Summary
ThePokemontitles have been a fixture in the gaming community for decades, setting the bar for thecreature collector genreand continually introducing the world to more unique and engaging creature designs. Many long-time fans have noticed, however, that thePokemongames have continually become simplified and shorter to satisfy the huge fanbase.
While it may be true thatPokemonstories are often bite-sized affairs, a series with as many entries as this one is sure to have some exceptions to the rule. While players wait for the climactic release ofthe newLegendstitle, there are a fewPokemontitles in particular that have enough content to keep them hooked for months, hopefully making the wait for the new title a little bit more bearable.
Nintendo’s first true foray into the Switch with aPokemontitle,Sword and Shieldbrought many new and beloved features to the franchise. The groundwork for atruly open-worldPokemongamewas laid here, and while this title, in particular, did raise some controversies, especially where the aforementioned streamlining has occurred, today it’s a complete and compelling title for fans to give a try or come back to.
With the option for offline Max Raid battles, two fleshed-out DLC areas, the pseudo-open world elements of Galar, the special tournaments to compete in after the game’s end, and the main storyline overall, this is aPokemongame that will keep players occupied for a while.
The latest release in thePokemon Mystery Dungeonseries besides the remake of the originalRescue Teamtitles,Super Mystery Dungeonis an excellentPokemonroguelike that has players mapping out an entire world filled with adventure and secrets to find. The unique recruitment mechanic in this title ensures players will have a good deal of content to work through before the game is over.
Individual Pokemon must be befriended and added to the players' overall network of teammates for them to be utilized in an exploration team. Considering this game hosts every single Pokemon through to Generation 6 - and there’s no evolution, individual evolutionary stages need to be recruited separately - players will no doubt be able to continue their adventures in this game for months.
For many players,Pokemon Emeraldis seen as the opus of the Game BoyPokemontitles or even the opus of the series overall. It’s easy to see why, with Rayquaza being one of the most iconic legendaries to date, and the story ofEmeraldbeing a fantastic synthesis of the plots from the earlier games in this generation.
Emeraldis, on its own, a substantial game with plenty of features to keep players going, but the Battle Frontier, one of the most requested features to make a comeback in modern games, is an excellent post-game challenge that will try players for months as they push themselves and their teams to the limit.
Perhaps one ofthe bestPokemongamesin Nintendo’s library,Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Skyis a fascinating gem of a title (as much as aPokemontitle can really be classified as a gem) that has players playing as a Pokemon, rather than a trainer collecting them. As an exploration team, the player, their partner, and any other Pokemon recruited into the team will be tasked with entering mystery dungeons to rescue Pokemon, collect bounties, or find treasure.
Not only are the radiantly generated rescue missions from the bulletin board a constant source of entertainment, but the story itself is lengthy and compelling, and there is an entire story arc post the main questline. This is a game that can keep people hooked for months with no trouble.
An utterly unique title in thePokemonseries, at least until therelease ofLegends: Z-A,Legends: Arceusis an impressive, beautiful title that completely changes how the act of playing aPokemongame functions. This is a game that takes the best principles of open-world gaming - exploration, discovery, and agency - and melds them with the wonder that makes for the best experiences in the franchise.
Working on the first-ever database for Pokemon in the ancient Sinnoh region is no small feat, and players can expect to be working on their ambitions for quite a long time as the ancient Pokedex comes together.
This Nintendo DS classic has entrenched itself in the memory of manyPokemonfans, encompassing everything that longtime players look for in a game like this. The evil team is intimidating, the stakes are high, the story is creative, and the gameplay is challenging.
While the main storyline and post-game legendary Pokemon will keep players occupied for a while, the Battle Resort inPokemon Platinumis a similarly beloved parallel to the Battle Frontier and an excellent way for players to challenge themselves for months after the main storyline.
Considered by many to be part of themost challengingPokemongeneration,Black and White 2might just be the pinnacle of the mainline series. No other title offers the same level of challenge to keep players occupied, and the breadth of content on display here is something else.
The PWT, post-game legendary challenges, hidden areas, and secrets -Pokemon Black and White 2has a multitude of things to keep people playing for months. The Hard Mode option especially is a great way to give this game even more longevity.
