Players might credit Wizards of the Coast's Dungeons & Dragons for helping them get acquainted with various video games. After all, it's thanks to the creative freedom of TTRPGs that players get to explore the many possibilities their character can do in games. For players who want a new spin on D&D's tactical potential but don't want to play Final Fantasy can actually enjoy the same level of fun with Nintendo's Pokémon franchise.
Unfortunately, considering how the franchise stayed with gaming for more than two decades and counting, it might be difficult choosing between all of its titles, both main and otherwise. After all, which Pokémon suits a player best? Interestingly, this decision might become much easier if players look at this from D&D 's moral alignments perspective. Which Pokémon game fits which type of player alignment?
9 Lawful Good: Pokémon FireRed And LeafGreen
For hardcore fans looking for the "authentic" Pokémon experience, nothing says Pokémon more than a handheld with sprites. Thanks to FireRed and LeafGreen, fans and newcomers of the franchise can go back and relive the magic of Generation One Pokémon, especially since these two games are remakes of the original Pokémon Red and Green, which were originally for the Game Boy.
Lawful Good players who want to ascribe to a more "classic" Pokémon experience can play these two games. After all, playing these remakes will help them stick to the classic 2D games most fans love. More importantly, playing these will help Lawful Good players avoid conflicts from "purist" fans who may chastise others for liking the 3D iterations of games or the series spinoffs.
8 Neutral Good: Pokémon Let's Go, Pikachu! And Eevee!
Pokémon: Let's Go! is a remake of the 1998 Pokémon Yellow game. Similar to the 1998 title, this game will have a Pokémon follow the player around as they become the Pokémon Champion of the Kanto region. Aside from the original 151 creatures in the series, the game also features their Alolan and Mega Evolved forms, as introduced in future titles.
Players of a Neutral Good alignment can appreciate the game "balancing" the best elements from both old fashioned Pokémon and newer iterations of the franchise. For instance, the game takes full advantage of the Nintendo Switch's graphical fidelity. Moreover, players can choose one of two games that determine their main companion, Pikachu or Eevee.
7 Chaotic Good: Pokémon Mystery Dungeon
Fans looking for a weird twist to their Pokémon experience can look at Mystery Dungeon for a bit of adventure. Unlike the more combat-centric titles, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon games such as Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX lets players take control of cutesy Pokémon on a quest to explore various parts of the world.
Chaotic Good players will appreciate the more "creative" mechanics of Mystery Dungeon. Fans will love the RPG-esque nature of the game. After all, this game's story "transforms" the player into one of many fan-favorite Pokémon. Moreover, Chaotic Good players will appreciate the ever-changing nature of dungeons in Rescue Team DX, as they offer a new experience with every playthrough.
6 Lawful Neutral: Pokémon GO
The Age of the Smartphone came with new games to play with them. And thankfully, Pikachu's debut in smartphones via Pokémon GO became nothing short of worth the wait. Thanks to the game's augmented reality mechanics, Pokémon GO superimposes a legitimate Pokémon experience over the real world.
This factor means players can use their smartphone camera to have an authentic Pokémon experience. They can catch Pokémon in the real world, "interact" with PokéStops and claim Gyms, or participate in raids. Players of Lawfully Neutral alignment will appreciate this game, as while people usually have a neutral response to the status of Pokémon GO today, everyone can agree that the game is a lawful adaptation of smartphone Pokémon game.
5 True Neutral: Pokémon Snap
Talk about a new meaning to "catch 'em all!" Thanks to Pokémon Snap, players can capture moments of Pokémon "in the wild" and share them with the family or with friends. And after more than two decades, New Pokémon Snap for the Nintendo Switch will let long-time fans take pictures of their favorite Pokémon in captivating 3D.
Players of the True Neutral alignment can "play it safe" with the New Pokémon Snap game. After all, this innocent-enough game won't force arguments over the "2D vs 3D" format of the series. Moreover, everyone will likely look at this game without having to "compare" it to anything but its predecessor. After all, with improved graphics plus more immersive gameplay, it's a win-win.
4 Chaotic Neutral: Pokémon Sword And Shield
Alongside the Nintendo Switch are new Pokémon titles ready to showcase the console's potential. Aside from the aforementioned Let's Go! series, it's Pokémon Sword and Shield that really set the stage for Generation VIII Pokémon. This game has a new region (Galar), plus an interesting plot that uncovers a conspiracy in the Galar Pokémon League.
Players of the Chaotic Neutral alignment live a little dangerously with Sword and Shield. After all, they can avoid purists who insist "2D is better" when they argue the Switch offers better graphics and more gameplay features. Moreover, the fact that there's a new open Wild Area for encounters adds a much-needed chaotic spice to previous grass-based random encounters.
3 Lawful Evil: Pokkén Tournament
While Nintendo kept on making new Pokémon games for new console releases, no title has yet to capture the intense battles of the Pokémon anime. However, Bandai Namco's Pokkén Tournament changes this factoid. After all, players can finally take control of some of the most famous Pokémon from the franchise. Moreover, this game lets them duke it out, not in turn-based action, but as a fighting game, complete with combos and finishers.
This game can capture the fancy of Lawful Evil players. After all, the game does capture the action-packed fights of the Pokémon anime in the same vein as Tekken and Street Fighter. However, purists might see this game as evil; after all, there's no turn-based battles, no Gym badges, and no Pokédex.
2 Neutral Evil: Pokémon Battle Revolution
Interestingly, Pokkén isn't the first game to center around Pokémon combat. In fact, the Pokémon Stadium series focuses less on the exploration and more on Pokémon fighting each other. As such, Pokémon Battle Revolution for the Wii seems perfect for fans who want to focus on 3D Pokémon battles. Battle Revolution still uses the turn-based mechanic from classic games but shows these moves in full 3D, which at the time is the closest fans could get to battles similar to the anime.
Unfortunately, fans see Battle Revolution with a bit of mixed reception. For instance, others who love action like how skills "make contact" with enemy Pokémon and how the game cuts straight to the action. However, purists don't appreciate Battle Revolution for letting go of the more casual 2D exploration format of classic titles.
1 Chaotic Evil: Pokémon Cafe Mix
Pokémon fans tired of the entire "catch 'em all" slogan can instead play Pokémon Cafe Mix to unwind and spend a bit of downtime with their favorite Pokémon. Moreover, in this puzzle game, players will seek the help of Pokémon to run their own Pokémon establishment. Various Pokémon stop by the cafe to make their orders, while others help the players meet them. The game takes on the form of a "link 'em up!" system where players need to connect icons to eliminate them and send ingredients to the bottom of the screen.
Purists might not like this game for its extremely casual setup. After all, a Pokémon game without exploration and battle might just be a cute game. And players who think otherwise can go for the Chaotic Evil route and show them this game and that the franchise doesn't need battles to be fun.