The Best Pokemon Games of the 21st Century

by Fox Van Allen, for Metacritic – August 4, 2016

The Pokemon franchise is white hot right now thanks to Pokemon Go. More than 75 million people are playing the game on their smartphones. That’s especially impressive when you consider that Go isn’t even close to being the best Pokemon game you can play.

Wondering which Pokemon game truly is the very best? Well, wonder no more. Here’s our ranking, based on our unique Metascores, of the best Pokemon games released since the turn of the century.

17 of 20

#1 (tie)

Pokemon Black and White DS

This fifth-generation Pokemon game for the DS (2011), like others in the series, was released in two different flavors: Black and White. This time, your choice of titles not only affects which Pokemon you can catch, but also which of two different game worlds you get to explore.

“With slick and fast-paced battles, a more adult take on the traditional Pokémon concepts and an entirely new roster of characters, Pokémon Black & White is as close to a "reboot" as the franchise has ever seen, but it doesn't reinvent what doesn't need reinventing.” —John Funk, Escapist

Where To Buy