Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are still a month away from release, so there is still time for Pokémon fans to replay other games from the series while they wait. One month may not sound like a long time, but dedicated players could finish multiple games in that time. Thankfully, the Pokémon franchise has plenty of options to keep fans entertained.
In addition to the main series of games, Pokémon has seen an incredible amount of spinoffs. These spinoffs have largely consisted of RPGs set in different settings than a typical Pokémon adventure. The series has also branched out into a few different genres, leaving Pokémon fans with plenty of options for whatever they want to play. Overall, it has become one of Nintendo's most versatile IPs, being almost as ubiquitous as the Mario franchise in of releases.
With so many Pokémon games available - like Stadium, Snap, and Let's Go spinoffs, to name a few - it can be hard to narrow down a list to just the best ones. However, that same variety is also a blessing of sorts, because that means that there is a Pokémon title for almost any challenge that one could be looking for. Plus, since there's still a wait for Scarlet and Violet, it couldn't hurt to brush up on some of the series' classic titles.
Pokémon Snap Is A Pleasant, Low-Stress Experience
Pokémon Snap is something of an oddity in the franchise. It is only one of the games in the series to have no competitive qualities to it at all. In fact, the player doesn't even catch any Pokémon of their own. Despite that, it has managed to gather a fanbase of its own, and it's not difficult to understand why. Pokémon Snap's release on Nintendo Switch Online gives fans a chance to rediscover the most relaxing game on the Nintendo 64.
In Pokémon Snap, the player has only one goal, and that is to take pictures of Pokémon. There are some goals that must be met to proceed, but that premise never wavers. Progression is primarily made by taking better pictures, and occasionally by solving puzzles in various levels. The player never has to get involved in a single fight, and the closest thing to a boss fight is a final course that tasks the player with taking a picture of Mew. The whole way through, Snap remains a charming and pleasant experience.
Pokémon Snap is in its own lane in of Pokémon spinoffs, and its uniqueness is one of its biggest perks. In fact, a Snap sequel came out for the Switch that improved on the original in every way. New Pokémon Snap's intriguing missions give the player a new way to discover Pokémon and their habitats. That combined with a massive list of new Pokémon and some of the most beautiful graphics on the Switch to make the game a complete upgrade. For Pokémon fans looking for something to relax with, Pokémon Snap is an excellent choice. Since Pokémon Scarlet and Violet may have a camera mechanic, the Snap games can be a fun way to prep for Gen 9's release.
Pokkén Tournament Is A Fun Pokémon Fighting Game
When one thinks about Pokémon, battling is one of the first things that comes to mind. Almost every Pokémon game largely revolves around catching Pokémon and battling with them to be the best. Since the series has such an emphasis on combat, it's fairly surprising that it took so long to produce a fighting game spin-off. Thankfully, Pokkén Tournament came along and proved that the idea of a Pokémon fighting game had potential. An updated Pokkén Tournament for the Switch was actually the first Pokémon game to be released for the console, even before any main series games.
Of course, not every Pokémon could be programmed into the game, so the game's roster consists of Pokémon that work well within the game's fighting system. Speaking of the fights, the game mechanics work well, alternating between 2D and 3D fighting with transitions triggered by the fighters themselves. The game also has a good variety of fighters as well, ranging from close-range bruisers like Machamp to ranged specialists like Gengar and Gardevoir. There's a lot of room for players to develop their own strategies, and fights in the game feel lively and exciting.
Pokkén Tournament has proven to be one of the better spinoff titles in the Pokémon franchise, and provided the kind of experience that many fans had desired from a Pokémon fighting game. Rumors of a Pokkén Tournament sequel have stirred, and a new version of the game with even more Pokémon would be a welcome addition to Nintendo's library. Hopefully, these rumors come to fruition, because there are a lot of Pokémon who could make fantastic additions to the game - including a few that will be new in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.
Pokémon Gen 8 Games Deserve To Be Completed Before Scarlet & Violet
Pokémon Sword and Shield were the first main series Pokémon games for the Switch, as well as the first games in the series to have dedicated DLC expansions. They are also the most recent mainline games in the series and still have an active player base. For this reason, players may want to use this time to enjoy Sword and Shield to the fullest before Scarlet and Violet come out. Not only did Sword and Shield make finding trade evolutions easier, but they have also given players a lot of content.
Sword and Shield introduced several new ideas to the game, such as the Wild Area, camping, and going on Dynamax Raids. The DLC additions have also given players plenty to do in the meantime, with two new areas to explore and side quests to follow. It helps that the Crown Tundra DLC introduced Dynamax adventures, which give players a chance to catch Legendary Pokémon from across the series, including Ultra Beasts. Thanks to this, players can catch more Legendaries than ever before, bulking up Sword and Shield's Pokédex with some of the most impressive Pokémon in the series.
Pokémon Sword and Shield may be a month away from losing their place as the latest generation, but they still have plenty of life left in them, even beyond Scarlet and Violet's November release date. Players can finish the main story if they never got around to it, and they can spend time filling out Sword and Shield's Pokédex as best they can. There's a lot to do in the Galar games, even by Pokémon's usual standards, so they can easily tide fans over until Scarlet and Violet.
There is no shortage of good Pokémon games, and fans of the series are lucky for that fact. There are more than enough good Pokémon titles to keep players entertained for several months, let alone one. The wait for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet may not be over yet, but Pokémon fans won't have much difficulty finding something to play in the meantime.
