There are plenty of video game franchises that have exploded in popularity since their debuts, but no one could have anticipated just how much of a phenomenon the Pokémon series would become. The adorable franchise has been a juggernaut for decades, whether it’s the video games, anime series, or trading card game.
It’s been interesting to evaluate how the mainline Pokémon titles have changed over the years, but there have also been a number of spin-offs that have experimented with the formula and tried new things. The Pokémon franchise is still trying to see what can be done with spin-off series, but there are still some fascinating entries from the past.
10 Pokémon Pinball (1999)
Of all of the spin-off and offshoot projects to strike the Pokémon franchise, it’s a little surprising that pinball would be the first big experiment in the area. A lot of pinball titles can be soulless cash grabs, but this Game Boy Color game actually cleverly incorporates the Pokémon catching aspects into the structure of pinball and it’s actually fun, even for those that aren’t major pinball fans.
The title also just looks incredible and makes use of the highly rare Game Boy Color rumble pack, which deserves attention in and of itself.
9 Pokémon Snap (1999)
Pokémon Snap is still fondly looked at as one of the most enjoyable Pokémon spin-off games that it’s hard to believe that it was one of the first titles out of the gates. Pokémon Snap cleverly takes the mechanics of an on-rails shooter, but turns it into a relaxing photography game that celebrates the beauty of the Pokémon species.
Pokémon Snap isn’t overly long, but it’s infectious fun. Fans’ wishes for a sequel have also finally been answered with the upcoming Switch title, New Pokémon Snap.
8 Pokémon Stadium (2000)
Pokémon Stadium for the Nintendo 64 was a big deal in a lot of ways because it actually allowed players to transfer over their Pokémon from the Game Boy games and fight with them in the N64 title. Pokémon Stadium proved that focusing purely on the fighting aspect of the series can work, while it also features a bunch of entertaining extra features. The game was such a success that Pokémon Stadium 2 came out the following year and it’s safe to say there wouldn’t be games like Pokken Tournament without Pokémon Stadium.
7 Pokémon Trading Card Game (2000)
It can be amusing to see just how indulgent a series can become and the idea of a video game version of a trading card game that’s based on a video game series seems pretty ridiculous. However, the Game Boy Color’s Pokémon Trading Card Game is more a testament to just how popular the card game would become. There’s actually a creative RPG hidden away in here that’s a fun twist on the standard Pokémon formula. Plus, it’s hard to deny the appeal of the exclusive official card that would come included with the game.
6 Pokémon Puzzle League (2000)
Nintendo has a bunch of puzzle franchises like Panel de Pon and Tetris Attack that were huge in Japan, but weren’t tested properties in America. A curious solution to this was to give certain puzzle games a Pokémon makeover and capitalize on the success of that franchise. Pokémon Puzzle League is the Nintendo 64 version of this, which is an entertaining puzzle title that pays service to the anime series. Released at the same time was Pokémon Puzzle Challenge for the Game Boy Color, which focused on Pokémon Gold and Silver more than the anime.
5 Hey You, Pikachu! (2000)
Sometimes a video game can come across as more of a tech demo than a full experience and this is largely the case with the Nintendo 64’s Hey You, Pikachu! The game revolves around the use of the N64 microphone, a peripheral that would barely get any use. The creative simulation game has good intentions with its efforts to raise the popular Pokémon, Pikachu, but the gameplay is thin and the microphone isn’t as intuitive as it should be. Hey You, Pikachu! still remains a very unique relic.
4 Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire (2003)
The Game Boy Color version of Pokémon Pinball was such a success that Nintendo would return to the premise several years later. The original Pokémon Pinball pushes the limits of the Game Boy Color, but this follow-up is easily the better and deeper title. There’s not only a larger and more satisfying Pokédex to pull from, but the capabilities of the Game Boy Advance allow the game a lot more room to experiment. This is unfortunately the last title in the Pokémon Pinball series, but it’d be a natural fit for the Switch.
3 Pokémon Colosseum (2004)
The Gamecube is a console that Nintendo wasn’t afraid to do some Pokémon experimentation with and while there are some more outrageous spin-offs available, Pokémon Colosseum takes a more tried and tested approach. The Gamecube game is basically an update to the Pokémon Stadium formula, but now has a considerably larger Pokédex and game engine at its disposal. It’s a spin-off that caters to combat, but is a fuller game than Pokémon Stadium. A lot of concepts from Colosseum’s universe return in other Pokémon titles and fans were surprised a sequel never came to pass.
2 Pokémon Dash (2005)
Pokémon Dash is an unusual title that came out for the Nintendo DS, but was easy to overlook. It takes the adorable creatures from Pokémon and throws them into a racing game that sees Pikachu and other characters running through nature to reach the finish line. As far as a Pokémon racing game can go, Pokémon Dash isn’t terrible and its presentation goes a long ways. This is the type of title that’s easy to dismiss like a mobile game, but had Pokémon Dash connected with more people there could have been a full Pokémon racing franchise in swing now.
1 Pokémon XD: Gale Of Darkness
Up until when the Switch celebrated the latest mainline Pokémon title, fans have been hungry to get a proper Pokémon adventure game on non-handheld console. For the longest time, the Gamecube’s Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness was the closest thing available. The RPG takes many of the concepts from Pokémon Colosseum, but expands on them with a compelling story. There are no random encounters in the game and there are different ideologies in place with catching Pokémon, but there are a lot of worthwhile ideas present in this darker Pokémon game.