Pokemonmay be Nintendo’s biggest franchise, but it’s not known for its spinoffs. There’s no such thing asPokemon TennisorPokemon Kart. A good handful ofPokemonspinoffs still exist, though. Not all of them are winners, but the best ones are very fondly remembered by trainers.
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The “best” game is obviously very subjective, but looking at reviews provides a good guideline. Metacritic scores for older games can be a bit spotty because there are fewer reviews to take from but they still manage to help out.
10Pokemon Colosseum (Gamecube) - 73/100
Pokemon Colosseumis Gen 3’s answer to thePokemon Stadiumgames. It differs in that it has a much richer story mode. Taking place in the desert region of Orre, the game focuses on rescuing shadow Pokemon from Team Cipher. There are no wild Pokemon to catch - instead, the protagonist steals Pokemon from other trainers.
Critics praised the Pokemon models but bashed the trainers, who looked angular and low-poly. The story mode was well received, with arefreshingly darker tone. At this point, the 3D Pokemon spinoff formula might have been getting stale. ButPokemon Colosseumis still looked back on fondly.
9Pokemon Trozei! (DS) - 74/100
A variation on the tried-and-true match four game, with aPokemontwist. The game uses touch controls to slide lines and rows of Pokemon across the screen. Match four in a row or column to make them disappear.
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Trozeifeels fluid and has a fun, poppy artstyle that’s pretty unique amongPokemontitles. However, many critics saw it for what it was - aMeteosclone. And there’s nothing wrong with that, sincematching puzzle gamesare everywhere. ButPokemon Trozeididn’t have anything thatMeteosdidn’t. Except for the Pokemon.
8Pokemon Picross (3DS) - 75/100
Nintendo didn’t actually invent Picross puzzles. But with the amount of Picross games they’ve made, it sure feels like they did.Pokemon Picrossis exactly what you’d expect from the title. It’s Picross with Pokemon pictures. The game was released for freeon the 3DS eShop, but there are microtransactions involved. You have to pay extra to unlock certain areas. Strangely, after you spend a certain amount, all the premium content unlocks for free.
Critics didn’t take too much offense with the freemium model. A patient player could unlock all the content for free if they played enough. However, the game lacked replay value. Once you finish a puzzle, there’s no reason to try it again.
7Pokemon Art Academy (3DS) - 76/100
A follow-up to the originalArt Academygame with a coat ofPokemonpaint. The game directs you to draw various Pokemon characters like Pikachu, Charizard, and Fennekin. All of the art examples are illustrations by Ken Sugimori himself, so players are really learning from the master.
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It’s a fun and calming experience for anyone who wants to learn some basic drawing. There’s not muchPokemonabout the game other than the pictures you’re copying. It seems it’s aimed more at artists than trainers. The game is alsogeared more towards childrenthan the originalArt Academy.
6Pokemon Snap (N64) - 77/100
An interesting twist on the rail shooter genre.Pokemon Snapsends the player through natural environments to take photos of Pokemon. They can also throw bait and play music to trigger certain behaviors. There’s a good bit of depth foran N64 game, and some of the Pokemon evade all but the most perceptive players.
Pokemon Snapis fun, charming, and easy for anyone to pick up. Some critics at the time thought the roster of species was too small, considering theStadiumgames had every Pokemon. It remained as a fan favorite for some time, up until the recent sequel.
5Pokemon Stadium 2 (N64) - 78/100
The sequel to the firstPokemon Stadiumcould link up withPokemon Gold and Silvercartridges. Using a Game Pak peripheral, trainers could see their beloved Pokemon in 3D and battle through a whole mess of unique challenges.
Pokemon Stadium 2also came with a fleet of minigames, something later titles likeColosseumforgot. At the time the game came out, Pokemon battling in 3D was a huge novelty. It still holds up as a fun battle simulator, but if you don’t have a copy ofGoldorSilverand a Game Pak, the appeal is a bit limited.
4New Pokemon Snap (Switch) - 80/100
The most recent title on the list, and the sequel to the fan-favorite N64 game.New Pokemon Snapexpands on the original concept with new Pokemon and environments. It also adds encounters with Illumina Pokemon, which essentially function as boss battles.
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New Pokemon Snapreceived pretty universal acclaim from critics. They praised the game for its secrets and relaxing atmosphere. However, for some reviewers, the game felt pretty sterile and not a convincing portrayal of “wild” Pokemon photography. It also doesn’t do much to shake up the formula - if you weren’t into the original, this probably won’t change your mind.
3Pokemon Conquest (DS) - 80/100
There’s a very long-running series of Koei strategy games calledNobunaga’s Ambition. The franchise has never made a splash in the west, except for one unexpected crossover.Pokemon Conquestis the story of feudal Japanese lords doing battle with, you guessed it, Pokemon. The game plays likeAdvance Warswith a bit ofCivilization.
Pokemon Conquestwas a pleasant surprise. It’s an accessible SRPG with a lot of depth. The roster contains over 200 Pokemon, and there are a variety of battle modes. Fans have been clamoring for a sequel for quite some time.
2Pokemon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire (GBA) - 81/100
The originalPokemon Pinballwasa popular GBC title. The sequel takes what works in the original and builds on it. Use the flippers to bounce a Poke Ball across the table and catch the wild Pokemon. There are over 200 species to capture, each with their own challenges.
Pokemon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphirereached a wide audience. Even people who weren’tPokemonfans couldn’t resist hours of pinball fun. However, it really is just pinball and nothing else. Catching every Pokemon will quickly become a chore unless you really like the game.
1Pokemon Puzzle League (N64) - 81/100
Like Picross,Pokemon Puzzle Leagueis one in a long-running Nintendo puzzle series. Its gameplay is more or less the same asTetris AttackandPanel De Pon.This is also one of a small handful of gamesbased on thePokemonanime. It features Ash Ketchum, Gary, Misty, and others as playable characters or bosses.
There’s not much toPokemon Puzzle League, but perhaps that’s why it’s so effective. There are many game modes and characters to unlock. Despite its cute, colorful exterior, the higher difficulty levels can be extremely punishing.
