ThePokemonfranchise is one of gaming’s true juggernauts, having been responsible for around half a billion sales since making its debut way back in the mid-nineties. Since then, fans have seen several newcreature-collecting titleson each new generation of Nintendo handheld; from the original Game Boy right through to the Nintendo Switch.
Together with its hybrid nature, the increased power of the Switch has allowed developers to try out a whole host of new ideas, many of which have helped to freshen up the series' tried yet tired formula. As a result, the bestPokemongames on the Nintendo Switch elevate the series to all-new heights and are well worth checking out.
Updated July 30, 2025, by Tom Bowen:There are plenty of Pokemon Switch games to choose from, each of which offers something a little different. Those looking for the best Pokemon game for Switch will need to do a bit of digging though, as not all of the Pokemon Switch games on the platform were created equally. The franchise spans multiple genres too, with some of the spin-off games offering very different experiences from those on offer in the mainline titles. Understanding these differences will therefore be important for anyone hoping to find the best Pokemon Switch game, as too will each game’s length and OpenCritic rating.
The following list ofPokemonSwitch games will focus on titles that received a full retail release on the console. As such, NSO and e-shop ports of Game Boy and 3DSPokemongames will not be considered.
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12Pokemon Quest
OpenCritic Rating: 66
Developed by Game Freak and released simultaneously on Switch and mobile devices,Pokemon Questis an action-adventure game that uses blocky graphics similar to the ones found inMinecraft. It’s a lot likethe PixelmonMinecraftmodin that regard, only a lot more hollow and nowhere near as enjoyable to play.
A big part of this is down to the game’s distinct lack of objectives andthe simplistic and repetitive nature of its gameplay. Granted, the latter does make it pretty easy to pick up and play, but with so many greatPokemongames on the Nintendo Switch, it’s difficult to see why anybody would ever want to do that.
11Pokemon Cafe ReMix
OpenCritic Rating: 64
Pokemon Cafe ReMixsees players running their own little cafe. To do so successfully, they’ll need to complete simple puzzles in order to serve visiting Pokemon food and drink. The presentation is pretty cute and the gameplay itself can be a great way to pass the time, though it’s the kind of game that most people will get bored of pretty quickly.
Like mostother modern free-to-play titles, the game features in-app purchases, which come in the form of Golden Acorns. Players can use these to continue playing after they run out of lives to avoid having to wait. It’s also possible to purchase unlimited play periods, which can come in handy when tackling some of the more challenging post-game content.
10Pokemon Unite
OpenCritic Rating: 68
Pokemon Uniteis aPokemon-themed MOBA. It’s not a bad game, but there are much better MOBAs out there, which begs the question; why not just play one of those? Sure, it features many fan-favorite Pokemon, but it’s also loaded with predatory microtransactions and is arguably pay-to-win (unless players want to grind for weeks every time they want a new Pokemon, that is).
All that said,there’s certainly fun to be had withPokemon Unite, and it’s a great entry point to a genre that can be notoriously intimidating for newer players. However, the fact that it seems to be targeting younger kids with itsPokemonbranding makes its monetization difficult to ignore and is something that parents should be aware of before letting their children play this game.
9Detective Pikachu Returns
Detective Pikachu Returnsis far from a bad game, but it’s a difficult one to recommend for a variety of reasons. For one thing,it will likely prove to be far too easy for the average player, yet remains just a little too complicated for the younger audience that it seems to be aimed at to play by themselves. This could work well for those with kids who are just starting to get into gaming, but there are arguably much better titles to choose from here.
The story is an incredibly simple oneand is easy to understand thanks to how linear everything is. Sadly, unlike the movie, the gameplay can be pretty bland in places and the puzzles require very little brainpower. Of course, this could prove to be appealing for those looking for a relaxing game to coast through during a lazy weekend or something to play with the kids for an hour or two before bedtime over the course of a few weeks.
8Pokken Tournament DX
OpenCritic Rating: 80
Pokken Tournamentstarted life as a 2015 arcade title before being ported to the Wii U the following year. An enhanced port of the game known asPokken Tournament DXwas then released for the Switch in 2017, bringing with it a few new version-specific Pokemon such as Decidueye, Aegislash, and Blastoise.
As the name might suggest, the game serves as a crossover between thePokemonandTekkenfranchises, with players taking control of one of 23 different Pokemon to partake inclassic fighting game-style combat. It reviewed fairly well and can be a lot of fun in short bursts, but definitely lacks the depth of a top-tier fighting game.
7Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
OpenCritic Rating: 74
Given how greatsome of the otherPokemonremakeshave been,Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearlcame as a bit of a disappointment. Sure, they did bring with them a few nice additions and allowed players to get their hands on a pretty decent selection of Mythical and Legendary Pokemon. However, when compared to the likes ofHeartGold & SoulSilver, they definitely came up short.
To be clear,Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearlare definitely a step up from the originals due to how easily accessible they are. Whether or not the new visuals are all that much better is debatable though, with many fans unhappy with the decision to go with a Chibi art style. They’re not bad games, but they could certainly have been much better.
6Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Rescue Team DX
OpenCritic Rating: 69
ThePokemon Mystery Dungeongames are nowhere near as popular as the mainline titles, but they’ve managed to attract a fairly sizable fanbase over the years nonetheless.Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Rescue Team DXis a remake of the originalMystery Dungeontitles, which were first released on the DS way back in 2005.
It’s clear that a lot of care and attention went into this remake, both when it comes to the visuals and the gameplay itself. Those who enjoyed the original games will adore whatPokemon Mystery Dungeon Rescue Team DXhas to offer, as too will anybody who’s grown tired ofthe tried and testedPokemonformulabut still adores the characters.
5Pokemon Scarlet & Violet
OpenCritic Rating: 71
Pokemon Scarlet & Violetget a lot of things right. The way that players are able to tackle the three main storylines in any order they like is as liberating as the game’s sprawling open world, while online raids and the terra-type mechanic help to further freshen up the classicPokemonbattle formula. There are a lot of great NPCs as well.
Unfortunately, however, the games are either held back by the hardware or were poorly optimized for it ahead of their release. Either way,this can result in an incredibly choppy framerate at timesand makes it difficult to recommend the Gen 9 titles to all but the series' biggest and most ardent fans.
4Pokemon Let’s Go, Pikachu! & Let’s Go, Eevee!
OpenCritic Rating: 81
Although some may prefer the classic Gen 1 titles,Pokemon Let’s Go, Pikachu! & Let’s Go, Eevee!are undoubtedly far more accessible; both when it comes to obtaining a copy and actually playing through it. The 2018 remakes also offer up some pretty big improvements, not just in the visual department, but also when it comes to the game’s core mechanics.
That the remakes proved to be so popular among fans was perhaps indicative of how stale the series formula was starting to feel, but it’s also a testament to how great the original titles really were.Pokemon Red & Bluehelped to spawn one ofthe largest gaming IPs in existenceand being able to reexperience these classic titles with yet another fresh coat of paint should therefore prove to be a real treat for series fans.
3New Pokemon Snap
New Pokemon Snapis not a mainline title, but it is one of the bestPokemongames on the Nintendo Switch. It serves as the perfect sequel to its 1999 predecessor, providing players with a wide variety of colorful and fun-to-explore locations and a fairly large selection of Pokemon to photograph.
It’s a shame that the game didn’t receive more post-release support, as the one big expansion that it did get was a lot of fun (not to mention free!). Even so, those looking for something a little different would do well to pick up thisstunning photography-themed title, particularly if they also happen to likePokemon.
