Pokemonhas been around for decades and has become a pillar of the games industry and wider culture. Over the years the series has evolved a lot and has tried to expand into a variety of genres and playstyles. No matter what type of game aPokemonfan is interested in playing, there is very likely a game in the series that matches that genre.
However, just asPokemonspin-off titles have covered a wide range of different genres and styles, it also has spanned a wide range of qualities from the truly special to the more unforgettable. There have been some very special spin-offs over the years and some that have been largely forgotten by thePokemoncommunity. Whether it be thesurprise hit MOBAPokemon Uniteor the odd mobile toothbrushing gamePokemon Smile, here are the tiers of allPokemonspin-offs.
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S-Tier
The very bestPokemonspin-offs mostly focus on keeping the core of the series intact but translating them to different settings. Games like the Nintendo 64’sPokemon StadiumandPokemon Stadium 2are beloved throughout the community for allowing fans to try different team compositions and showing battles in a way that had never been seen before and has barely been matched since. This is why many fans have called forPokemon Stadiumto receive a remaster on the Switch, and why it is one of the best spin-offs. Other S-tier spin-offs include two games that emulate the trading card game experience inPokemon Trading Card Gameon the Game Boy and the best way to play the game online,Pokemon Trading Card Game Onlinefor the PC. Both of these titles offer a very faithful recreation of the physical card game, which is a real treat for fans.
A-Tier
Pokemon Snapwas a cult classic among thePokemoncommunity for many years. It was for this reason that the announcement ofNew Pokemon Snapwas met with such excitement, and thankfully, the sequel lived up to its predecessor. Both games are beloved for showing Pokemon in a new way in their natural habitats, and for bringing a new rail shooter style of gameplay to the series. This tier also includesPokemon GO., which was a cultural phenomenon when it was first released and has managed to maintain a solid player base ever since. It has provided a way for fans to always be playing their favorite franchise and showcases plenty ofPokemon GoCommunity Daysand events to keep them playing.
B-Tier
This tier is home to many of the more experimentalPokemontitles that received a warm welcome but weren’t as popular as some of the others in higher tiers. This includes free-to-play games likePokemon Questor thenew MOBAPokemon Unite. It also includes the game that inspired a Hollywood movie,Detective Pikachu, the multiplayer mini-game action ofPokePark 2: Wonders Beyond, and the educationalPokemon Art Academy. While the games in this tier may not have found the biggest audience within the fanbase or have received the most critical praise, they were nevertheless welcome additions to the series that many fans choose to revisit to this day.
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C-Tier
Interestingly, the C-tier contains nearly all of thePokemon Rumbleseries, except forPokemon Rumble UandPokemon Rumble Rush, which are coming up. The series saw players taking control of toy versions of their favorite Pokemon in a top-down beat ‘em up that many critics found the gameplay to be too shallow and repetitive. The tier also includes some of the strangerPokemonspin-offs likePokemon Dashthat was a racing game andThe Band of Thieves & 1000 Pokemonwhich was a movie tie-in game presented as a stage play. This tier also includes one of thePokemon Mystery Dungeongames which has had a range of success with critics across the series. However, it still has many fans that arehoping for a newPokemon Mystery Dungeongameall the same.
D-Tier
This tier is mostly comprised of the spin-offs that didn’t have enough content or weren’t fleshed out enough to keep players around. This includes the two missingPokemon Rumblegames, including the mobilePokemon Rumble Rushthat shut down one year after release. It also features some of the stranger spin-offs likePokemon Smilethat has players record themselves while they brush their teeth orPokemon Dream Radarwhich is little more than an augmented reality tap game on the 3DS. It is really great thatPokemonhas been willing to take risks and continue to try new things, so hopefully, the series continues to do so. Maybe just no more games that have to be played in the bathroom.
