Play Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet if you want an available open-world Pokémon RPG or only have a Nintendo Switch-family system. Wait for Pokémon Winds or Pokémon Waves if you can wait until 2027 and have—or plan to get—a Nintendo Switch 2. Winds and Waves are announced, upcoming games, so there is not yet enough confirmed information to say whether they will be better than Scarlet and Violet.
At a glance: play now or wait?
| What matters to you | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You want to play now | Scarlet or Violet | Nintendo lists both as released Nintendo Switch games; they launched on November 18, 2022. Nintendo’s Scarlet product page links the paired Violet version. |
| You have a Nintendo Switch 2 and can wait | Winds or Waves | The pair is planned for a simultaneous worldwide launch in 2027, exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2. A specific date has not been announced. The official game page has the current details. |
| You want confirmed story structure before choosing | Scarlet or Violet | The released games have three named story paths. Winds and Waves are confirmed as open-world adventures, but their full mechanics have not been established. |
| You want to choose based on complete version differences | Scarlet or Violet—for now | Scarlet and Violet are distinct versions, and their DLC is version-specific. Winds and Waves have version-specific protagonist outfits, but their complete version-exclusive content has not been announced. |
What you can play in Scarlet and Violet now
Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet are open-world role-playing games for Nintendo Switch-family systems. Nintendo lists physical Game Card and downloadable editions. In the adventure, players can move among three major story routes, rather than following a single fixed sequence.
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Three story paths
- Victory Road: take on Gym challenges.
- Path of Legends: pursue Titan Pokémon.
- Starfall Street: confront Team Star.
Play Nintendo’s overview also describes riding Koraidon in Scarlet or Miraidon in Violet for traversal, and the Terastal Phenomenon as a feature of the games.
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Scarlet and Violet are separate versions, not one game with a cosmetic toggle. If you are considering The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC, match it to the base game: Nintendo states that Scarlet’s DLC is compatible only with Scarlet, while Violet players need Violet’s DLC. Access in both games requires both DLC versions. Check the compatibility details on Nintendo’s Scarlet product page before buying.
#1 Best Overall
- New Pokémon to Discover - Learn new details about Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly—the three Pokémon from which you’ll choose your first partner—along with other wonderful new Pokémon, including the Legendary Pokémon Koraidon and Miraidon!
- The World of Pokémon Has Evolved - Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet offer an open-world experience that only the Pokémon series can deliver—one welcoming even to newcomers to the series.
- You can experience a new style of adventure, with a world that you’re free to explore at your leisure and not in an order dictated by the story. You will, of course, journey to hone your skills as a Pokémon Trainer, but many more discoveries and stories await you. Meet a variety of people and Pokémon, and adventure in the world of Pokémon the way you want to.
- A Deeper Experience with Multiplayer* Gameplay - Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet allow multiplayer gameplay with up to four players. Along with series staples, such as trading and battling Pokémon, you will be able to explore the various locations of the region in these games with other players. You can discover new Pokémon and explore unfamiliar areas with your friends and family, opening the door to an adventure more precious and fun than ever!
- Meet the characters - As one of the main characters, you’ll set off on your adventure. Your outfit will vary depending on whether you play Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet. Who knows what kind of story awaits you? For the first time in the series, one of two different professors will appear in your game depending on the version you choose to play.
What is confirmed about Winds and Waves
The Pokémon Company International announced Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves on February 27, 2026, as upcoming entries in the Pokémon RPG series. Their simultaneous worldwide release is planned for 2027, exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2; no exact launch date has been given. The announcement describes an open world of windswept islands and a vast ocean, with Pokémon ecosystems shaped by the environment. Players will team up with Pokémon to overcome obstacles and forces of nature. The main characters’ outfits differ between versions. The official game page is the source for these details.
Confirmed first partner Pokémon
- Browt: Grass type, Bean Chick Pokémon.
- Pombon: Fire type, Puppy Pokémon.
- Gecqua: Water type, Water Gecko Pokémon.
The announcement also shows special Pikachu named Mr. Windychu and Ms. Wavychu, but it has not explained their role in the adventure.
Rank #2
- 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***
Why a quality comparison would be premature
Scarlet and Violet are released games; Winds and Waves are still in development. The official Winds and Waves page cautions: “Screenshots and footage are from a product in development and not final. Actual gameplay experience may vary.” That makes the reveal useful for understanding setting, platform and starters, but not for judging how the finished games will play.
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Official materials reviewed so far do not establish Winds and Waves’ final combat details, story length or quality, postgame depth, performance, price, exact release date or full version-exclusive content. Those are unknowns, not evidence that the games will be better or worse. No comparative performance measurements are available.
Rank #3
- The Nintendo Switch – OLED Model Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Edition console features art inspired by the upcoming Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet games (sold separately). The Legendary Pokémon Koraidon and Miraidon are featured on the glossy front side of the white system’s dock, and a design inspired by the series’ iconic Poké Ball is featured on the back.
- The Nintendo Switch OLED Model features a vibrant 7-inch OLED screen, a wide adjustable stand, a dock with a wired LAN port, 64 GB of internal storage, and enhanced audio. Play anytime, anywhere, with anyone. Nintendo Switch can transform to suit your situation, so you can play the games you want, no matter how busy life may be.
- Pick it up and play with the Joy-Con controllers attached. Nintendo Switch OLED model includes a vibrant 7-inch OLED screen with a slimmer bezel. The large screen's vivid colours and high contrast deliver a rich handheld and tabletop gaming experience, bringing games to life whether you're racing at top speed or squaring off against enemies.
- Flip out the stand and hand a controller to another player to share the screen and enjoy competitive or co-operative multiplayer, anytime and anywhere. Nintendo Switch (OLED model)'s wide adjustable stand can be set to your preferred viewing angle for comfortable gameplay in tabletop mode.
- Gather around a big screen and enjoy gaming with a crowd. Dock your Nintendo Switch to enjoy HD gaming on your TV. The dock included with Nintendo Switch (OLED model) features two USB ports, an HDMI port for connecting to a TV, and a new wired LAN port, allowing for more stable online play when playing in TV mode. Save games to your system with 64 GB of internal storage & Enjoy enhanced audio from the system’s onboard speakers.
Does Scarlet and Violet’s popularity settle the choice?
No. Nintendo Co., Ltd. reported 18.2 million combined sell-through units for Scarlet and Violet in the first seven weeks after their November 2022 release. That is historical commercial context, not a measure of which game is right for you or a forecast for Winds and Waves. The figure appears in Nintendo’s February 2023 financial-results presentation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which should you play?
- Pick Scarlet or Violet if you want a Pokémon adventure now, already own a Nintendo Switch-family system, or prefer to choose among story details that are confirmed in a released game.
- Wait for Winds or Waves if you are comfortable waiting for a planned 2027 launch and have—or intend to get—a Nintendo Switch 2. The island-and-ocean setting and environmental obstacles are confirmed, but the finished experience cannot yet be judged.
If you choose a current game, compare Scarlet and Violet’s version differences and make sure any DLC matches the base version you own. If you choose to wait, treat 2027 as the announced release year rather than a dated launch appointment.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- If you purchase either the physical or digital double pack, you will receive a 200 Poké Ball bonus via download codes* that can be entered in the Mystery Gift** feature in your game!
- The packaged version of the double pack includes 1 physical Pokémon Scarlet game and 1 physical Pokémon Violet game
- 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
Rank #4
![Pokémon Scarlet/Pokémon Violet Expansion Pass: The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero (Retail Version) Standard - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51n-a8y2QXL._SL160_.jpg)
- Only one code for a Hisuian Zoroark can be used in either the Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet game. Upon purchase of The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC, an email with your code will be sent to the email address registered to your Nintendo Account. From the in-game menu, go to the Poké Portal, then select Mystery Gift, select Get with Code/Password, and then enter your code.
- The Mystery Gift option can be found within the Poké Portal menu option in the X menu after you unlock the feature in the Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet game. (This occurs after about 1 to 1.5 hours of gameplay, though individual gameplay time may vary.) An internet connection and a Nintendo Account is required to redeem the item in game. A Nintendo Switch Online membership is not required. Each item can only be redeemed once.
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