Ranking the best Pokémon games on Nintendo Switch is no easy task. Each game offers its unique strengths and attracts different types of players. But the Blix team was willing to do anything for readers. That’s why we’ve ranked the best Pokémon games available on Switch, from the nostalgic to the groundbreaking.
Nintendo Switch has become a haven for Pokémon games, offering a mix of classic titles and innovative new experiences. We based our selection of games on gameplay, graphics, replayability, and, of course, our own feelings and fan opinions.
Contents
- 1 Highlights
- 2 Top-10 Pokemon Games on Switch
- 3 Pokémon Unite
- 4 Pokémon Café Mix
- 5 Pokken Tournament DX
- 6 Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX
- 7 New Pokémon Snap
- 8 Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee!
- 9 Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl
- 10 Pokemon Scarlet & Violet
- 11 Pokémon Sword and Shield
- 12 Pokemon Legends: Arceus
- 13 List of all Pokémon games on Nintendo Switch
- 14 FAQ
Highlights
- Top 10 Pokémon games for the Nintendo Switch
- Description of each game and release date
- List of all Pokémon games for Nintendo
Now everyone is waiting for Switch 2, it’s one of the most anticipated events:
Top-10 Pokemon Games on Switch
We’ve rounded up the best Pokémon games in a variety of genres, so here’s our top list of the best Pokémon games on Nintendo Switch:
| Pokémon Unite | Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! |
| Pokémon Café Mix | Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl |
| Pokken Tournament DX | Pokemon Scarlet & Violet |
| Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX | Pokémon Sword and Shield |
| New Pokémon Snap | Pokemon Legends: Arceus |
This is the same opinion held by many other players who have advised on Reddit:
Pokémon Unite
Game Trailer
- Release Date: July 21, 2021
- Platform(s): Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS
- Developer: TiMi Studio Group
- Score by Metacritic: 70
Pokémon Unite is a free MOBA game that features a variety of game modes, including ranked and unranked matches.
We are taken to the Aeos island, where trainers set up battles between Pokémon. For this purpose, the mysterious energy with which the whole island is imbued is used.
Like basketball, Pokémon Unite has two important components: balls and rings. Balls are pokeballs. They fall out of neutral Pokémon and defeat enemies. Rings are circles on the field. They don’t deal damage but slow down enemies and heal allies.
The game features an extensive list of Pokémon, each with a unique set of moves and play style. Its strategic depth and team gameplay make it outstanding.
We have other picks for this console you might be interested in: Best Cozy Games for Nintendo Switch – Relaxing Titles You’ll Love in 2025.
Pokémon Café Mix
Game Trailer
- Release Date: June 23, 2020
- Platform(s): Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS
- Developer: Genius Sonority
- Score by Metacritic: 64
Pokémon Café Mix is a puzzle game in the spirit of casual three-in-a-row games, but here, the icons are not arranged in a grid but randomly. The player must drag and drop and group many identical Pokémon to create drinks and food for the customers.
The cafe’s menu consists of themed dishes decorated in the style of the franchise characters—the establishment’s visitors and employees are also Pokémon.
Pokken Tournament DX
Game Trailer
- Release Date: September 22, 2017
- Platform(s): Arcade, Wii U, Nintendo Switch
- Developer: Bandai Namco Studios
- Score by Metacritic: 79
Pokkén Tournament DX is an updated version of Pokkén Tournament for Nintendo Switch. The game is a battle between Pokémon. It successfully combines familiar elements from other fighting games with features from the Pokémon universe, resulting in a rather unique game.
The game has a lot of different mechanics that may seem difficult at first, especially if you’re new to the genre, but the game has many different modes to help you get the hang of it and learn the basics.
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX
Game Trailer
- Release Date: March 6, 2020
- Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
- Developer: Spike Chunsoft
- Score by Metacritic: 69
The original Pokémon Mystery Dungeon was released in 2005 on two then-current consoles, the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS. The remake of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX is one of the most unusual games in the Pokémon universe, if only because of its genre, roguelike. There are no humans in the game, only “pocket monsters.”
In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX, the player leads a team of Pokémon that is constantly being upgraded, and their main goal is to explore multi-level dungeons to find “pocket monsters” in trouble.
Movement and battles—everything takes place in turn-based mode. That’s why the game can’t be fully called a jRPG, though some elements of this genre are also present.
The developers didn’t change the gameplay and plot but changed the graphics: instead of primitive pixels, there is full 3D with high-quality models and environment.
New Pokémon Snap
Game Trailer
- Release Date: April 30, 2021
- Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
- Developer: Bandai Namco Studios
- Score by Metacritic: 79
In this game, you will go on a photo hunt. New Pokémon Snap succeeds mainly due to a unique idea – usually, Pokémon games don’t allow you to see how these creatures behave in the wild. But this installment lets you watch Liepards leap from rock to rock as Emolga leaps from branch to branch.
Advanced 3D graphics and gameplay mechanics allow players to use the motion controllers on the Nintendo Switch to shoot Pokémon. As users progress through the game, they can upgrade their cameras, unlock new locations, catch new Pokémon, and improve their shots with new features.
Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee!
Game Trailer
- Release Date: November 16, 2018
- Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
- Developer: Game Freak
- Score by Metacritic: 79/80
These games are essentially remakes of the classic Pokémon Yellow but with a modern interpretation. They have been designed to be completely accessible to those who have never played a Pokémon game.
One of the most remarkable innovations in the series was introduced in Let’s Go: wild Pokémon no longer spawn during random encounters. Now they are visible in advance – the player can immediately assess whether he wants to catch another one. It saves time
One of the most appealing aspects of Let’s Go is the bond between the player and their Pokémon partner, either Pikachu or Eevee. Pikachu and Eevee, just like in the animated series, refuse to live in a Pokéball and, therefore, accompany the player everywhere.
This doesn’t bring any essential gameplay changes (they can use all sorts of functional abilities like fast travel, and sometimes you can play for them a little bit). You can also squeeze them.
But catching Pokémon is now a two-player experience, with Let’s Go supporting local co-op. The second player can join anytime and is immediately given a full-fledged hero.
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl
Game Trailer
- Release Date: November 19, 2021
- Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
- Developer: Game Freak
- Score by Metacritic: 73
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are faithful remakes of the original Diamond and Pearl games, set in the Shinno region.
One of the strengths of Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl is their faithfulness to the original games. These remakes capture the spirit of the original Diamond and Pearl while adding modern touches that make the experience smoother and more enjoyable.
The graphics are charming and nostalgic, while the soundtrack accurately recreates the original tunes. Some players say they would have liked to see more innovation, but gameplay-wise, the game has been well-preserved, and some inconveniences and outdated solutions have been fixed. That’s enough for a good game and a great vacation.
Pokemon Scarlet & Violet
Game Trailer
- Release Date: November 18, 2022
- Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
- Developer: Game Freak
- Score by Metacritic: 72(Scarlet)/71(Violet)
Our adventures in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet occur in the new region of Paldea, where vast plains are interspersed with scenic lakes, steep peaks, badlands, and formidable mountain ranges.
The game features three separate stories that the player can progress through. Scarlet and Violet introduce 120 new Pokémon, two new regional forms, and time-traveled creatures known as paradox Pokémon.
The plot isn’t just about defeating the Gym leaders, removing their badges, and becoming the champion. To become the greatest Pokémon trainer locally, you must complete three different quests.
Pokémon Sword and Shield
Game Trailer
- Release Date: November 15, 2019
- Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
- Developer: Game Freak
- Score by Metacritic: 80
We are introduced to the Galar region, which is a bit like England in its outline. Divided into several biomes, it is pretty large. Many years ago, two heroes came to their aid. No, two legendary Pokémon with sword and shield.
While this experience doesn’t offer as much freedom as Legends: Arceus, the game is a solid RPG with a long list of creatures to catch. The Dynamax and Gigantamax mechanics, which allow Pokémon to grow to enormous sizes during battles, add a spectacular element to the gameplay.
In Pokémon Sword and Shield, players can explore two new locations, Crown Tundra and the Armor Isle. Crown Tundra is filled with agile legendary Pokémon from previous games, while the Armor Isle offers players a new storyline and new Pokémon they can evolve.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus
Game Trailer
- Release Date: January 28, 2022
- Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
- Developer: Game Freak
- Score by Metacritic: 83
One of the most striking features of Arceus is its open-world design. The Gisui region is huge and bustling with life, offering players the freedom to explore the world at their own pace. The game’s story is engaging, centered around the origins of the Pokémon world and the legend of Arceus itself.
In addition, Legends: Arceus offers a host of gameplay changes, including an advanced crafting system and stealth mechanics that allow players to sneak up on unsuspecting creatures.
This installment puts a special emphasis on catching Pokémon. You can now see them in locations, rather than randomly bumping into them in the grass, and interact with them.
Pokémon will have three behavior options when traveling: curiosity, fear, and aggression. There is also such a thing as an attacking style in battles. There are two of them: Strong and Nimble.
Usually, in Pokémon games, when a Pokémon attacks you, there’s a transition from one scene to the next. In Arceus, all of these puffs are absent, and the battle happens immediately in real-time as soon as you drop a Pokéball near a pokémon.
List of all Pokémon games on Nintendo Switch
Just in case, we’ll leave the full list of Pokémon games below.
- Detective Pikachu Returns
- Pokken Tournament DX
- Pokemon Scarlet & Violet
- Pokemon Legends: Arceus
- Pokemon Let’s Go, Pikachu & Pokemon Let’s Go, Eevee
- Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
- Pokemon Sword & Shield
- New Pokemon Snap
- Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX
- Pokemon UNITE
- Pokemon Quest
- Pokemon Cafe ReMix
- Pokemon Puzzle League (NSO + Expansion Pack)
- Pokemon Snap (NSO + Expansion Pack)
- Pokemon Stadium (NSO + Expansion Pack)
- Pokemon Stadium 2 (NSO + Expansion Pack)
- Pokemon Trading Card Game (Nintendo Switch Online)
You might also be interested in this article: Top 15 Nintendo Switch Games to Play in 2025.
FAQ
Which Pokémon Game on Switch is the Best for New Players?
For new players of the Pokémon series on Switch, the Let’s Go games, for example, may be suitable. These are considered easy, especially when played cooperatively, but retain the basic systems of the other games in the series, allowing newcomers to familiarize themselves with the battle system.
What is the Most Innovative Pokémon Game on Switch?
Pokémon Legends: Arceus is one of Switch’s most innovative Pokémon games. The game is set hundreds of years ago in an ancient version of the Shinno region called Hisui. The game has a crafting system and stealth mechanics that allow you to sneak up on unsuspecting creatures.
Which Pokémon Game on Switch has the Best Story?
There’s no consensus on which Pokémon game on Switch has the best story. But we think it is one of the best stories in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. This installment in the series marks the beginning of a new generation. Players are transported to the Paldea region, which is inspired by Spanish and Portuguese cultures, and encounter a compelling story.
It’s also a great story in the Pokémon Sword and Shield game. It’s an engaging story centered on the legendary Pokémon Zasian and Zamazenta.
Are the Games on the List Suitable for Children?
Most Pokémon games are designed for a family audience and are generally suitable for children. However, note that some games on this list, such as Pokémon Unite, may have more complex game mechanics. So younger children may find them difficult to learn and may not have the patience to play with them. So, be careful with the mechanic’s descriptions.
