Top 10 Pokémon Spin-Off Games
Top 10 Spin-Off Pokémon Games
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Gotta catch ‘em all, indeed. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 Spin-Off Pokémon Games. For this list, we’ll be looking at the games that feature Game Freak and Nintendo’s pocket monsters but that aren’t part of the main RPG series.
#10: “Detective Pikachu” (2018)
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The movie adaptation may have gotten more of the love, but the 3DS game that served as its inspiration is definitely worth checking out. “Detective Pikachu'' follows Tim Goodman, a boy who teams up with a talking Pikachu to find his missing father and solve crimes around Ryme City. Just like in the movie, it’s wonderful seeing a world where people and Pokémon live together. The gameplay consists of gathering clues and solving fairly simple puzzles. But the reason to play is the clever dialogue and intriguing story. It made us crave a talking Pikachu as a companion, as if we didn’t want that already. And the mystery was tantalizing enough to warrant a sequel currently in development for the Nintendo Switch.
#9: “Pokémon Pinball” (1999)
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The Pokémon empire enjoyed a meteoric rise in the late ‘90s. One of the first spin-offs was a Pokémon-themed pinball game on Game Boy Color. This could’ve very easily been a simple cash grab; at the time, people would’ve bought anything to do with these creatures. But, delightfully, it’s a pretty solid pinball game. Not only does it control well, but it also came with its own capture mechanic. Progressing through the table causes a silhouette of a random Pokémon to appear in the center. And hitting specific bumpers unveils the Pokémon, allowing players to catch it. There was even an extra challenge to evolve your Pokémon. It was a nice inclusion, especially for those of us who like to 100% our Pokédex.
#8: “Pokémon Puzzle League” (2000)
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If Mario gets a puzzle game, why not Pokémon? In this Tetris-like title for the N64, players could battle it out with friends or computers. Lining up three or more of the same colored blocks deletes them while more rise from the bottom of the screen. The objective is to score combos and chains to add junk blocks to your opponent’s board and eventually claim victory. It’s very straightforward but, as is the case with similar titles, very addictive. And for an extra challenge, the game included a 3D mode. Here, boards are cylinder-shaped and use 18 columns of blocks instead of the 2D 6. Difficult? Yes. But the victory is all the sweeter for the effort.
#7: “Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky” (2009)
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While the Mystery Dungeon series isn’t everyone’s cup of tea (Just look at metacritic), fans of the series are regularly quick to praise “Explorers of Sky” as the best in this series. Similar to other games in the series, it follows a human-turned-Pokémon. But here, the player’s character suffers from amnesia and can see into the past and future. It’s a bit strange but not without its charm, the characterization being a highlight. Players make their way through procedurally generated dungeons, fighting alongside their team of Pokémon. It’s an enhanced remake of “Explorers of Time” and “Explorers of Darkness,” sort of like “Pokémon Yellow” was to the original games. However, it featured a stronger story than its predecessors, added more Pokémon, and included new locations and dungeons for players to explore.
#6: “Pokémon Colosseum” (2004)
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The various “Pokémon” games from the core series generally follow the same story: a young trainer goes on an adventure in search of greatness. But the narrative in “Pokémon Colosseum” is a bit more personal and sinister. The GameCube RPG follows Wes as he attempts to stop an evil organization from stealing trainers’ Pokémon and corrupting them. It’s less about building up your ideal team, as Wes starts with an Umbreon and Espeon. There also aren’t any random encounters. Instead, you focus on rescuing shadow Pokémon from evil trainers. The game is populated by numerous eccentric characters who keep things interesting. And because Wes is an ex-employee of the villainous Team Snagem, there’s a real sense of duty driving our hero.
#5: “Pokémon Conquest” (2012)
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This DS title is a crossover between “Pokémon” and the strategy series “Nobunaga’s Ambition.” And honestly, it’s proof of concept that Pokémon works within the context of a more tactical RPG. Players must battle various warriors and warlords in order to unite the land. The more enemies you defeat, the larger your Pokémon army grows. Each defeated warlord who joins your team comes with a specific power that can enhance a Pokémon’s abilities during battle. And they each have a link to individual types, which helps to acquire wild Pokémon. Evolution also plays a role, though it’s achieved through various battle conditions instead of leveling up. Reworking elements from the main series into a bold narrative, “Pokémon Conquest” is one of the more unique spin-offs.
#4: “Pokémon Stadium” (2000) & “Pokémon Stadium 2” (2001)
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For many early franchise fans, the desire to battle their favorite creatures in 3D was undoubtedly strong. And this duo of games on the N64 granted that wish. While they don’t feature a story, they allow players to assemble whatever team they choose and battle against friends or computers. They let you skip over all the grinding and jump straight to pitting powerhouses against one another. Both games also include a collection of zany minigames that are just as fun as the battle mode. This variety made the games especially fantastic for couch multiplayer. And if you owned a Transfer Pak, you could play the main series on the TV and use their personal Pokémon from Game Boy games.
#3: “Pokken Tournament DX” (2017)
Blending Pokémon with a tactics RPG is one thing but blending it with a competitive fighter is something else. Luckily, proven developer Bandai Namco was in charge of giving Pokémon the “Tekken” treatment. Where that franchise is more technical, “Pokken Tournament” obviously includes a lot more powers. This makes it more user friendly so that competitive and casual players can both enjoy it. Landing Poké-combos is just as satisfying as you’d think, especially when utilizing assist Pokémon. The game was first released in arcades before being ported to the Wii U, but the DX version on Switch is the highest form. Its split screen mode may have some frame rate issues, but it includes all fighters from both versions as well as a few new ones.
#2: “Pokémon GO!” (2016)
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This mobile spin-off has come a long way since it launched in 2016. And even back then, despite its imperfections, it was swarmed by players who wanted nothing more than to discover Pokémon in the real world. Its use of AR is incredibly effective. And since launch, it has seen frequent updates in the forms of multiple Pokémon generations, trainer battles, raids, and quests that lead to legendary Pokémon. Sure, it hasn’t been without its rough patches, but it has united an insanely passionate group of fans. And it continues to grow through these updates and Community Days, which offer various in-game bonuses. “Pokémon Go”has been such a success that it’s even influenced a core Pokémon title (“Let’s Go, Pikachu!”).
#1: “Pokémon Snap” (1999)
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It was a unanimous verdict for #1 on this list; When it comes to celebrating the wonder of Pokémon, there is simply no beating “Pokémon Snap.” The controls are similar to that of a rail shooter, with players taking pictures of Pokémon in various environments. Progression is accomplished by using unlockable items to gain new photo opportunities and earn points from Professor Oak. But the reason it’s still so beloved today is because of how many hidden, awe-inspiring moments are packed in there - from leading Pikachu to pose adorably on a surfboard to Magikarp evolving into the powerful Gyarados right in front of you. The game instilled a sense of discovery, inviting kids to “capture” these creatures in an entirely different way. It’s just a shame we never got a sequel, because damn do we need one.
