Best games
The best Game Freak games
The 35 best games from Game Freak, ranked from 11,036 critic and player ratings.
The best Game Freak game is Pokémon FireRed Version, with a critic score of 100/100. Updated September 2026.
- Ranked releases span 1996 to 2022.
- Average critic score across the 35 ranked games: 81/100.
- 11,036 critic and player ratings behind this ranking.
How this ranking is built
- Games are ranked on the aggregated critic score out of 100 imported from IGDB and Metacritic, never on Tier's own grades.
- A game only enters the ranking with at least 80 external ratings, so a single enthusiastic review never outranks a proven classic.
- Community grades from F to S are shown next to every game, and only stated as a fact above 5 Tier ratings.
- Release window covered: 1970 to 2026.
- 35 games are listed on this page, carrying 11,036 ratings between them.
- Rankings are recomputed hourly; this one was last rebuilt on 28 September 2026.
Top 35
01
Pokémon FireRed Version
Pokémon FireRed Version and Pokémon LeafGreen Version are a pair of core series Generation III games that are set in the Kanto region. They were released in Japan on January 29, 2004, in North America on September 9, 2004, in Australia on September 23, 2004 and in Europe on October 1, 2004. As the first remakes in the Pokémon franchise, the games revisit the original pair of Pokémon games, Pokémon Red and Green Versions, and so feature all of the characters, plot elements, and challenges of them, but with several important upgrades to bring them up to speed with other Generation III games. The Game Boy Advance Wireless Adapter was initially included with the games when they were first released, eliminating the need for Game Link Cables when trading between the two games (and later Pokémon Emerald Version). In later copies, it was sold separately. FireRed and LeafGreen went on to become the second best-selling games of the Game Boy Advance, only behind Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire Versions. They also received Nintendo's Player's Choice awards.
100
/100
02
Pokémon SoulSilver Version
Pokemon HeartGold Version and Pokemon SoulSilver Version return players to the scenic Johto region first introduced in the beloved original Pokemon Gold and Pokemon Silver games nearly a decade ago. The richly detailed adventure of Pokemon Gold and Pokemon Silver is now enhanced for the Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi systems with updated graphics and sound, as well as new touch-screen features and a host of surprises. Pokemon HeartGold Version and Pokemon SoulSilver Version bring dozens of Pokemon characters back into the limelight for a new Pokemon generation - and longtime fans - to catch, train and battle.
90
/100
03
Pokémon Alpha Sapphire
During your adventure, you will battle Team Magma in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Team Aqua in Pokémon Alpha Sapphire. Team Magma seeks to increase the land, while Team Aqua wishes to increase the seas. In order to bring about these grand plans, each will turn to the power of a Legendary Pokémon: Groudon or Kyogre. Team Magma pursues Groudon, while Team Aqua goes after Kyogre. What could be driving them to such lengths?
88
/100
Pokémon FireRed Version
Pokémon FireRed Version and Pokémon LeafGreen Version are a pair of core series Generation III games that are set in the Kanto region. They were released in Japan on January 29, 2004, in North America on September 9, 2004, in Australia on September 23, 2004 and in Europe on October 1, 2004. As the first remakes in the Pokémon franchise, the games revisit the original pair of Pokémon games, Pokémon Red and Green Versions, and so feature all of the characters, plot elements, and challenges of them, but with several important upgrades to bring them up to speed with other Generation III games. The Game Boy Advance Wireless Adapter was initially included with the games when they were first released, eliminating the need for Game Link Cables when trading between the two games (and later Pokémon Emerald Version). In later copies, it was sold separately. FireRed and LeafGreen went on to become the second best-selling games of the Game Boy Advance, only behind Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire Versions. They also received Nintendo's Player's Choice awards.
100
/100
02
Pokémon SoulSilver Version
Pokemon HeartGold Version and Pokemon SoulSilver Version return players to the scenic Johto region first introduced in the beloved original Pokemon Gold and Pokemon Silver games nearly a decade ago. The richly detailed adventure of Pokemon Gold and Pokemon Silver is now enhanced for the Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi systems with updated graphics and sound, as well as new touch-screen features and a host of surprises. Pokemon HeartGold Version and Pokemon SoulSilver Version bring dozens of Pokemon characters back into the limelight for a new Pokemon generation - and longtime fans - to catch, train and battle.
90
/100
03
Pokémon Alpha Sapphire
During your adventure, you will battle Team Magma in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Team Aqua in Pokémon Alpha Sapphire. Team Magma seeks to increase the land, while Team Aqua wishes to increase the seas. In order to bring about these grand plans, each will turn to the power of a Legendary Pokémon: Groudon or Kyogre. Team Magma pursues Groudon, while Team Aqua goes after Kyogre. What could be driving them to such lengths?
88
/100
04
Pokémon X, Y
Your adventure in Pokémon X and Pokémon Y takes place in the Kalos region, home to beautiful skies and forests! The Kalos region is full of interesting places to visit and explore! Progressing with the game let you enter the central city of the Kalos region is Lumiose City, a thriving metropolis filled with customers checking out its variety of shops. Many roads extend from the iconic tower at the city's center.
88
/100
05
Pokémon Gold Version
Pokémon Gold, along with Pokémon Silver, are the sequels to Pokémon Red and Blue. They offer 100 new Pokémon to capture and train, 8 more Gyms to take on and a new Pokémon League challenge. Featuring an expanded post-game, Pokémon Gold and Silver additionally offer extra content from the previous entries in the series.
88
/100
06
Pokémon X
An all-new 3D Pokemon adventure packed with never-before-seen Pokemon will launch worldwide in October 2013. Pokemon X and Pokemon Y will present a new generation of Pokemon, and introduce players to an exciting new adventure in a breathtaking 3D world.
87
/100
07
Pokémon HeartGold, SoulSilver
Pokémon HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version are paired Generation IV remakes of the Generation II games Pokémon Gold and Silver. Much like how Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen revisited the Generation I story of Kanto, HeartGold and SoulSilver retell the story of Johto, with the player's starting town being New Bark Town. While the games feature several expansions in key areas, the overall plot follows the same direction as the original Gold and Silver. Some aspects exclusive to Crystal are also included. Like how FireRed and LeafGreen could link up with Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald to complete the Pokédex by trading regionally exclusive Pokémon, HeartGold and SoulSilver can link up with Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum to obtain Pokémon unavailable in Johto and Kanto (such as the Sinnoh starters) and vice versa. Kris, despite being the female counterpart of Crystal's player character, is not included as the female player character, with a new character instead taking her place. Whether she is chosen to be the player character or not, this new character will still appear in the game. The unselected protagonist will take a pseudo-rival role similar to the unselected characters of Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum. The games were released on September 12, 2009 in Japan, February 4, 2010 in Korea, March 14, 2010 in North America, March 25, 2010 in Australia and March 26, 2010 in Europe (this excludes the Netherlands, Luxembourg and parts of Belgium due to an in-game save error, with the patched copies later released on April 2, 2010).
87
/100
08
Pokémon Black, White
Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version are the primary paired versions of Generation V. Black and White follow the trends set up by previous games in the series. Two player characters (one male and one female) travel a new region, Unova, on their Pokémon journeys. This region is inhabited by various Pokémon, and unlike before, none of those available prior to Generation V can be obtained before completing the main story by defeating Team Plasma. The games' names were revealed on the official Japanese Pokémon website on April 9, 2010, and scans from the subsequent issue of the magazine leaked the following day, April 10. Pokémon Black and White are followed in 2012 by two sequels, Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, which are set two years after the events of Black and White. Black 2 and White 2 are the second and final paired versions of Generation V.
87
/100
09
Pokémon Blue Version
Pokémon Blue is the third core series Pokémon game released as a minor revision of Pokémon Red and Green, which were released earlier that year. It was thus the first solitary version in the core series of Pokémon games. Various fixes in the game include a graphics and sound upgrade, as well as the removal of several known glitches that had been found in the original pair. Outside of Japan, its graphics, game engine and script formed the basis of Pokémon Red and Blue, while the wild Pokémon and game-exclusive Pokémon lists were changed to match Red and Green.
86
/100
10
Pokémon Sun
Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon trademarks were registered thus leaking the next Pokémon game titles to the public. Pokémon.com confirmed the games would be for the Nintendo 3DS and released in holiday 2016, with a new world, new Pokémon, and new adventures. Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon will be the first games in the Pokémon series to allow players to choose from nine languages to play in. In addition to English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish, players will now be able to play in both Traditional and Simplified Chinese.
86
/100
11
Pokémon Crystal Version
85
/100
12
Pokémon Silver Version
85
/100
13
Pokémon Moon
85
/100
14
Pokémon Ultra Sun, Ultra Moon
84
/100
15
Pokémon Diamond Version
83
/100
16
Pokémon Alpha Sapphire, Omega Ruby
83
/100
17
Pokémon Legends: Arceus
83
/100
18
Pokémon Sapphire Version
83
/100
19
Pokémon Sword
82
/100
20
Pokémon Black Version 2
82
/100
21
Pokémon Pearl Version
82
/100
22
Pokémon Ruby Version
81
/100
23
Pokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition
80
/100
24
Pokémon White Version
80
/100
25
Pokémon Black 2, White 2
80
/100
26
Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee!
80
/100
27
Pokémon Violet
80
/100
28
Pokémon Platinum Version
79
/100
29
B
Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu!
77
/100
30
Pokémon Red Version
75
/100
31
Pokémon Scarlet
74
/100
32
Pokémon LeafGreen Version
70
/100
33
Pokémon Shield
68
/100
34
Pokémon Quest
63
/100
35
Pokémon Emerald Version
60
/100
Pokémon X, Y
Your adventure in Pokémon X and Pokémon Y takes place in the Kalos region, home to beautiful skies and forests! The Kalos region is full of interesting places to visit and explore! Progressing with the game let you enter the central city of the Kalos region is Lumiose City, a thriving metropolis filled with customers checking out its variety of shops. Many roads extend from the iconic tower at the city's center.
88
/100
05
Pokémon Gold Version
Pokémon Gold, along with Pokémon Silver, are the sequels to Pokémon Red and Blue. They offer 100 new Pokémon to capture and train, 8 more Gyms to take on and a new Pokémon League challenge. Featuring an expanded post-game, Pokémon Gold and Silver additionally offer extra content from the previous entries in the series.
88
/100
06
Pokémon X
An all-new 3D Pokemon adventure packed with never-before-seen Pokemon will launch worldwide in October 2013. Pokemon X and Pokemon Y will present a new generation of Pokemon, and introduce players to an exciting new adventure in a breathtaking 3D world.
87
/100
07
Pokémon HeartGold, SoulSilver
Pokémon HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version are paired Generation IV remakes of the Generation II games Pokémon Gold and Silver. Much like how Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen revisited the Generation I story of Kanto, HeartGold and SoulSilver retell the story of Johto, with the player's starting town being New Bark Town. While the games feature several expansions in key areas, the overall plot follows the same direction as the original Gold and Silver. Some aspects exclusive to Crystal are also included. Like how FireRed and LeafGreen could link up with Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald to complete the Pokédex by trading regionally exclusive Pokémon, HeartGold and SoulSilver can link up with Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum to obtain Pokémon unavailable in Johto and Kanto (such as the Sinnoh starters) and vice versa. Kris, despite being the female counterpart of Crystal's player character, is not included as the female player character, with a new character instead taking her place. Whether she is chosen to be the player character or not, this new character will still appear in the game. The unselected protagonist will take a pseudo-rival role similar to the unselected characters of Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum. The games were released on September 12, 2009 in Japan, February 4, 2010 in Korea, March 14, 2010 in North America, March 25, 2010 in Australia and March 26, 2010 in Europe (this excludes the Netherlands, Luxembourg and parts of Belgium due to an in-game save error, with the patched copies later released on April 2, 2010).
87
/100
08
Pokémon Black, White
Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version are the primary paired versions of Generation V. Black and White follow the trends set up by previous games in the series. Two player characters (one male and one female) travel a new region, Unova, on their Pokémon journeys. This region is inhabited by various Pokémon, and unlike before, none of those available prior to Generation V can be obtained before completing the main story by defeating Team Plasma. The games' names were revealed on the official Japanese Pokémon website on April 9, 2010, and scans from the subsequent issue of the magazine leaked the following day, April 10. Pokémon Black and White are followed in 2012 by two sequels, Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, which are set two years after the events of Black and White. Black 2 and White 2 are the second and final paired versions of Generation V.
87
/100
09
Pokémon Blue Version
Pokémon Blue is the third core series Pokémon game released as a minor revision of Pokémon Red and Green, which were released earlier that year. It was thus the first solitary version in the core series of Pokémon games. Various fixes in the game include a graphics and sound upgrade, as well as the removal of several known glitches that had been found in the original pair. Outside of Japan, its graphics, game engine and script formed the basis of Pokémon Red and Blue, while the wild Pokémon and game-exclusive Pokémon lists were changed to match Red and Green.
86
/100
10
Pokémon Sun
Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon trademarks were registered thus leaking the next Pokémon game titles to the public. Pokémon.com confirmed the games would be for the Nintendo 3DS and released in holiday 2016, with a new world, new Pokémon, and new adventures. Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon will be the first games in the Pokémon series to allow players to choose from nine languages to play in. In addition to English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish, players will now be able to play in both Traditional and Simplified Chinese.
86
/100
11
Pokémon Crystal Version
85
/100
12
Pokémon Silver Version
85
/100
13
Pokémon Moon
85
/100
14
Pokémon Ultra Sun, Ultra Moon
84
/100
15
Pokémon Diamond Version
83
/100
16
Pokémon Alpha Sapphire, Omega Ruby
83
/100
17
Pokémon Legends: Arceus
83
/100
18
Pokémon Sapphire Version
83
/100
19
Pokémon Sword
82
/100
20
Pokémon Black Version 2
82
/100
21
Pokémon Pearl Version
82
/100
22
Pokémon Ruby Version
81
/100
23
Pokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition
80
/100
24
Pokémon White Version
80
/100
25
Pokémon Black 2, White 2
80
/100
26
Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee!
80
/100
27
Pokémon Violet
80
/100
28
Pokémon Platinum Version
79
/100
29
B
Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu!
77
/100
30
Pokémon Red Version
75
/100
31
Pokémon Scarlet
74
/100
32
Pokémon LeafGreen Version
70
/100
33
Pokémon Shield
68
/100
34
Pokémon Quest
63
/100
35
Pokémon Emerald Version
60
/100
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Game Freak game?
Pokémon FireRed Version currently tops the ranking with a score of 100/100 across 547 ratings. Ranking updated September 2026.
How is this ranking built?
Games are ranked on their aggregated critic score out of 100, with a minimum vote threshold so a single glowing review never outranks a proven classic; the Tier community's own F-to-S grades are shown alongside each game.