The best first Pokémon game depends on how you want to play: choose Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! or Let’s Go, Eevee! for the clearest newcomer-focused welcome, Pokémon Sword or Pokémon Shield for a directed Gym journey, or Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet if you want to explore an open world. These are preference matches, not a proven easiest-to-hardest ranking.
Best Pokémon games for beginners at a glance
| If you want… | Start with… | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Guided onboarding or a Pokémon GO-like catching interaction | Let’s Go, Pikachu! or Let’s Go, Eevee! | Designed to be approachable to newcomers; wild Pokémon catching uses a distinct throw-style interaction, while trainer battles remain familiar. |
| Open-world freedom | Scarlet or Violet | Paldea is a seamless open world with visible Pokémon and several goals; the breadth can feel overwhelming if you prefer a defined route. |
| A clear Gym and League destination | Sword or Shield | The Galar Gym Challenge and tournament provide a more directed journey, with a Wild Area for exploration. |
| A familiar older-style story with modern conveniences | Brilliant Diamond or Shining Pearl | These retell the original Sinnoh story; they are a remake choice rather than the best fit for someone specifically seeking open exploration. |
| A research-focused adventure with a different structure | Legends: Arceus | Its premise centers on surveying and researching Pokémon to complete Sinnoh’s first Pokédex, rather than the usual Gym journey. |
What Pokémon game should I play first?
Pick by structure and catching style, not by an assumed difficulty ladder. Official descriptions support newcomer-friendly positioning for some games, but do not provide comparative beginner-success or difficulty statistics.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Pokémon Pokopia - Nintendo Switch 2 | $69.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Pokémon Legends: Arceus - US Version | $54.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Pokémon Violet - US Version | $51.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Pokémon Sword - Nintendo Switch | $54.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Pokémon™ Legends: Z-A - Nintendo Switch | Buy on Amazon |
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Choose Let’s Go for the most explicit newcomer welcome
Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! revisit Kanto and take inspiration from Pokémon Yellow. The Pokémon Company describes them as approachable to newcomers. Wild Pokémon appear in the world and are caught with a throw-style interaction using Joy-Con motion or button controls; trainer battles use familiar Pokémon battle gameplay. The catching loop differs noticeably from the traditional RPG pattern, so this is a good first choice if the GO-inspired approach sounds appealing. The official game page describes the games and available controls.
The two editions have different partner Pokémon and some different encountered species. Choose the partner or exclusive Pokémon you prefer; a first playthrough does not call for buying both. A standard Joy-Con is sufficient. Poké Ball Plus is optional, and the official page says online features require a paid Nintendo Switch Online membership; that is not a requirement for the solo campaign.
#1 Best Overall
- Shape the world and build a cozy new life with Pokémon as a Ditto transformed to look like a human.
- Use other Pokémon’s moves, like Bulbasaur’s Leafage, to revitalize and navigate the world around you.
- Meet and befriend more Pokémon as you help nature flourish.
- Gather materials to create items and furniture, till the fields to grow delicious crops, build homes for the Pokémon you meet, and more—there’s so much to do!
- Experience a world with varied weather, real-time days and nights, and other surprises.
Choose Sword or Shield for a more directed route
Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield center on the Galar Gym Challenge and the tournament to determine the Champion. The Wild Area brings free-camera exploration, variable weather, and a broad range of Pokémon, while the main journey still points toward a clear League goal. This balance suits a beginner who wants room to explore without the whole adventure being framed as an open world. See the official Sword and Shield overview.
Each version has exclusive species: the official page gives Sirfetch’d as a Sword example and Galarian Ponyta as a Shield example. The Isle of Armor and Crown Tundra are additional expansion content; the corresponding Expansion Pass requires the base game and is sold separately or in bundles. You can decide whether you want that content after choosing a base game.
Rank #2
- Action meets RPG in this new take on the Pokémon series
- Study Pokémon behaviors, sneak up on them, and toss a well-aimed Poké Ball to catch them
- Unleash moves in the speedy agile style or the powerful strong style in battles
- Travel to the Hisui region—the Sinnoh of old—and build the region’s first Pokédex
- Learn about the Mythical Pokémon Arceus, the key to this mysterious tale
Choose Scarlet or Violet if wandering is part of the fun
Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet take place in Paldea, a seamless open world where players move between towns and wilderness and see Pokémon across varied environments. The official family guide calls the pair approachable to newcomers, but the game page also acknowledges that a large open world can feel overwhelming. Pick them if freedom and self-directed exploration sound exciting; if you would rather follow a more obvious route, Sword or Shield is the closer fit. The available first partners are Grass-type Sprigatito, Fire-type Fuecoco, and Water-type Quaxly. See the official Scarlet and Violet page and Pokémon family guide.
What should you play next?
There is no official required play order. These next steps follow the differences in structure, so move toward the kind of adventure you want to try next.
Rank #3
- Embark on a new Pokémon adventure
- Catch, battle, and train Pokémon in the Paldea Region, a vast land filled with lakes, towering peaks, wastelands, small towns, and sprawling cities.
- Choose either Sprigatito, Fuecoco, or Quaxly, to be your first partner Pokémon before setting off on your journey through Paldea.
- Embark on an independent study called the Treasure Hunt to gain new experiences, meet new people, and find your very own treasure.
- After Let’s Go: try Sword or Shield for the more traditional Gym-and-League structure, or Scarlet or Violet if you want to trade a guided trip for open-world freedom.
- After Sword or Shield: Scarlet or Violet is a natural move into a broader open-world format.
- After a modern mainline game: Brilliant Diamond or Shining Pearl retell the Sinnoh story with modern conveniences; Legends: Arceus is a distinct alternative built around field research and completing the first Pokédex. See the official Legends: Arceus page and official Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl page.
Do you need both versions or Pokémon HOME?
No: for a first playthrough, pick one edition based on the partner or version-exclusive Pokémon that interests you. The games are playable without collecting every species. Pokémon HOME is optional collection management, not a prerequisite for starting a game, and moving Pokémon among compatible games is subject to restrictions. Check the official Pokémon HOME information for its current compatibility details.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is there one objectively easiest Pokémon game?
The official material does not establish a comparative difficulty ranking or measured beginner-success rate. It does explicitly position Let’s Go as approachable and explains its simplified, GO-inspired wild-catching interaction; that makes it a strong pick for someone prioritizing a friendly first step, not proof that it is objectively easiest. For other beginners, a clear Gym destination or open-world freedom may matter more than a universal ranking.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Live the life of a Pokémon Trainer in the streets of Lumiose City!
- For the first time in the Pokémon RPG series, command your Pokémon in real-time battles
- Use the power of Mega Evolution in battle and take on rampaging Rogue Mega-Evolved Pokémon
- Compete in the Z-A Royale each night to test your skills and try to become the strongest Pokémon Trainer
- Visit shops, restaurants, and places called wild zones—where Pokémon roam free—all centered around Prism Tower
Rank #4
- Catch, battle, and trade Pokémon on an all-new adventure in the Galar region
- Choose from three new partner Pokémon and encounter never-before-seen Pokémon
- Unravel the mystery behind the Legendary Pokémon Zacian and Zamazenta!
- Team up with other Trainers to participate in Max Raid Battles***!
- Battle wild Dynamax Pokémon in Max Raid Battles and try catching them***
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