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How many Pokémon games are on the Nintendo Switch? Do you want to be a Pokémon trainer or would you rather help a tough-talking Pikachu solve a mystery? This franchise has spawned many main series and spin-off titles over the years.
If you are a fan of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, you might be interested in starting the Indigo Disk DLC. If you are about to start your first Pokémon game or have been a fan of Pokemon games for years, there is something for you to discover.
The handheld console has plenty to experience. What Pokémon games are you most excited to try out? Here is every Pokémon game on Nintendo Switch.
All Pokémon games on Nintendo Switch
There are 12 Pokémon games to play on the Nintendo Switch. This gives you plenty of options to choose from and adventures to have.
Pokémon Café ReMix
Pokémon Cafe Mix is a Free – To – Play Pokémon Spin off game on the Nintendo Switch E-Shop in which you play as a café owner. Your job is to recruit cute Pokémon as servers of your café; the game is a puzzle game with a beautiful art style and fun Pokémon, which we have all loved for ages.
It was released for Mobile and the Nintendo Switch; the different Pokémon you recruit in the game help you solve puzzles that are not very challenging in different ways. The game is a fun time to be had daily for a few minutes but doesn’t provide more than that experience.
Pokémon Quest
A Minecraft-inspired Free-to-Play RPG, where you are thrust into a voxel-styled world; filled with blocky architectures and Pokémon. It was released on the Nintendo Switch and mobile devices, and the game is based on the beloved Kanto region and its Pokemon except this one takes place on Tumblecube Island.
Players build their Pokémon base on the island to complete challenges and maintain their area by eliminating Pokémon threats. The game is cute and easy to pick up but very forgettable and a grind of an experience. The developers have since added new features to the game, and it might be a good time for casual players. If you enjoy Minecraft and Pokémon, be sure to check this out.
Pokémon Unite
A polarizing game upon its inception, Pokémon Unite is a Free–to–Play Moba that launched with the solid mechanic. Still, it heavily relied on pay-to-win mechanics. This caused a strong divide in the player base, but the game has balanced itself pretty well since then. While some pay-to-win aspects exist, the game is an easy-to-pick-up experience with fun mechanics that will keep you playing for a while.
The game is a Hero-style tower defense game where the possibility of having new Pokémon characters always exists. The players start the match relatively weak and slowly grow in strength as they earn points and defeat other players. If you want to play this game, be sure not to get swept in its microtransactions.
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX
A remake of the 2005 dual-release games on the Nintendo DS Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue and Red Rescue Team. The games have evolved to feature a new art style. They include the Mega Evolution phenomenon, but the original game’s core problems remain in the faithful remake. The games are part of the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Spin-Off series that features a human turned into a Pokémon who then goes on a journey to turn himself back.
The game features procedurally generated dungeons that become a bit repetitive over time. Still, you do manage to save new Pokémon during your journey and add them to your team. The game features a beautifully designed world with a rich art style, so even though the above and below aspect of the game’s design is combined in the two games, it’s still a fun experience for fans of the series.
Pokkén Tournament DX
A versus battle Pokémon game that features head-to-head combat with various Pokémon, the game is heavily inspired by Tekken, so you know it’s good. The players are placed in an enclosed battlefield where they face off in battles; they are free to use hand-to-hand combat moves or ranged attacks.
The game is fast-paced and features a heavy roster of Pokémon, and the game was released on the Wii U and still managed to score impressive sales. The game gives you an accurate representation of what a Pokémon battle can and should be.
Pokémon Let’s Go Pikachu and Let’s Go Eevee
A game that took the concepts of Pokémon Go and created a new experience by recreating the classic Pokémon titles in a formula targeted towards younger audiences introducing them to the world of Pokémon. The game follows the original Pokémon Red, Green, Blue, and Yellow story, but the capturing mechanics have been changed. Pokémon appear in the overworld and can be captured by throwing the Pokéball at the correct time, usually done through the Switch’s motion control.
The nostalgic charm of the game, with a cute art style and your party Pokémon following you while retaining the main exploration and combat mechanics, made this game loved by new and old fans. A lovely tribute to the series, but veterans of the series wouldn’t enjoy it as much as the mainline games. Still, Pokémon Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee proved to be a fun calm experience for fans to enjoy.
New Pokémon Snap
Pokémon Snap on the N64 captured the hearts of fans everywhere with its scenic appeal of looking at Pokémon living in their natural habitat. The original game featured only 63 Pokémon, but the new one retains the charm of the old one but adds much more, like more than 200 Pokémon.
The game is an on rail adventure that puts you in the shoes of a photographer trying to take the perfect picture of Pokémon in their best natural form. This time, the game allows players to interact with the world and try to get Pokémon to behave differently by using items in their arsenal. The best thing about this Pokémon snap is the nighttime and the visuals it provides. Pokémon behaving during the beautiful sparkling night is a sight to behold. This immersive game was praised by fans and critics alike.
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl
The remakes of the original Diamond and Pearl games were adored by fans and critics alike. The games are faithful remakes of the originals; some might say too faithful. Developed by the studio ILCA and supervised by GameFreak, the game features a Chibi art style with freedom of movement and some quality-of-life improvements.
It also features a new Grand Underground where you can find Pokémon roaming the world freely and openly. It is a perfect place to encounter rare Pokémon. The game doesn’t feature many changes other than that. Many fans cite this as a missed opportunity to truly innovate and change the experience these games would’ve provided. Still, the game is perfect for those who missed out on the Sinnoh adventure or want to experience this region again in a new light.
Pokemon Sword and Shield
The mainline Pokémon game that all the fans were waiting for changed the formula, a great game that met with excellent sales but harsh criticism. The game featured a new region, Galar, and added Dynamaxing, a feature that looked cool but didn’t work that well in competitive play.
The Pokémon Company was trying something new, and they removed random encounters, made the world easy to explore, and provided an even better multiplayer experience. The title came as a breath of fresh air but was still too stuck in its old formats to truly innovate the series. Still, both fans and critics enjoy Pokémon Sword and Shield, having two DLCs (Isle of Armor and Crown Tundra), and that provides a new area with new Pokémon to explore.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus
An innovative title that finally took the Pokémon games to a new era, Pokémon Arceus is one of the best Pokémon games on the Switch. While a lackluster story and empty dialogue bog the game down, those parts are unimportant since where it truly shines is the exploration and gameplay.
The player is thrown into the olden Hisui region that becomes the Sinnoh region as time passes. The open-world exploration game gave more control to the player than ever, maintaining everything fans loved about the original Pokémon games and adding tons of new features.
The ability to interact with the world, observe Pokémon in their natural habitat and enjoy the variety is impressive. With boss battles, angry Pokémon, and hidden secrets to uncover, Pokémon Legends Arceus is a fantastic addition to the Switch’s Pokémon roster.
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
The newest addition to the Pokémon mainline games, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, have been met with a mixed reception. You can also experience the games with your friends and battle with them or alongside them.
The story is open to approach by the player at any time, and the game features an excellent roster of unique Pokémon that you can encounter in their natural habitat. It also features a new feature called Terrastalization that allows Pokémon to grow stronger and change their typing, adding a fun twist in the combat.
Detective Pikachu Returns
The latest of the spin-off Pokémon titles on Nintendo Switch is Detective Pikachu Returns. Following the success of the original game, This game allows you to explore Ryme City once more in a brand new detective case with your coffee-loving pal Pikachu.
You will explore the city, investigate scenes, and use special Pokémon skills to uncover clues. Be on the lookout for anything that will help you track down Tim’s father.
Now that you know all the Nintendo Switch Pokémon games, you may want to know all of the Pokémon in the Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Indigo Disk DLC.
