The Nintendo Switch era has been the most ambitious period in Pokemon’s history — spanning the beloved Sword and Shield, the divisive but innovative Scarlet and Violet, the groundbreaking Legends: Arceus, and a full remake of the most celebrated Pokemon game of all time in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. Whether you are a returning Pokemon fan, a first-time Switch owner choosing your first Pokemon game, or looking for the best Pokemon experience on Nintendo Switch 2, this guide ranks every mainline Pokemon Switch game and explains exactly which one is right for you.
For the complete Nintendo Switch games guide including the best Mario, Zelda, and indie games alongside Pokemon, see our article on the best Nintendo Switch games of all time — ultimate ranked list.
Every Pokemon Game on Nintendo Switch — Ranked
| Rank | Game | Year | Verdict |
| 1 | Pokemon Legends: Arceus | 2022 | Best Pokemon game on Switch — revolutionary open-world formula |
| 2 | Pokemon Scarlet and Violet | 2022 | Most ambitious Pokemon ever; technical issues marred launch |
| 3 | Pokemon Sword and Shield | 2019 | Safe but polished; best for newcomers; Wild Area pioneered open zones |
| 4 | Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl | 2021 | Faithful Sinnoh remake; competent but lacks Arceus ambition |
| 5 | Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee | 2018 | Best for casual/young players; GO integration; simplified mechanics |
| 6 | Pokemon Legends: Z-A | 2025 | Lumios City-set Legends sequel; more urban-focused than Arceus |
Best Pokemon Games on Switch — Detailed Reviews
1. Pokemon Legends: Arceus — Best Pokemon Game on Switch
Pokemon Legends: Arceus is the most significant reinvention of the Pokemon formula since the series began — abandoning turn-based encounters in the tall grass for a real-time action system where you observe wild Pokemon in the environment, sneak up on them, and throw Poke Balls or your own Pokemon directly from the field. Set in the ancient Hisui region (a prehistoric Sinnoh), Arceus strips the franchise back to a single mission: complete the first-ever Pokedex by catching every Pokemon in the region.
What makes Arceus special is how it reframes the Pokemon concept around genuine naturalism — different Pokemon are active at different times of day, weather conditions change spawn rates, agile and strong move styles add real-time decision-making to battles, and the loop of observing, sneaking, catching, and researching Pokemon is endlessly satisfying. The game is not technically impressive — it was criticized at launch for muddy textures and pop-in — but the gameplay loop is so well-designed that it is the Pokemon game most veteran players consider the best the series has ever felt to actually play.
Arceus is also the game most likely to re-engage lapsed Pokemon fans who burned out on the traditional formula. If you have not played Pokemon in years and want to understand what the series can be when it takes risks, Legends: Arceus is the answer. It runs entirely offline, has no multiplayer component, and takes approximately 25-30 hours for the main story with significantly more for full Pokedex completion.
2. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet — Most Ambitious Pokemon on Switch
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are the most ambitious mainline Pokemon games ever made — a fully open-world Pokemon experience where the entire Paldea region is accessible from the start with no story-mandated progression order. Three parallel storylines (Victory Road for gym badges, Starfall Street for Team Star bases, Path of Legends for Titan Pokemon) can be approached in any sequence, with enemy scaling that adjusts to your current progress. The Terastal mechanic adds a new battle dimension where Pokemon can crystallize to change their type mid-battle.
The catch: Scarlet and Violet launched in November 2022 in a severely unoptimized state — frame rate drops below 20fps, pop-in, visual glitches, and performance issues that were widely reported and criticized. Nintendo and Game Freak released patches that improved stability, and the games are significantly more playable now than at launch. The Teal Mask and Indigo Disk DLC packs added substantial new regions, Pokemon, and story content that are among the best post-game additions in the series’ history.
For players who can tolerate the technical imperfections, Scarlet and Violet’s open world and the DLC storylines represent the Pokemon series at its most narratively ambitious. The multiplayer Union Circle (4-player open-world exploration) is the best co-op Pokemon experience on any platform.
3. Pokemon Sword and Shield — Best Pokemon Game for Newcomers
Pokemon Sword and Shield were the first mainline Pokemon games on Nintendo Switch and the most controversial Pokemon releases in the series’ history at launch — primarily due to the ‘Dexit’ controversy (not all Pokemon were available at launch). Revisited in 2026, Sword and Shield hold up as the most polished and accessible Pokemon Switch game: clean presentation, excellent quality-of-life improvements, a strong soundtrack, and the Wild Area — a semi-open zone with dynamic weather and overworld Pokemon spawns that pioneered what Legends: Arceus and Scarlet/Violet later expanded.
The Crown Tundra and Isle of Armor DLC packs significantly expand the game’s post-game with new areas, returning legendary Pokemon, and the best co-op raid content in any Switch Pokemon game (Dynamax Dens). For first-time Pokemon players on Switch, Sword and Shield’s accessibility and polish make them the smoothest entry point into the series.
4. Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl — Best for Sinnoh Fans
Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are faithful remakes of 2006’s Pokemon Diamond and Pearl (Nintendo DS), developed by ILCA rather than Game Freak. They reproduce the original games with 3D chibi-style graphics, modernized quality-of-life features, and the Underground expanded into Grand Underground — a multiplayer area for finding rare Pokemon and building secret bases. The faithful approach was both the games’ strength and its greatest criticism: BDSP reproduces the original Sinnoh experience accurately but adds little new content or ambition compared to other Switch Pokemon entries.
For players who grew up with Diamond and Pearl and want to revisit Sinnoh on a modern system, BDSP is an excellent nostalgic experience. For players who have never played the originals, Legends: Arceus (also set in Sinnoh / Hisui) offers a more exciting introduction to the region’s mythology and characters.
5. Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee — Best for Young Players and GO Fans
Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu and Let’s Go Eevee are remakes of the original 1998 Pokemon Yellow, designed as a bridge between Pokemon GO mobile and mainline Pokemon games. Wild encounters use a Pokemon GO-style catching mechanic (no battles to weaken wild Pokemon — just throw Poke Balls with timing and motion controls), and Pokemon GO transfer integration allows importing Pokemon from the mobile game. The games are significantly easier and shorter than other mainline entries, making them the best Pokemon Switch option for young children or casual players.
For experienced Pokemon players, Let’s Go’s simplified mechanics feel limiting — but for families introducing young children to Pokemon, the approachable catching system and the familiar Kanto region make them the most welcoming entry in the Switch lineup. Two-player co-op is built into the game — a second player can join at any time for shared exploration and battles.
Best Pokemon Game for Switch 2
Nintendo Switch 2 is backward compatible with all Pokemon Switch 1 games. All titles above — Legends: Arceus, Scarlet and Violet, Sword and Shield, BDSP, and Let’s Go — are playable on Switch 2 with backward compatibility and potential Game Boost enhancements.
| Game | Switch 2 Status |
| Pokemon Legends: Z-A | Native Switch 2 release (2025) — full Switch 2 optimization |
| Pokemon Scarlet and Violet | Backward compatible — performance improved on Switch 2 hardware |
| Pokemon Legends: Arceus | Backward compatible + Game Boost |
| Pokemon Sword and Shield | Backward compatible |
| Pokemon BDSP | Backward compatible |
Pokemon Legends: Z-A is the flagship Switch 2 Pokemon title — set in Lumiose City from Pokemon X and Y, featuring a more urban open-world format than Arceus’s wilderness setting. As a native Switch 2 game, it takes full advantage of Switch 2’s hardware for better visuals and performance than the Switch 1 Legends title. For Switch 2 owners choosing their first Pokemon game, Legends: Z-A is the natural starting point.
Pokemon Switch Games Ranked — By Player Type
| Player Type | Best Pokemon Switch Game |
| Veteran / returning Pokemon fan | Pokemon Legends: Arceus — most innovative; re-engages lapsed fans |
| First-time Pokemon player | Pokemon Sword or Shield — most accessible; best production polish |
| Young children (under 10) | Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu or Eevee — simplest mechanics; familiar Kanto |
| Open-world RPG fan | Pokemon Scarlet or Violet — full open world; best narrative ambition |
| Sinnoh / Gen 4 fan | Pokemon Brilliant Diamond or Shining Pearl — faithful remake |
| Switch 2 owner | Pokemon Legends: Z-A — native Switch 2; most current entry |
| Competitive battler | Sword/Shield or Scarlet/Violet — best online ranked battle support |
| Co-op player | Scarlet/Violet Union Circle or Let’s Go 2-player mode |
How Long Are Pokemon Games on Switch?
| Game | Main Story | Completionist |
| Pokemon Legends: Arceus | 25-30 hrs | 80-100 hrs (full Pokedex) |
| Pokemon Scarlet and Violet | 25-35 hrs | 100+ hrs (with DLC) |
| Pokemon Sword and Shield | 20-25 hrs | 100+ hrs (with DLC raids) |
| Pokemon BDSP | 25-30 hrs | 80+ hrs |
| Pokemon Let’s Go | 15-20 hrs | 40-50 hrs |
| Pokemon Legends: Z-A | TBA (2025 release) | TBA |
For the complete Pokemon Go guide — mobile Pokemon gaming including Go Fest, Tropius, and event guides — see our article on the Pokemon Go Fest guide — what is Go Fest, global ticket, habitats, and history.
For current Pokemon game prices and Switch eShop listings, see the Nintendo eShop — Pokemon games on Nintendo Switch. For competitive Pokemon rankings and tier lists, see Smogon University — competitive Pokemon rankings and team building.
Pokemon Switch Games — DLC and Expansions Worth Buying?
Every mainline Switch Pokemon game has received paid DLC, and the quality varies significantly. Pokemon Sword and Shield’s Expansion Pass ($29.99, covering Isle of Armor and Crown Tundra) is the most content-rich DLC in Pokemon history — Isle of Armor adds a new open island region with 100+ returning Pokemon and a story involving Kubfu, while Crown Tundra adds a second region focused on legendary Pokemon hunts, co-op Dynamax Adventures, and a massive returning legendary lineup. The Crown Tundra in particular is considered some of the best Pokemon post-game content ever made. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s DLC (The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero: Teal Mask and Indigo Disk, $34.99 combined) rivals Sword and Shield’s expansion in quality — the Indigo Disk especially features Blueberry Academy, one of the most creative Pokemon environments in the series, plus the return of fan-favorite Pokemon from past generations. Pokemon Legends: Arceus received no paid DLC, which remains a disappointment for fans who wanted more content in the Hisui region. Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl also received no DLC. For players weighing whether DLC is worth purchasing: yes for Sword/Shield and Scarlet/Violet — both DLC packs are high value additions that significantly extend the games.
Pokemon Switch vs Pokemon GO — Key Differences
Pokemon Switch mainline games and Pokemon GO are separate experiences that complement each other rather than compete. The mainline Switch games — Legends: Arceus, Scarlet/Violet, Sword/Shield — are full narrative RPGs with story campaigns, gym challenges, Pokemon League progression, and competitive battling. Pokemon GO is a free mobile augmented reality game focused on real-world exploration, catching Pokemon in your physical location, and raid events. The two ecosystems connect in specific ways: Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee allow transferring Pokemon from GO to the Switch game (a direct GO-to-Switch pipeline), and the Pokemon HOME app allows transferring Pokemon between GO and mainline Switch games through a conversion process. For players who want a deep single-player RPG experience, the mainline Switch games are the choice. For players who want a portable, real-world, always-on Pokemon experience, GO is the complement — and the two are best experienced together rather than as alternatives.
Pokemon HOME — Transferring Pokemon Between Switch Games
Pokemon HOME is Nintendo’s cloud-based Pokemon storage and transfer app that connects all Switch Pokemon games. It allows you to move Pokemon between Scarlet and Violet, Sword and Shield, Legends: Arceus, BDSP, Let’s Go, and Pokemon GO. A free tier allows limited storage and transfers; the Premium Plan ($15.99/year) unlocks full transfer capability, expanded storage boxes, and the GTS (Global Trade System) for trading with players worldwide. HOME is essential for players who want to carry their Pokemon collection across multiple Switch games — catching a rare Pokemon in Legends: Arceus and transferring it to Scarlet and Violet’s competitive scene, for example, or importing a shinies collection from GO into the mainline games. Not all Pokemon transfer freely between all games — check the official Pokemon HOME compatibility chart for which games support importing from which source.
Bottom Line
| Best Pokemon game on Switch | Pokemon Legends: Arceus — most innovative; best gameplay loop |
| Best for newcomers | Pokemon Sword and Shield — most polished; smoothest entry point |
| Best open world Pokemon | Pokemon Scarlet and Violet — full open world; best post-game DLC |
| Best for kids | Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu/Eevee — simplest; 2-player co-op |
| Best Sinnoh nostalgia | Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl |
| Best Switch 2 Pokemon | Pokemon Legends: Z-A — native Switch 2; Lumiose City open world |
| Scarlet/Violet performance | Much improved since launch patches; DLC is excellent |
| All games backward compatible | All Switch 1 Pokemon games playable on Switch 2 |
| Time to beat | 20-35 hrs main story; 80-100+ hrs for full Pokedex completion |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Pokemon game for Nintendo Switch?
The best Pokemon game on Nintendo Switch is Pokemon Legends: Arceus — a revolutionary reinvention of the Pokemon formula set in ancient Hisui (prehistoric Sinnoh) where you catch Pokemon in real-time from the environment rather than triggering turn-based encounters in tall grass. For newcomers to the series, Pokemon Sword and Shield are the most polished and accessible entry point. For Switch 2 owners, Pokemon Legends: Z-A is the current flagship Pokemon title designed for Switch 2 hardware.
Which Pokemon Switch game should I buy first?
Buy Pokemon Legends: Arceus first if you are a returning Pokemon fan or want the most innovative Pokemon experience on Switch. Buy Pokemon Sword or Shield first if you are new to Pokemon and want the smoothest, most accessible introduction. Buy Pokemon Scarlet or Violet if you want a full open-world Pokemon game and can tolerate some performance issues (significantly improved since launch). Buy Pokemon Let’s Go if you are buying for a young child or want the simplest possible Pokemon experience.
What is the best Pokemon game for Switch 2?
Pokemon Legends: Z-A is the best Pokemon game for Nintendo Switch 2 — a native Switch 2 title set in Lumiose City from Pokemon X and Y, featuring an urban open-world format and full Switch 2 hardware optimization. All Switch 1 Pokemon games (Legends: Arceus, Scarlet and Violet, Sword and Shield, BDSP, Let’s Go) are also playable on Switch 2 through backward compatibility.
Is Pokemon Scarlet and Violet worth it in 2026?
Yes — Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are worth buying in 2026. The launch performance issues have been substantially improved through patches, and the Teal Mask and Indigo Disk DLC expansions add 20-30 hours of content each with some of the best storytelling in the Pokemon series. The full package (base game plus both DLC) represents the most content-rich Pokemon experience on Switch. The open world and Union Circle multiplayer remain unique in the series.
Are Pokemon Switch games on Nintendo Switch 2?
Yes — all Pokemon Nintendo Switch games are backward compatible with Nintendo Switch 2. Pokemon Legends: Arceus, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, Pokemon Sword and Shield, Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, and Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee are all playable on Switch 2. Pokemon Legends: Z-A is a native Switch 2 release designed specifically for Switch 2 hardware.
