5 Classic Pokemon Games That Will Always Be 10/10

2026 marks thirty years for the Pokemon franchise, a cash cow that will never seemingly end for both Nintendo and Game Freak. From Pokemon Red and Green to the upcoming Winds and Waves, the mainline franchise has changed a lot. The Pokemon spinoff output has also been incredibly well-handled, with some truly great games shining through the generational gaps.

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With each new mainline entry, the past games can get overshadowed in terms of new features, which begs several questions. Can games like Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen still be fun next to modern games like Legends: Z-A? Let’s look at five examples and find out.

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Pokemon FireRed/LeafGreen

The Originals Are Back And Better Than Ever

Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen were remakes of the first two Pokemon games, Red and Green, made using the same engine as Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire. More so than those GBA generational games, these remakes are what fans loved the most on the system. It was perfect nostalgia, updated with new features, Pokemon, and of course, graphics. These games were also just re-released on Switch, letting players test out their nostalgia in real-time.

Compared to a newer game like Pokemon Legends: Z-A, FireRed and LeafGreen are, of course, archaic in some ways. How Pokemon level up, getting around, submitting moves, and the speed of battles have improved over the past decades. That said, the journey itself is incredibly well-defined. The starting lineup of Charmander, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur is a trio that will never be outmatched. Blue is a stinker of a rival, the Guy Leaders are challenging, and Team Rocket is an incredibly iconic organization. The nostalgic power of Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen is still incredible.

Pokemon Platinum

Going Interdimensional

Pokemon Platinum was the updated third game that most Pokemon Generations get, following the success of Pokemon Diamond and Pearl for the first round of DS games. It added Giratina as a Legendary, one of the coolest in the entire franchise, for several reasons. Its size is enormous, and it can shift into different forms as a dragon ghost, which is just a cool idea. Also, there’s an associated dungeon to get, as part of the main story, which takes players to an alternate dimension.

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This small detail is exactly why this game holds up better than the original two games of this generation. Sometimes the third entry can just be a way to add one more Pokemon into a game and have that be it, but Pokemon Platinum defied expectations and made Giratina matter in a big way. The core gameplay from Pokemon Diamond and Pearl was still intact, with a decent campaign and Pokemon starters. Anyone who likes a dark Legendary Pokemon owes it to themselves to check this game out.

Pokemon HeartGold/SoulSilver

Nothing Can Top The Johto League

Pokemon Gold and Silver will forever be the best games in the mainline series because no Generation after has been as ambitious in terms of what it did. From new features like the phone system to new Pokemon to the second campaign, these games were miraculous. They were made even better during the DS generation with Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver. They came with a device called a Pokewalker, sort of like a digital pet that let players take their Pokemon on the go to level them up through walking around in real life.

It was a gimmick and not the reason to buy these games, but it was still memorable. Finishing up the Johto League and then going back to Kanto to try their hand at that League, and also getting to challenge Red, is what really made these games special. Game Freak did all this without charging DLC money to get this expansion. It will be a surprising day if they ever do this idea again, which is why Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver are two very special remakes within the franchise that are hard to top.

Pokemon Black/White

Catching Monsters In “America”

Pokemon Black and White ended the DS era with a bang, being big upgrades over Pokemon Diamond and Pearl. While those first two games, including Platinum as well, just looked like better GBA games, the sprites in Pokemon Black and White were incredible, looking a bit 3D from a top-down perspective. These games also had some of the strongest lineups of Pokemon starters since Pokemon Gold and Silver with Snivy, Tepig, and Oshawott. While Pokemon still appeared in tall grass, rarer breeds would shake in the tall grass, giving players a new way to interact with random encounters.

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The region of Unova was also special for North American players, as the area overall was themed to New York. This was also the first Generation that included direct sequels instead of an updated third entry, which set a new precedent for the franchise moving forward in both good and bad ways. The game’s version of Team Rocket, named Team Plasma, had an interesting angle that wasn’t just a rehash of old organizations, and N, a mysterious rival, was a compelling force in the narrative. Overall, Pokemon Black and White were the full package, offering players great gameplay, amazing music, and a solid story, which is something not many Pokemon games bother with.

Pokemon X/Y

Mega Evolving The 3DS

Pokemon X and Y were the first two games in the 3DS era, and they were a big departure for the series. While the camera could not be fully controlled, these were the first games that got away from the top-down perspective and gave fans a more 3D viewpoint. The upgrade between Pokemon Black 2 and White 2 was jaw-dropping, but that’s not the only thing that defined these games. Pokemon X and Y were the first games to include Mega Evolutions, a temporary power-up for certain Pokemon.

Some classic examples included Mega Charizard and Mega Gengar, giving them new creative forms. The campaign didn’t change much as players still started in a small town and went on a quest to fight Gym Leaders. Still, this new perspective gave the franchise a new lease on life, almost like the start of a Pokemon reboot. Unlike all the top-down examples, there aren’t many ways Pokemon X and Y feel as archaic as they still play incredibly well on the 3DS.