Nintendo Switch Captivates with Exciting Pokémon Slate for 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 a wealth of new discoveries. Every Nintendo console has featured numerous Pokémon games, and the Nintendo Switch is no exception. With Nintendo's Switch 2 announcement confirming backward compatibility, existing Switch Pokémon games are guaranteed to work on the new system. This article details every Pokémon game released on the Nintendo Switch, along with information on upcoming Switch 2 releases.

The Nintendo Switch Pokémon Lineup: A Total of 12 Games

A total of twelve Pokémon games have graced the Nintendo Switch. This includes core series entries from the eighth and ninth generations, plus numerous spin-offs. For this list, dual-version mainline games are counted as single releases. Nintendo Switch Online offerings are excluded, but details on those are provided below.

Note: 2024 marked a hiatus for new Pokémon game releases, the first in over a year (and two years since the last mainline title). The Pokémon Company instead released Pokémon TCG Pocket, a hugely successful free-to-play app version of the Pokémon trading card game. While not a Switch title, it's highly recommended for Pokémon enthusiasts.

Pokémon Game Recommendation for 2024: Pokémon Legends: Arceus

For Switch players seeking a worthwhile Pokémon experience in 2024, I recommend Pokémon Legends: Arceus. While it deviates from the classic Pokémon formula, this is precisely where its appeal lies. Legends: Arceus introduces action-RPG elements, offering fresh open-world exploration, enhanced encounter control, and polished handheld gameplay.

All Nintendo Switch Pokémon Games (Release Order)

• Pokkén Tournament DX (2017): A deluxe Switch port of the Wii U title, featuring new characters and enhanced visuals. Its 3-on-3 battle system is engaging for both local and online play.

• Pokémon Quest (2018): A free-to-play title where Pokémon are adorable cube creatures. Simple combat involves sending Pokémon on expeditions and equipping them with various abilities.

• Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! & Let's Go, Eevee! (2018): Remakes of Pokémon Yellow (1998), marking the first mainline Pokémon games on a home console. Set in Kanto, featuring all 151 original Pokémon and enhanced accessibility.

• Pokémon Sword & Shield (2019): The first installment with open-world aspects ("Wild Areas") allowing free exploration and wild Pokémon battles. Gym battles return, and the eighth generation of Pokémon is introduced, including Dynamax and Gigantamax forms.

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

• Pokémon Café ReMix (2020): A free-to-play puzzle game where players manage a café, serving Pokémon.

• New Pokémon Snap (2021): The long-awaited sequel to Pokémon Snap, featuring on-rails photography in diverse biomes.

• Pokémon Unite (2021): Pokémon's entry into the MOBA genre, featuring 5-on-5 online battles.

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

• Pokémon Legends: Arceus (2022): A critically acclaimed title set in the past, emphasizing exploration and strategic Pokémon capture.

• Pokémon Scarlet & Violet (2022): The ninth generation, featuring a fully open world and expansive exploration.

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

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

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Upcoming Pokémon Games on Nintendo Switch

Following a year without a new release, Pokémon Day 2024 brought exciting news: a new Pokémon Legends game is slated for 2025. Further details are awaited, but it's anticipated to launch on both the Switch and Switch 2. A Nintendo Direct scheduled for April 2nd may reveal more information.