Gotta Catch Em' All - My All Time Favorite Pokémon Games
If you’re a nineties kid like me, then at one point or another, Pokémon ruled your life. Seriously, Saturday mornings were all about Ash, Misty, and Brock. That utter devotion to catching all 151 original Pokémon (yes, I know there are over 905 now) fueled schoolyard beef and inspired Shakespearian dramas. Lines were drawn in blood over whether you owned a blue or red version of the popular Pokémon Gameboy game.
Of course, the trading card craze would also take hold of us. It got so intense at one point that my school banned Pokémon trading cards, it didn’t stop us, however, and I would’ve given anything to own a rare holographic Charizard card. Well, thanks to a recently released inside video from The Pokémon Company detailing how Pokémon cards are made, I’ve been feeling reminiscent of the past and thought I should go through my top five favorite Pokémon video games of all time. The games which inspired me to be the best like no one ever was.
That’s right, the year was 1999, and Pokémon Snap had just come out, inspiring the inner photographer in us all. The premise was simple. You play as Todd Snap, who’s been summoned by Professor Oak to take photos of different Pokémon in areas where they live undisturbed by humans. This game was so unique and, in retrospect, way ahead of its time. Of course, New Pokémon Snap was released in 2021 and offers more Pokémon, areas, and puzzles. Nevertheless, the sense of nostalgia I get when thinking about going to Blockbuster and renting this title just makes the original stand out.
In the summer of 2016, the world was taken by storm when this little gem was released. Finally, I could go on a real-life Pokémon adventure of my own. Travel across the land, searching far and wide. With Pokémon Go, Pokémon masters finally had the chance to experience what we’ve always been waiting for... A real-life Pokémon experience. Okay, so... it led a few people into some questionable areas... but everyone was outside that summer on their devices catching Pokémon. For that reason alone, it’s one of the more special Pokémon titles I hold near and dear to my heart.
Okay, I may be dating myself here, but I don’t care. It was a new millennium, the 2000s had just begun, and my love of Pokémon was stronger than ever. So, when a puzzle-based Pokémon game was released, I had to get it. Yes, You could argue that it’s a rebrand of Tertis Attack. A game where you clear blocks by arranging colors in horizontal or vertical lines, but it still was entertaining nonetheless and among the best-looking games for the N64.
In my opinion still one of the best Pokémon sequels to this day. They expanded on the first generation’s Pokédex, added two new types that balanced out the weakness/resistance chart, and added an internal in-game clock, not to mention new types of legendary Pokémon to add to the collection. When this came out, I was beyond thrilled. I decided to go with the Gold version, and even though they’ve remade the game most recently with HeartGold and SoulSilver. I’ll never forget these original gems.
This is where it started. Where I got my first real introduction to Pokémon on any gaming system. The OG in the series is not only responsible for igniting a love for Pokémon that would last into my adulthood but is also responsible for establishing the worldwide monster-catching phenomenon in the first place. I originally had the Blue version and would choose Squirtle or Bulbasaur as my first choice of Pokémon. Even though this game has been updated with some great rereleases in FireRed and LeafGreen, this original one will always be my first love when it comes to Pokémon.
💬 There are a million Pokémon games, and we all have favorites! Let me know which one is yours in the comments.
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