The best Pokemon games for new players

Pokémon is now thirty years old, like the original two games, Pokemon Red and Greenlaunched on the Game Boy in 1996 in Japan. Anyone who grew up in this era must have played one Pokémon game at this point, but it's also not surprising if anyone has avoided the franchise like the plague.

That said, for this momentous anniversary, and since the franchise will seemingly never end, reluctant gamers may finally want to jump into a Pokémon game for the first time. From core experiences like Pokemon Legends: ZA to odd spin-offs like Detective Pikachuthere is one Pokémon game for all types of players out there.

Pokemon Legends: ZA

A good modern game

Pokemon Legends: ZA is the latest game in the main style of the series, with character customization and the ability to choose one of three Pokémon as their starting partner. After that, players can explore Lumiose City, which expands over time as players progress through the story. At night, players will battle other Pokemon trainers to raise their rank, which will lead to major battles to continue the story.

There are also natural areas where players can catch wild Pokemon or battle them to grind for EXP. The combat system is technically turn-based, although there are a few more action elements as well. Legends: ZA is a good limited Pokémon games within a city to give beginners a taste of what's typical Pokémon adventure is like.

Pokemon HeartGold/SoulSilver

A Top-Down classic

Pokemon Heart Gold and SoulSilver are DS remakes of the Generation 2 games. They aren't easy to find and play these days, but players looking to experience a classic entry in the mainline series will want to check out one of these games. The franchise's core gameplay loop allows players to start in a small town and then travel across the region, in this case Johto, to collect Pokemon, battle other trainers, and collect eight Gym Badges in the larger cities.

Once all eight are collected, players can challenge the Elite Four to become the Pokémon Champion of that region, but that's not all. There is a second campaign that will return players to Kanto, the original region, so it's like getting two games in one. For that reason and more, like the more limited list of Pokemon, Pokemon Heart Gold and Pokemon SoulSilver are still primo turn-based RPGs.

Pokemon Pokopia

A cozy Life-Sim

Pokemon Pokopia is a bizarre spin-off that can best be described as a one-click life-sim experience Minecraft. Players can customize their Ditto character, who will take the form of a human, and then travel across a ruined version of Kanto. All the humans have disappeared, and all that remains are a few Pokemon.

Players can build habitats for them from materials, which will draw out Pokémon. They can then be used to build larger areas, or make Ditto learn new mechanics like using water to help plants grow or learn to glide. As dark as the overall theme is, Pokemon Pokopia is a very cozy life sim that even non-fans can get into.

Pokemon conquest

Unite Japan

Pokemon conquest is a tactical grid-based RPG for players who find most mainline RPGs a bit too easy. While Pokemon conquest is nowhere near the hardest tactical RPG out there, it will certainly require some strategy to win matches. The game is a mashup of Nobunaga's Ambition 4X series, which takes players back to ancient Japan.

With its hero character, players can gather a team of Pokemon to battle famous generals across Japan, such as Oda Nobunaga and Akechi Mitsuhide, to take it over. Pokemon conquest is a hidden gem among the DS system's many RPGs, and as long as players need to find Heart gold or SoulSilverthey might as well bring this up too.

Detective Pikachu

Who wants coffee?

Some players may be curious about Pokemon, but have no interest in more intense games, even a cozy life sim. For fans of adventure games like Ace lawyer or anything from Telltale, they might enjoy Detective Pikachu on the 3DS. The game gives a larger look at how Pokémon and their trainers live among cities, but the real focus is Tim Goodman, the son of a famous detective who arrived in Ryme City to find him.

In his place, Tim finds a Pikachu who can talk, quite deep for a Pokemon, who also has a constant craving for coffee. Together they will go around and solve mini-mysteries, all hopefully until Tim finds his father. Detective Pikachu is light-hearted, and it will give adventure game fans enough information to familiarize themselves with the Pokémon universe.

Pokemon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire

Bouncing Pokeballs

Pinball fans will enjoy Pokemon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphirewhich goes beyond normal video games. Players can choose a table from either universe and play seemingly normal rounds of pinball games that involve bouncing a Pokeball around. By getting bonuses, players summon Pokémon to the table to then capture them and move on to a new game with the same table.

It's a little confusing to explain, but some minigames transport players to new areas to attack and defeat Pokemon like Kecleon. There is a real one Pokémon pinball in progress, but to find a copy of Pokemon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire because the GBA will probably be cheaper.

Pokken Tournament DX

Tekken's Hidden Spinoff

Fighting game fans might like to check it out Pokken Tournament DX, especially if Super Smash Bros. Ultimate didn't give them enough Pokemon action to really get a feel for the series. Matches are pretty standard where players choose a Pokemon and then challenge it to see who wins, although players can also choose a Pokemon for an assist bonus.

Although many of the Pokémon are Fighting-Types, there is plenty of variety as well, including Mewtwo, Pikachu, Lucario, and Machamp. Pokemon will move around 3D arenas, and each one has a variety of moves to unleash with combos. Pokken Tournament DX was designed by Tekken team at Bandai Namco, giving this spinoff more clout as a true fighting game.

New Pokemon Snap

A passive adventure on the trails

New Pokemon Snap is a passive experience and only the second game in the series, following the original N64 game. As a Pokemon explorer, players will ride into new regions on a carriage that takes them through the Pokemon Safari on rails. All players can do is move the camera around, literally, as they can take pictures of Pokemon that appear.

Nailing perfect shots will earn players points, which can then lead to the opening of new areas and other bonuses. Of the many Pokémon games on the list, this is the one for video game fans who just want a taste of the universe with the least amount of effort. By playing New Pokemon Snapplayers can at least learn some Pokemon names.