Every Pokémon Generation Ranked, According to Critics

The Pokémon series is equally iconic and divisive, so the community is always debating which game is the best. Here’s what critics have to say.

You Are Reading :Every Pokémon Generation Ranked According to Critics

Category : Pokemon

Pokémon is equally iconic and controversial. Many people will celebrate one set of adventures as the best, while an equally large group of people will call it as the worst. Last year’s Pokémon Sword and Shield are an excellent example, as those games have been praised and criticized in equal measure. With the release of Sword and Shield’s Crown Tundra expansion, there is no better time to revisit the debate and determine which Pokémon generation is the best, at least in the eyes of critics.

Of course, this data isn’t perfect. Considering the longevity of the franchise, some of the older games are more difficult to compile aggregate scores for. And, since this is a ranking of generations as a whole, a generation with more games has more data to account for. Still, it useful for providing a glimpse at how these games were perceived when they were released.

Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald: 72.7/100

Generation III brought many gameplay additions. There were the game-exclusive ideas, such as Secret Bases, as well as larger changes. This generation introduced the first version of the physical/special split, making Pokémon more nuanced by separating physical and special attack and defense stats. However, each type was marked as either physical or special rather than this being distinguished on a move by move basis.

The Hoenn games also introduced a new batch of Pokémon, but this came at a cost: Pokémon could not be transferred from past generations, and not all Pokémon were available in Ruby and Sapphire. The story and design of the region came into question too, leaving some critics unsatisfied due to the overarching narrative, imbalance between land and water routes, and the lopsided type distribution.

Pokémon Sword and Shield: 77.5/100

Generation VIII is proving to be incredibly divisive. In many ways, it propelled the series forward with introduction of the Wild Area widening the scope of the adventure, new Raid Battles allowing for grand co-op encounters and the Dynamax and Gigantamax features being introduced alongside many quality-of-life fixes.

However, many critics took issue with the games’ uneven presentation and seemingly rushed core adventure. In light of the hundreds of Pokémon cut and the complexities of past titles, critics wanted a bit more. As such, Sword and Shield are games of intense highs and lows.

Pokémon Red, Blue and Yellow: 82.8/100

Generation I is easily Pokémon’s most iconic, as it laid the groundwork for the series and sparked the Pokémania craze of the late ’90s. The original Kanto titles are incredibly beloved, but at the same time, they’re rather flawed due to how experimental they were. Many of Gen I’s flaws are only noticeable in hindsight. However, the game’s plentiful glitches and underbaked AI brought the experience down, even at the time.

Pokémon Diamond, Pearl and Platinum: 83/100

Generation IV really propelled the franchise forward. For many critics, these games realized the series’ potential, modernizing the formula and expanding upon Gen III’s physical/special split so it worked on a move-by-move basis. This was just one radical change for the series; the biggest addition was Wi-Fi connectivity, which took Pokémon’s social elements to the next level.

Still, the game took some steps back in terms of design and playability. Diamond and Pearl are rather slow technically, with battles in particular taking a long time to load and move through turns. The design of the region was brought into question too, with an uneven distribution of story beats and a shallow move pool which wasn’t helped by the overall plodding pace of the experience.

Pokémon Black, White, Black 2 and White 2: 83/100

Tied with Generation IV, Generation V helped to define the series’ modern identity. The first pair of games felt like a reboot, presenting the player only with Unova’s original Pokémon until the post-game. While some critics saw this as refreshing, others took issue with some of the new designs. Black 2 and White 2 returned older Pokémon to the main adventure, but not all critics preferred these games due to their comparatively lacking story.

Notably, Black and White focused on narrative in a way other Pokémon titles have not, featuring a story full of interesting characters and philosophical dilemmas. The games didn’t do much to advance the series mechanically, but they did have some new ideas, such as triple and rotation battles. Still, due to a lack of major advancement, other critics saw Gen V as a bit too familiar, especially since they were DS games that launch around the same time as the Nintendo 3DS.

Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon: 85/100

Generation VII attempted to revitalize the formula by riffing on staple aspects of the series. Gym battles were replaced by Trials, which offered new gameplay opportunities. This, in conjunction with the game’s tropical setting, made Alola feel rather fresh.

Critics had roundly glowing praise for the base games, but the Ultra titles were a bit more divisive. While retaining the excellence of the base games, changes made to storytelling felt like missteps, and the new gameplay additions underwhelmed. Still, the base games alongside their wealth of content propelled these games above others.

Pokémon Gold, Silver and Crystal: 85.4/100

Generation II was originally intended to be the last Pokémon generation, so Game Freak went all-out. These games are absolutely stuffed with content and charm, mixing together new ideas, nostalgia and heavier RPG elements. Many still see these games as definitive.

While Gold and Silver did lack some features, Crystal patched up most of the holes. Yet, critics and fans alike were confused by the game’s level scaling that make the experience feel a bit uneven. Still, while Gen II still has some growing pains, it’s widely considered to be one of the best.

Pokémon X and Y: 88.3/100

Generation VI brought the world of Pokémon to life with the power of the 3DS. These games allowed players to truly engage with the Pokémon world, something that was more alluring thanks to the design of the Kalos region and the introduction of Mega Evolution. Plus, the addition of Super Training and Pokémon Amie deepened the player’s bond with their team while making mechanics like EV training more player-friendly.

While critics wanted the 3D effect to be put to better use, these titles still roundly impressed. From the new Pokémon to the region’s design to the ways they brought the Pokémon adventure to life, Generation VI comes out on top.

See more : PokemonWe