Not counting the Pokedex, or Dream Radar apps, there were thirteen Pokemon games on the 3DS. That is a record for the franchise although not far from the norm. Since the series debuted over two decades ago, Nintendo and Game Freak have been eager to experiment and release mainline games and spin-offs aplenty for almost every Nintendo console since the original Game Boy.
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The 3DS then is no different. That number thirteen isn’t even counting the multiple versions of each generation of games like Pokemon X & Y. In the rankings, they will only count as one to make things simpler. So, of these thirteen titles, which can be skipped and which are the must-play classics?
Updated June 8, 2021, by Tom Bowen: There have been some truly fantastic Pokemon games over the past 25 years, many of which came during the 3DS era. It's here that the mainline games finally made the leap to 3D, with many new mechanics also added to the series in the process. There were a fair amount of Pokemon spin-off titles created around this time too, although not all of them landed quite as well as their developers would perhaps have liked. Even so, for those looking for a way to fill the gap between now and the release of the Diamond & Pearl remakes, the 3DS Pokemon games are arguably a great place to start.
13 Pokemon Shuffle (56)
Release Date: February 18, 2015
Region: N/A
Starter Pokemon: N/A
Pokemon Shuffle is a free-to-play match-three puzzle game that released for the 3DS in early 2018. Players use special Pokemon blocks to fight other Pokemon in the hopes of "catching" them. It is by no means awful, but the free-to-play trappings certainly weigh the game down quite a bit more than they need to.
As with other freemium games, the game is loaded with poorly priced microtransactions, which didn't sit too well with fans or critics. That didn't stop more than six and a half million people from downloading the game though, making it one of the most played Pokemon spin-off games of all time.
12 Pokemon Rumble Blast (56)
Release Date: October 24, 2011
Region: Toyland
Starter Pokemon: Pikachu
While Nintendo has worked with Koei Tecmo on Dynasty Warriors spin-offs like Hyrule Warriors and Fire Emblem Warriors, they are yet to collaborate on a Pokemon Warriors project. Pokemon Rumble Blast follows a similar gameplay concept but unfortunately has a far greater monotonous wheel.
Though undoubtedly a big step up from the first Pokemon Rumble game, Blast still has a lot of problems. The graphics are poor, the gameplay is repetitive and the story is incredibly lackluster too. It's not bad in short bursts but lacks the substance required to justify the decision to release the game as a full-priced title.
11 Pokemon Rumble World (58)
Release Date: April 8, 2015
Region: The Kingdom of Toys
Starter Pokemon: Pikachu
Four years on from the release of Rumble Blast, another Rumble game arrived in the form of Pokemon Rumble World. Sadly, the developer Ambrella didn't seem to learn much from its past mistakes, although did at least opt for a free-to-play approach, which was a slight step up from the game's predecessor.
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It may not have felt like a waste of money like the previous game, but it still had a lot of issues. Like Pokemon Shuffle, the trappings were too high to really sink time into the game without paying money and the overall experience remained fairly underwhelming even for those who did.
10 Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity (59)
Release Date: March 24, 2013
Region: The Pokemon World
Starter Pokemon: Pikachu, Oshawott, Tepig, Snivy & Axew
Gates to Infinity was the first Pokemon Mystery Dungeon game to grace the 3DS. For a roguelike game, it offers up a very kid-friendly take on the genre, which, although great for children, did not sit well with some older players. Critics were generally in agreement on this front, with many bemoaning the game's shallow combat and overall lack of difficulty.
Though none of the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon games are bad, some feel that they just don’t offer enough of a challenge to seasoned fans of the genre. The games all tend to feel incredibly similar to one another too and Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity is no different in this respect.
9 Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon (69)
Release Date: November 20, 2015
Region: The Pokemon World
Starter Pokemon: 20 Available
Two years on from the North American release of Gates to Infinity, Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon made its way to western shores. Spike Chunsoft seemed to learn a lot of lessons from the previous title too and even evolved some concepts, from gameplay elements to graphics.
Again, it’s not a spin-off that one has to play in order to become a mega fan, but the series was at least getting better at this point. It certainly helped that the game included all 720 Pokemon that had been introduced to the series at the time and also provided plenty of unique customization options for people to play around with.
8 Pokemon Battle Trozei (70)
Release Date: March 20, 2014
Region: N/A
Starter Pokemon: N/A
Pokemon Battle Trozei is a lot like Pokemon Shuffle, but it is not free to play. Unsurprisingly, perhaps, it’s a far better game for it. It won’t have any Tetris fans jumping ship, but Pokemon Battle Trozei at least manages to blend the concept of Pokemon and puzzle games together in a coherent way.
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The strategic combat system works incredibly well and is just one of many great mechanics to have found their way into the game. The art style is solid too, although is let down somewhat by the game's poor music and the lack of online multiplayer functionality.
7 Detective Pikachu (71)
Release Date: February 18, 2015
Region: Ryme City
Starter Pokemon: Pikachu
The idea of a Pokemon-themed adventure game may have seemed a little ludicrous to some, yet Detective Pikachu ended up being a pretty solid game. It looks great, it has plenty of funny moments and it can be fairly challenging at times too. Most importantly though, it's a lot of fun.
Even though it is extremely easy to get through, the story is strong enough to keep players hooked. It was so good, in fact, that it spawned the series’ first ever live-action movie, which was also fairly well-received by fans and critics. Whether or not fans will ever get a sequel to either remains to be seen though.
6 Pokemon Picross (75)
Release Date: December 3, 2015
Region: N/A
Starter Pokemon: N/A
For those looking for a more traditional Pokemon puzzle game, Pokemon Picross is a fairly decent shout. Much like the Mario Picross game which came before it, the game doesn't really have too much to do with Pokemon, but thanks to the strength of the Picross formula, that needn't really be an issue.
Granted, the Pokemon skin doesn't really bring much to the table, but it certainly doesn't detract from the experience either. The end result is an excellent puzzle game that's aesthetically pleasing and capable of keeping players entertained and mentally stimulated for hours at a time.
5 Pokemon Art Academy (76)
Release Date: October 24, 2014
Region: N/A
Starter Pokemon: N/A
Pokemon Art Academy is another 3DS game that's effectively just been given a Pokemon skin. In all fairness, it at least offers tutorials demonstrating how players can draw their favorite Pokemon, although the 3DS itself can be somewhat limiting when it comes to the actual drawing part.
In a lot of ways, it’s more like a coloring book than an actual game, but it’s arguably a very good coloring book with high production values all around. Older players may not enjoy the experience all that much, but those aged below five or six will likely have a great time with the game.
4 Pokemon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire (83/82)
Release Date: November 21, 2014
Region: Hoenn
Starter Pokemon: Treecko, Torchic & Mudkip
Though the likes of FireRed, LeafGreen, HeartGold & SoulSilver were all perfectly serviceable, Pokemon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire really raised the bar when it came to Pokemon remakes. Pretty much everything about the original games was improved and many newer series mechanics were added into the mix.
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Mega Evolution was perhaps the biggest addition, with many gen 3 Pokemon being treated to Mega forms. Mirage Spots allowed players to add a ridiculous number of Legendary Pokemon to their Pokedexes too, while the leap to 3D made returning to Hoenn an absolute delight.
3 Pokemon Ultra Sun & Moon (84)
Release Date: November 17, 2017
Region: Alola
Starter Pokemon: Rowlet, Litten & Popplio
The decision to release Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon so soon after the base versions of the games went on sale was seen as a little strange by many, especially considering how little was actually changed. Granted, there is more content available in the updated titles, but there is also plenty of stuff missing as well.
One of the most noticeable additions is the concept of Ultra Beasts, with four of them available across the two games. There are also two new forms added for Necrozma, with players able to combine the Pokemon with Solgaleo or Lunala in much the same way that they could enhance Kyurem in Black 2 & White 2.
2 Pokémon Sun & Moon (87)
Release Date: November 18, 2016
Region: Alola
Starter Pokemon: Rowlet, Litten & Popplio
While not quite as innovative as the first two mainline Pokemon games on the 3DS, Pokemon Sun & Moon still have a lot to offer. The biggest changes came in the form of the games' gym battles as well as the idea of Pokemon having alternate, Alolan versions of themselves.
The concept of regional forms of Pokemon is one that has stuck with series since, with the latest generation of Pokemon games also featuring regional variations. The Alola region is a lot of fun to explore too, even if some of the Pokemon introduced there are a little uninspired when compared to those found in earlier generations of Pokemon games.
1 Pokemon X & Y (87/88)
Release Date: October 12, 2013
Region: Kalos
Starter Pokemon: Chespin, Fenneki & Froakie
As previously mentioned, Pokemon X & Y marked the series' debut on the 3DS and did so with a rather emphatic bang. This was the first time that players got to experience the mainline games with a more traditional 3D gameplay style and they were also treated to a brand new art style.
The sixth generation Pokemon games introduced Mega Evolutions, which have completely changed competitive play. There are plenty of other big changes too, like customizable protagonists and the introduction of Fairy-type Pokemon, all of which combine to make X & Y the very best Pokemon games available on the 3DS.
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