The Pokemon Spin-Off Games Tier List

As big as the mainline games are, the franchise would not be anything without the Pokemon spin-offs. There are literally more spin-off games than there are core entries, from handhelds to consoles to mobile devices. It helps pad out the years between the big new Generations, which can sometimes be years apart.

Some of these spin-offs could even be considered to be better than the mainline games, even if they aren’t full RPGs. Where do games like Pokken Tournament DX or Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX rank? Let’s form these four tiers and get to work categorizing how all of these spin-offs work together.

Tier S: Masterful Games That Could Stand Next To The Main Games

Pokemon Pokopia

Pokemon Pokopia is one of the latest console spin-offs, and it is such a simple and cozy game devoid of the normal Pokemon battling mechanics, but it is better for it. As Ditto, who transforms into a human, players will explore an open-world across various biomes to collect materials to craft things like furniture. Habitats can be created for Pokemon to move into, which then become friends and grow the community. The easy-to-understand crafting and exploration skills make this a good alternative for players who like life-sim games like Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley, plus it is a weird and cute spinoff.

Pokemon Legends: Arceus

Pokemon Legends: Arceus did a lot of things the core games did not, which is why fans flocked to it so hard. Instead of going around on a journey to become a Pokemon Master, players instead operated out of one big HUB town and then went off exploring to catch Pokemon for research purposes. Pokemon could still be battled and caught traditionally, but they could also be captured with stealth mechanics and just tossing a Poke Ball out. The transitions between battles were more seamless as Pokemon appeared in the environment, and the laundry list of other improvements/highlights is numerous.

Tier A: Excellent Ideas That Use The Pokemon License Well

Pokemon Conquest

Pokemon Conquest is a tactical RPG that brought Pokemon to ancient Japan, crossing over with the strategy series, Nobunaga’s Ambition. Players could conquer Japan, for the good of the people, by fighting across Japanese provinces, sort of like a game of Risk. Samurai and noble warriors used Pokemon to fight their battles in traditional turn-based tactical gameplay. Pokemon could be moved around a grid-based arena, issue attacks, and so on. This one-off is criminally underrated, not perfect, but this weird blend of genres somehow turned into a game better than anyone could have ever predicted.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A

Pokemon Legends: Z-A is structured similarly to Pokemon Legends: Arceus, and in some ways, it is a better game, but not as a whole. Instead of presenting players with an open-world across different areas, players are stuck in one city, Lumiose City, which had its ups and downs. Pokemon could still be caught freely in various parks around the city, but there was an emphasis on battling other trainers to become number one.

The one thing that is very good about Pokemon Legends: Z-A is the battle system, which is less turn-based and more active in real-time, with all Pokemon moves recharging from cooldowns. Pokemon Winds and Pokemon Waves would be better games if they used this battle system.

Tier B: Great Attempts At Pushing The Series Forward

Pokken Tournament DX

Pokken Tournament DX was an improved version of the Wii U game with tweaked mechanics and more Pokemon added in. Pokemon fans were used to playing as Pokemon in fighting games since 1999, which is when Super Smash Bros. came out, but Pokken Tournament DX was different. It was a more focused fighting game experience, complete with Pokemon that made sense to be in a fighter, like Machamp, along with some odder choices like Pikachu in a luchador mask. Designed by part of the Tekken team, Pokken Tournament DX is a legit fighting game that could be something even greater if there ever is a legit sequel.

Pokemon Trading Card Game

Pokemon Trading Card Game, not to be confused with similarly titled modern games, was released for the Game Boy Color in 2000 at the height of Pokemania in North America. Subbing out real Pokemon to battle other collectors with cards instead may not sound appealing initially. However, the combat system is just as addictive as the mainline turn-based battles, with an extra risk involved since drawing cards relies a lot on luck. Besides the Japan-only sequel, Pokemon Card GB2: Here Comes Team Great Rocket!, there hasn’t been another attempt to make a Pokemon game using cards quite like this, and that’s a shame. It is still one of the best card-based RPGs around.

Pokemon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire

Pokemon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire was a great pinball game for the GBA, which improved several features over the Game Boy Color game. There were two tables, each representing Pokemon found in Pokemon Ruby or Pokemon Sapphire. The game played like other pinball games, with players batting around a ball and trying to chase high scores. The twist involved mini-games centered around catching Pokemon by hitting them several times with the ball. The game was never anything more than a very good pinball game, though, and a sequel could gamify some objectives more.

Tier C: Good Games, But Their Potential Hasn’t Peaked Yet

New Pokemon Snap

New Pokemon Snap is only the second game in this subseries, and it didn’t improve much over the N64 original. Players still ride a track through different biomes with the goal of photographing as many Pokemon as possible to get a high score.

If certain objectives were met, then players could unlock new areas. As things were still on rails, it felt like the potential was held back. There are ways to improve the photography game formula, like full movement support, but as it stands now, New Pokemon Snap is a fun little diversion that is chill for anyone looking to just look at Pokemon.

Detective Pikachu Returns

Detective Pikachu Returns is the second game in the series, continuing the story of the 3DS original. As Tim Goodman, players will partner up with his father’s wise-cracking and coffee addicted Pikachu to solve cases around Ryme City. It’s a very simple adventure game where the puzzles are blatantly spelled out, but that doesn’t mean it’s not without its charms, since the relationship between Tim and Pikachu is adorable. A sequel that has more dynamic puzzles and darker themes would improve things, but Detective Pikachu Returns is still a good detective game to get younger or novice players into the idea of adventure games.

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX is a remake of both Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team combined into one game. It is the latest Mystery Dungeon game about Pokemon, a series that has not evolved much since the GBA days. Players can choose their Pokemon and then partner up with others to dive into dungeons, rescuing more Pokemon to increase their village size along the way. It’s a top-down roguelike designed to get beginners on board with easy-to-understand mechanics, and that’s a good thing. The next game doesn’t have to include Hades levels of complicated mechanics, but there is so much potential to be had from a Pokemon roguelike game going beyond novice territory.