It’s the 25th anniversary of Pokémon today! The franchise has truly delivered over the years with some great adventures, including some that are on the way for later this year! But
instead of celebrating the traditional way, why not take a look at some games that stepped away from the norm?
As part of its anniversary celebration, we’ll look at five Pokémon games that you may not have played in ages – or just need to discover for the sake of having fun with something new. Track down these great games and have a fun day with your favorite Pokémon characters. Remember, gotta catch ‘em all!
Pokken Tournament (Nintendo Switch, Wii U)
For years, we’ve seen Pokémon characters do their thing in battle – but what happens when you take control of them directly? That’s what happens with Pokken Tournament, Bandai Namco’s unique – and wildly entertaining – brawler. Combining great 2D and 3D tactics into a world filled with great characters,
the game is a blast to play on the Wii U. And, for that matter, the enhanced DX version is worth picking up on Switch as well.
No matter which game you turn to, you’re in for a swell fight.
Pokémon Snap (Nintendo 64)
Who knew that there would be something so joyous out of simply taking pictures of your favorite Pokémon characters? Pokémon Snap literally came out of nowhere during the N64 era and stole our hearts, thanks to simplistic but entertaining gameplay that turned us all into master photographers. And, not to mention, being able to go to Blockbuster Video (remember them?!) and printing out your pictures. And we’ll be getting that feeling back soon enough, as a new Snap game is preparing for release on Switch this April!
Pokémon Detective Pikachu (Nintendo 3DS)
We’re not sure what prompted the game Pokémon Detective Pikachu to be made. And what’s more, we’re not quite certain who pitched the idea to give Pikachu a voice along the lines of someone from Mad Men. But who cares? This mystery game is a whole lot of fun, and prompted a huge following – not to mention a big-screen effort featuring none other than
Deadpool himself, Ryan Reynolds. So you know it must be good. With that said…Switch version? With Danny DeVito this time?
Pokémon Puzzle League (Nintendo 64)
What do you get when you combine a traditional puzzle game with the Pokémon franchise? Why, Puzzle League, of course. Nintendo effectively blended together a long-standing franchise
with a traditional Panel de Pon series to create an underground favorite on the Nintendo 64. Even after all these years, it’s still a lot of fun to play, and can also be enjoyed against a friend in 2P stadium mode. Get in there and bust those pieces!
Pokémon Pinball (Game Boy)
Initially released all the way back in 1999, Pokémon Pinball created a fun new hybrid for the ongoing adventure series.
Instead of simply capturing creatures and taking on trailers, you took the action to the pinball table, evolving whatever you caught and bumping up your score. This one is surprisingly good fun, and eventually led to the release of Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire for Game Boy Advance a few years later. A sequel for Switch would be most certainly welcome.
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