Photo:
- Pokémon Gold and Silver
- Game Freak

Every Main Pokemon Game, Ranked From Hardest To Easiest

Kyle Townsend

Updated October 14, 2020 8 items

Ranked By

1.0K votes

313 voters

Voting Rules

Main games only (Remakes and spin-offs not included).

Ever wondered what's the hardest Pokémon game ever made? As the highest-grossing media franchise of all time, the Pokémon series includes some of the biggest and most popular games ever made. First released in the States back in 1998, Pokémon Red and Blue single-handedly revolutionized the RPG genre. Now, more than 20 years later, the series is still going strong. And while we've already covered which releases are the greatest, this list ranks all the hardest Pokémon games, with your votes.

The older generations are often considered some of the more challenging games, but is that simply because the mechanics were still new? While remakes like Let's Go Eevee! aren't included, all the other mainline games are featured. Whether you had trouble collecting all the new Pokémon, were stuck trying to grind your way up to a higher level, or were simply a challenge to beat, vote up all the hardest Pokémon games in the series, and vote down all the ones you thought were a bit too easy breezy.

1
Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
Photo:
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl
Game Freak
Generation: IV

Number of new Pokémon: 107

Released for the DS, Pokémon Diamond and Pearl upped the ante in almost every sense, and Platinum expanded upon them both to bring even more boss battles than ever before. The gym leaders usually have stronger Pokémon, and making your way through the game becomes significantly harder as you progress.

All three starter Pokémon all have their strengths and weaknesses, but being able to take advantage of Starling early in the game helps give you a leg-up on your opponents.
- Released: Sep 28 2006
- Developer: Game Freak
- Platform: Nintendo DS
184 votes
Had a hard time catching them all?
2
Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald
Photo:
Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire
Game Freak
Generation: III

Number of new Pokémon: 135

Ruby and Sapphire didn't sell as well as Red and Blue (or Gold and Silver, for that matter) but it still has its share of fans. Released on the Game Boy Advance, it featured an entirely new roster of Pokémon as well all the returning favorites. One of the biggest changes these games introduced was the new double battle system, which let parties use two Pokémon at the same time.

But while the previous games were compatible with each other, Ruby and Sapphire was released on the Game Boy Advance, meaning these games couldn't be linked with the previous generations.
- Released: 2002
- Developer: Game Freak
- Platform: Game Boy Advance, Nintendo 3DS
131 votes
Had a hard time catching them all?
3
Pokémon Gold, Silver, Crystal
Photo:
Pokémon Gold and Silver
Game Freak
Generation: II

Number of new Pokémon: 100

Expanding upon the original games and (finally) bringing the Poke pals into a fully-colored world, Gold and Silver featured many of the same elements as Red and Blue but expanded upon the gameplay and number of collectibles.

While the linear gameplay is often considered on the lighter side, grinding and leveling your Pokémon was often found to be more of a challenge, which was a small departure from the previous games. Released as an enhanced version of Gold and Silver, Pokémon Crystal kept many of the same elements but added a few new additions to the mix.
- Released: Oct 14 2000
- Developer: Game Freak
- Platform: Game Boy Color, Game Boy
111 votes
Had a hard time catching them all?
4
Pokémon Black and White, Black 2 and White 2
Photo:
Pokémon Black and White 2
Game Freak
Generation: V

Number of new Pokémon:156

With the option to play on both easy and hard difficulty settings, the Generation V games featured some of the most memorable battles in the series. In addition to adding a host of new Pokémon, Black and White also sprinkled in a handful of original gameplay features, including real seasons, animated sprites, and a new triple-battle system.

Black and White tended to deviate more from the traditional platforming elements of previous games in favor of a more traditional RPG format. These games also featured an arguably higher learning curve, as all the new editions meant there were more features to master. Additionally, the emergence of the Challenge Modes made the games even harder.
- Released: Mar 05 2011
- Developer: Game Freak
114 votes
Had a hard time catching them all?
5
Pokémon Red, Blue, Yellow
Photo:
Pokémon Red and Blue
Game Freak
Generation: I

Number of new Pokémon: 151

The godfather of Pokémon games, Red and Blue are what started it all. These games may not be as visually stunning as the rest of the bunch, but the level design and overall feel still hold up. Each version featured 151 different Pokémon, which you needed to either trade of have both games in order to collect. As a bonus Pokémon, Mew was only available by using the game link cable.

Of the three starter Pokémon, Charmander is often considered the most challenging of the bunch but eventually balances out as he evolves. Unsurprisingly, Red and Blue is still the best-selling RPG of all time. Released a few years later, Pokémon Yellow was an enhanced version of the original two games.
- Released: 1998
- Developer: Game Freak
- Platform: Game Boy, Game Boy Advance
102 votes
Had a hard time catching them all?
6
Pokémon Sun and Moon, Ultra Sun and Moon
Photo:
Pokémon Sun and Moon
Game Freak
Generation: VII

Number of new Pokémon: 81

Pokémon Sun and Moon carried on the tradition set by X and Y by presenting the games in 3D. In addition to added 81 brand-spanking-new Pokémon, Generation VII also introduced a few new fighting features, including Z-Moves, where trainers team up with their Pokémon in order to combine their power.

Additionally, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon introduced new Totem Pokémon, which are beefed up Pokémon that are typically much larger, stronger, and weigh more than their original iterations.
- Released: 2016
- Developer: Game Freak
- Platform: Nintendo 3DS
112 votes
Had a hard time catching them all?
7
Pokémon Sword and Shield
Photo:
Pokémon Sword
Game Freak
Generation: VIII

Number of new Pokémon: 81

Throwing new Gigantamax and Dynamax Pokémon in the mix, Sword and Shield took everything new feature from the previous games and expanded upon them, polarizing players in ways that haven't been seen before. As a Switch exclusive, it's easily the best-looking Pokémon game, and the incredibly diverse open world gave gamers more options to explore than before.

One of the biggest complaints in Sword and Shield is the simple fact of how easy it is to level up your team. It's not unheard to become so OP early on the gym leaders never hold a candle to your team.
- Released: 2019
- Developer: Game Freak
- Platform: Nintendo Switch
130 votes
Had a hard time catching them all?
8
Pokémon X and Y
Photo:
Pokémon X and Y
Game Freak
Generation: VI

Number of new Pokémon: 72

Being a 3D game, Pokémon X and Y ushered a series of new gameplay elements, including a new mega evolution option that would go on to become a series staple. The Generation VI games featured a lot of customizable character options, as well as a fun and expansive online option.

While the new mega evolution mechanic made it easier to evolve super-powerful Pokémon, X and Y also featured some of the most rivals out of any Pokémon game, which made it more exhaustive to make your way through.
- Released: Oct 12 2013
- Developer: Game Freak
112 votes
Had a hard time catching them all?