Every Pokémon Game on the Nintendo Switch in 2025

Pokémon: A Comprehensive Guide to Nintendo Switch Titles

Pokémon, a globally recognized media powerhouse, has been a Nintendo mainstay since its Game Boy debut. The franchise boasts hundreds of captivating creatures, collectible in-game and as trading cards, with each generation unveiling new discoveries. Every Nintendo console has featured numerous Pokémon games, and the Nintendo Switch is no exception. With Nintendo's confirmed Switch 2 backward compatibility, existing Switch Pokémon games are guaranteed to transition seamlessly to the new system. This guide details all Nintendo Switch Pokémon games released to date, along with information on upcoming Switch 2 releases.

Total Nintendo Switch Pokémon Games:

A total of twelve Pokémon games have launched on the Nintendo Switch, encompassing mainline titles from generations eight and nine, plus numerous spin-offs. For this list, dual-version mainline entries are counted as single releases. Nintendo Switch Online offerings are excluded, but a separate list is provided below.

Note: 2024 marked a hiatus for new Pokémon game releases, following the last mainline title's release two years prior. The Pokémon Company instead launched Pokémon TCG Pocket, a hugely successful free card game app (not included in this list as it's not a Switch title).

Recommended Pokémon Game for 2024:

For Switch players in 2024, I recommend Pokémon Legends: Arceus. While it deviates from classic Pokémon gameplay, it offers a refreshing open-world experience, enhanced action-RPG elements, increased control over encounters, and refined handheld gameplay.

All Nintendo Switch Pokémon Games (Release Order):

1. Pokkén Tournament DX (2017): A deluxe Nintendo Switch version of the Wii U title, featuring new characters and enhanced visuals. Its three-on-three battle system is ideal for both local and online multiplayer.

2. Pokémon Quest (2018): A free-to-play game transforming Pokémon into cube-shaped characters. Simple combat mechanics involve sending Pokémon on expeditions and equipping abilities.

3. Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! & Let's Go, Eevee! (2018): Remakes of Pokémon Yellow (1998), marking the series' first mainline console entries since the Wii U. Set in Kanto, featuring all 151 original Pokémon and enhanced accessibility features.

4. Pokémon Sword & Shield (2019): Introducing open-world "Wild Areas" for free exploration and wild Pokémon battles, alongside the return of Gyms and the eighth Pokémon generation (Dynamax and Gigantamax forms).

5. Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX (2020): A remake of the 2005 titles, featuring dungeon exploration, job completion, and Pokémon unlocking.

6. Pokémon Café ReMix (2020): A free-to-play puzzle game involving connecting Pokémon to solve puzzles and manage a café.

7. New Pokémon Snap (2021): A sequel to the original Pokémon Snap, featuring on-rails camera gameplay for capturing Pokémon photos in various biomes.

8. Pokémon Unite (2021): Pokémon's first MOBA entry, featuring team-based online battles.

9. Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl (2021): Remakes of the 2006 Nintendo DS titles, featuring a chibi art style.

10. Pokémon Legends: Arceus (2022): A critically acclaimed title set in the past Hisui region, emphasizing open-world exploration and strategic Pokémon encounters.

11. Pokémon Scarlet & Violet (2022): The latest mainline entries, initiating Generation 9 with an open world and new gameplay mechanics.

12. Detective Pikachu Returns (2023): A sequel to the original Detective Pikachu game, featuring puzzle-solving and investigation mechanics.

Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack Pokémon Games:

The Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription unlocks access to additional Pokémon titles:

• Pokémon Trading Card Game
• Pokémon Snap
• Pokémon Puzzle League
• Pokémon Stadium
• Pokémon Stadium 2

All Mainline Pokémon Games:

[Images of all mainline Pokémon game boxes are present here, but I cannot reproduce them in this text-based response.]

Upcoming Pokémon Games on Nintendo Switch:

Following a year without new releases, Pokémon Day 2024 announced a new Pokémon Legends game for 2025. Further details are awaited, but a Switch 2 release is anticipated. A Nintendo Direct scheduled for April 2nd may provide additional information on the Switch 2 release date and new game announcements.