanto remake still sits in Generation III because that is when it launched.
How did Pokémon’s hardware and regional eras change?
The platform sequence is Game Boy → Game Boy Color → Game Boy Advance → Nintendo DS → Nintendo 3DS → Nintendo Switch. That progression explains why an older title can be historically important yet less convenient to start today.
Generations I and II: Kanto and Johto
The original Kanto pair and Yellow occupy the first Game Boy era. Johto follows on Game Boy Color with Gold and Silver and then Crystal. Their Japanese launches came before North American releases, so the two date columns in the table matter when comparing the early timeline.
Generation III: Hoenn and the Kanto remake
Ruby and Sapphire establish Hoenn on Game Boy Advance. The same generation contains the Kanto remake FireRed and LeafGreen and the enhanced Hoenn release Emerald.
Generation IV: Sinnoh and a Johto remake
Nintendo DS hosts Diamond and Pearl, their enhanced successor Platinum, and the Johto remakes HeartGold and SoulSilver. This is why a Johto adventure appears after the Sinnoh originals in release order.
Generation V: Unova and its sequel
Black and White are followed by Black 2 and White 2, the list’s explicit sequel pair. Play the original pair first if you want the narrative progression intended by the release sequence.
Generations VI and VII: worldwide launches and new formats
X and Y mark the first simultaneous worldwide launch among the core games identified by The Pokémon Company. Generation VI also includes the Hoenn remakes. Generation VII then moves through Sun and Moon, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, and the Kanto-focused Let’s Go games.
Generations VIII and IX: the Switch era
Sword and Shield are described by The Pokémon Company as “the next generation of Pokémon RPGs for the Nintendo Switch system,” and they introduce Galar in this list. Switch then receives the Sinnoh remakes, Legends: Arceus, Scarlet and Violet, and Legends: Z-A.
Which main-series games are on current Nintendo hardware?
The Switch entries are the practical starting points for players who do not own older handheld systems: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee!, Sword and Shield, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, Legends: Arceus, Scarlet and Violet, and Legends: Z-A. Storefront, stock, language, and edition availability can differ by country, so check the listing for your region.
The official schedule also lists Nintendo Switch releases of Pokémon FireRed Version and Pokémon LeafGreen Version for Feb. 27, 2026. These are rereleases of the Generation III remakes, not a new generation and not an additional historical slot. Their existence does not change the numbered order above.
What is released, and what is still upcoming?
As of the Oct. 16, 2025 launch of Pokémon Legends: Z-A, 22 entries in this release list have been released. The official schedule lists Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves for 2027; they are announced future games, not playable releases, so keep them at the end of a checklist and do not plan a playthrough around them yet.
Counting both announced games produces 23 traditional-series entries in this list. That is a count of the rows represented here, not a publisher statistic.
Which order is best for different kinds of players?
- New to Pokémon: Start with a Switch game that matches your preferred region or format, then explore earlier generations if you want the series’ history.
- History-focused player: Follow all 22 released rows in order, treating each enhanced edition, sequel, remake, and Legends title as its own release.
- Story-focused player: Play Black and White before Black 2 and White 2; otherwise, each generation can be approached independently.
- Remake-focused player: Pair each remake with the original region, but retain its later release position when you build your chronology.
- Modern-hardware player: Use the Switch entries first and treat older handheld games as optional historical visits rather than prerequisites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to play both versions, such as Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield?
No. The paired versions represent the same generation and region, so one is enough for a normal playthrough. Collectors may choose both for version-specific differences, but owning both is not required to understand the series order.
Should I play a remake before or after its original game?
For release-history purposes, use the table position: every remake comes after the games released immediately before it. For accessibility, you can start with the remake first; it is still a self-contained introduction to that region.
Can I play Pokémon Legends: Arceus without playing Diamond and Pearl?
Yes. Generational entries are mostly self-contained, and the list treats Legends: Arceus as its own Generation VIII release. Playing the Sinnoh games first is optional context, not a requirement.
Are Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves available now?
No. The official schedule places the pair in 2027, so they remain announced future entries. They should not be counted as released games or included in a current playable backlog.