There are plenty of video game franchises that have exploded in popularity since their debuts, but no one could have anticipated just how much of a phenomenon thePokémonseries would become. The adorable franchise has been a juggernaut for decades, whether it’s the video games,anime series, or trading card game.
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It’s been interesting to evaluate how themainlinePokémontitles have changed over the years, but there have also been a number of spin-offs that have experimented with the formula and tried new things. ThePokémonfranchise is still trying to see what can be done with spin-off series, but there are still some fascinating entries from the past.
10Pokémon Pinball (1999)
Of all of the spin-off and offshoot projects to strike thePokémonfranchise, it’s a little surprising that pinball would be the first big experiment in the area. A lot of pinball titles can be soulless cash grabs, but thisGame Boy Colorgame actually cleverly incorporates the Pokémon catching aspects into the structure of pinball and it’s actually fun, even for those that aren’t major pinball fans.
Related:10 Pokémon Games With The Best Post-Game Content, Ranked
The title also just looks incredible and makes use of the highly rare Game Boy Color rumble pack, which deserves attention in and of itself.
9Pokémon Snap (1999)
Pokémon Snapis still fondly looked at as one of the most enjoyablePokémonspin-off games that it’s hard to believe that it was one of the first titles out of the gates.Pokémon Snapcleverly takes the mechanics of an on-rails shooter, but turns it into a relaxing photography game that celebrates the beauty of thePokémonspecies.
Related:The 5 Best (& 5 Worst) Things To Happen To The Pokémon Franchise In The Last Decade
Pokémon Snapisn’t overly long, but it’s infectious fun. Fans’ wishes for a sequel have also finally been answered with the upcoming Switch title,New Pokémon Snap.
8Pokémon Stadium (2000)
Pokémon Stadiumfor theNintendo 64was a big deal in a lot of ways because it actually allowed players to transfer over their Pokémon from the Game Boy games and fight with them in the N64 title.Pokémon Stadiumproved that focusing purely on the fighting aspect of the series can work, while it also features a bunch of entertaining extra features. The game was such a success thatPokémon Stadium 2came out the following year and it’s safe to say there wouldn’t be games likePokken TournamentwithoutPokémon Stadium.
7Pokémon Trading Card Game (2000)
It can be amusing to see just how indulgent a series can become and the idea of a video game version of a trading card game that’s based on a video game series seems pretty ridiculous. However, the Game Boy Color’sPokémon Trading Card Gameis more a testament to just how popular thecard gamewould become. There’s actually a creative RPG hidden away in here that’s a fun twist on the standardPokémonformula. Plus, it’s hard to deny the appeal of the exclusive official card that would come included with the game.
6Pokémon Puzzle League (2000)
Nintendo has a bunch ofpuzzle franchiseslikePanel de PonandTetris Attackthat were huge in Japan, but weren’t tested properties in America. A curious solution to this was to give certain puzzle games a Pokémon makeover and capitalize on the success of that franchise.Pokémon Puzzle Leagueis the Nintendo 64 version of this, which is an entertaining puzzle title that pays service to the anime series. Released at the same time wasPokémon Puzzle Challengefor the Game Boy Color, which focused onPokémonGold and Silvermore than the anime.
5Hey You, Pikachu! (2000)
Sometimes a video game can come across as more of a tech demo than a full experience and this is largely the case with the Nintendo 64’sHey You, Pikachu!The game revolves around the use of the N64 microphone, a peripheral that would barely get any use. The creative simulation game has good intentions with its efforts to raise the popular Pokémon,Pikachu, but the gameplay is thin and the microphone isn’t as intuitive as it should be.Hey You, Pikachu!still remains a very unique relic.
4Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire (2003)
The Game Boy Color version ofPokémon Pinballwas such a success that Nintendo would return to the premise several years later. The originalPokémon Pinballpushes the limits of the Game Boy Color, but this follow-up is easily the better and deeper title. There’s not only a larger and more satisfyingPokédexto pull from, but the capabilities of the Game Boy Advance allow the game a lot more room to experiment. This is unfortunately the last title in thePokémon Pinballseries, but it’d be a natural fit for the Switch.
3Pokémon Colosseum (2004)
TheGamecubeis a console that Nintendo wasn’t afraid to do some Pokémon experimentation with and while there are some more outrageous spin-offs available,Pokémon Colosseumtakes a more tried and tested approach. The Gamecube game is basically an update to thePokémon Stadiumformula, but now has a considerably larger Pokédex and game engine at its disposal. It’s a spin-off that caters to combat, but is a fuller game thanPokémon Stadium. A lot of concepts fromColosseum’suniverse return in otherPokémontitles and fans were surprised a sequel never came to pass.
2Pokémon Dash (2005)
Pokémon Dashis an unusual title that came out for theNintendo DS, but was easy to overlook. It takes the adorable creatures fromPokémonand throws them into a racing game that sees Pikachu and other characters running through nature to reach the finish line. As far as aPokémonracing game can go,Pokémon Dashisn’t terrible and its presentation goes a long ways. This is the type of title that’s easy to dismiss like a mobile game, but hadPokémon Dashconnected with more people there could have been a fullPokémonracing franchise in swing now.
1Pokémon XD: Gale Of Darkness
Up until when theSwitchcelebrated the latest mainlinePokémontitle, fans have been hungry to get a proper Pokémon adventure game on non-handheld console. For the longest time, the Gamecube’sPokémon XD: Gale of Darknesswas the closest thing available. The RPG takes many of the concepts fromPokémon Colosseum, but expands on them with a compelling story. There are no random encounters in the game and there are different ideologies in place with catching Pokémon, but there are a lot of worthwhile ideas present in this darkerPokémongame.
