The Best Pokemon Games on the Nintendo 3DS

Not counting the Pokedex or Dream Radar apps, there were thirteen Pokemon games on the 3DS. That is a record for the franchise, although not too far from the norm. Since the series debuted more than a quarter of a century ago, Nintendo and Game Freak have been eager to experiment and release mainline games and spin-offs aplenty for almost every Nintendo console since the original Game Boy.

The 3DS, then, is no different, as evidenced by the wealth of Pokemon games available for the system. That number isn’t even counting the multiple versions of each generation of games like Pokemon X & Y either. In the rankings, they will only count as one to make things simpler. So, of the thirteen fantastic Pokemon games on the Nintendo 3DS, which can be skipped, and which are the must-play classics?

Updated November 22, 2024, by Tom Bowen: There have been some truly fantastic Pokemon games over the past 25 years or so, many of which came during the 3DS era. It’s here that the mainline games finally made the leap to 3D, with many new mechanics also added to the series in the process. There were a fair amount of Pokemon spin-off titles created around this time too, although not all of them landed quite as well as their developers would perhaps have liked. Even so, the best Pokemon games for the 3DS are still fondly remembered by fans of the franchise and are well worth playing even to this day.

13 Pokemon Shuffle

Average Critic Rating: 56

• Release Date: February 18, 2015
• Region: N/A
• Starter Pokemon: N/A

Pokemon Shuffle is a free-to-play match-three puzzle game that was released for the 3DS in early 2018. Players use special Pokemon blocks to fight other Pokemon in the hopes of “catching” them. It is by no means awful, but the free-to-play trappings certainly weigh the game down quite a bit more than they need to.

As with other freemium games, the game is loaded with poorly priced microtransactions, which didn’t sit too well with fans or critics. That didn’t stop more than six and a half million people from downloading the game though, making it one of the most-played Pokemon spin-off games of all time.

How Many Pokemon are there in Pokemon Shuffle?

Though Pokemon Shuffle started out with just 158 Pokemon upon its release, hundreds more have been added in the years since. Once variants and regional forms are taken into account a total of 987 Pokemon can be caught in the game, excluding Mega Evolutions.

12 Pokemon Rumble Blast

Average Critic Rating: 56

• Release Date: October 24, 2011
• Region: Toyland
• Starter Pokemon: Pikachu

While Nintendo has worked with Koei Tecmo on Dynasty Warriors spin-offs like Hyrule Warriors and Fire Emblem Warriors, they are yet to collaborate on a Pokemon Warriors project. Pokemon Rumble Blast follows a similar gameplay concept but unfortunately has a far greater monotonous wheel.

Though undoubtedly a big step up from the first Pokemon Rumble game, Blast still has a lot of problems. The graphics are poor, the gameplay is repetitive and the story is incredibly lackluster too. It’s not bad in short bursts but lacks the substance required to justify the decision to release the game as a full-priced title.

How Many Pokemon are there in Pokemon Rumble Blast?

Pokemon Rumble Blast features every Pokemon to have featured in the franchise up to the release of Pokemon Black & White. This means there are a total of 646 Pokemon available to players, though, like the previous Pokemon Rumble game, these come in the form of Pokemon toys rather than actual Pokemon.

11 Pokemon Rumble World

Average Critic Rating: 58

• Release Date: April 8, 2015
• Region: The Kingdom of Toys
• Starter Pokemon: Pikachu

Four years on from the release of Rumble Blast, another Rumble game arrived in the form of Pokemon Rumble World. Sadly, the developer Ambrella didn’t seem to learn much from its past mistakes, although did at least opt for a free-to-play approach, which was a slight step up from the game’s predecessor.

It may not have felt like a waste of money like the previous game, but it still had a lot of issues. Like Pokemon Shuffle, the trappings were too high to really sink time into the game without paying money and the overall experience remained fairly underwhelming even for those who did.

How Many Pokemon are there in Pokemon Rumble World?

Releasing four years on from Pokemon Rumble Blast, Pokemon Rumble World ups the Pokemon count by more than 70, with toy versions of 719 different Pokemon available throughout the game. This means that every single Pokemon up to the release of Pokemon X & Y are featured, from Bulbasaur right through to Diancie.

10 Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity

Average Critic Rating: 59

• Release Date: March 24, 2013
• Region: The Pokemon World
• Starter Pokemon: Pikachu, Oshawott, Tepig, Snivy & Axew

Gates to Infinity was the first Pokemon Mystery Dungeon game to grace the 3DS. For a roguelike game, it offers up a very kid-friendly take on the genre, which, although great for children, did not sit well with some older players. Critics were generally in agreement on this front, with many bemoaning the game’s shallow combat and overall lack of difficulty.

Though none of the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon games are bad, some feel that they just don’t offer enough of a challenge to seasoned fans of the genre. The games all tend to feel incredibly similar to one another too and Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity is no different in this respect.

How Many Pokemon are there in Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity?

Like other Mystery Dungeon games, Gates to Infinity features a fairly random selection of Pokemon, though fan favorites like Pikachu and Eevee are once again present. In total, there are 144 recruitable Pokemon, most of whom come from the Gen 7 games. There are also 7 non-recruitable boss Pokemon, including Lugia and Ho-Oh, and several of the Black & White legendaries.

9 Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon

Average Critic Rating: 69

• Release Date: November 20, 2015
• Region: The Pokemon World
• Starter Pokemon: 20 Available

Two years on from the North American release of Gates to Infinity, Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon made its way to western shores. Spike Chunsoft seemed to learn a lot of lessons from the previous title too and even evolved some concepts, from gameplay elements to graphics.

Again, it’s not a spin-off that one has to play in order to become a mega fan, but the series was at least getting better at this point. It certainly helped that the game included all 720 Pokemon that had been introduced to the series at the time and also provided plenty of unique customization options for people to play around with.

How Many Pokemon are there in Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon?

Unlike its predecessor, Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon really pushed the boat out when it came to the number of available Pokemon. It features 720 Pokemon in total, which is all 719 from the first six generations of Pokemon games as well as the Mythical Mischief Pokemon, Hoopa.

8 Pokemon Battle Trozei

Average Critic Rating: 70

• Release Date: March 20, 2014
• Region: N/A
• Starter Pokemon: N/A

Pokemon Battle Trozei is a lot like Pokemon Shuffle, but it is not free to play. Unsurprisingly, perhaps, it’s a far better game for it. It won’t have any Tetris fans jumping ship, but Pokemon Battle Trozei at least manages to blend the concept of Pokemon and puzzle games together in a coherent way.

The strategic combat system works incredibly well and is just one of many great mechanics to have found their way into the game. The art style is solid too, although is let down somewhat by the game’s poor music and the lack of online multiplayer functionality.

How Many Pokemon are there in Pokemon Battle Trozei?

Despite being a fairly basic puzzle game on the surface, Pokemon Battle Trozei crams in a surprising amount of content. The game features 718 Pokemon in total, those being all of the Pokemon from the first six generations of Pokemon games with the exception of Diancie and Hoopa.

7 Detective Pikachu

Average Critic Rating: 71

• Release Date: February 18, 2015
• Region: Ryme City
• Starter Pokemon: Pikachu

The idea of a Pokemon-themed adventure game may have seemed a little ludicrous to some, yet Detective Pikachu ended up being a pretty solid game. It looks great, it has plenty of funny moments and it can be fairly challenging at times too. Most importantly though, it’s a lot of fun.

Even though it is extremely easy to get through, the story is strong enough to keep players hooked. It was so good, in fact, that it spawned the series’ first-ever live-action movie, which was also fairly well-received by fans and critics. Whether or not fans will ever get a sequel to either remains to be seen though.

How Many Pokemon are there in Detective Pikachu?

As players explore Ryme City they’ll encounter almost 100 Pokemon, many of whom will provide clues that will help them to solve cases. Including Pikachu, the game has 97 Pokemon in total, though given that this number accounts for both regular and Alolan Rattata, it could be argued that there are actually only 96.

6 Pokemon Picross

Average Critic Rating: 75

• Release Date: December 3, 2015
• Region: N/A
• Starter Pokemon: N/A

For those looking for a more traditional Pokemon puzzle game, Pokemon Picross is a fairly decent shout. Much like the Mario Picross game that came before it, the game doesn’t really have too much to do with Pokemon, but thanks to the strength of the Picross formula, that needn’t really be an issue.

Granted, the Pokemon skin doesn’t really bring much to the table, but it certainly doesn’t detract from the experience either. The end result is an excellent puzzle game that’s aesthetically pleasing and capable of keeping players entertained and mentally stimulated for hours at a time.

How Many Pokemon are there in Pokemon Picross?

Including Mega Evolutions, Pokemon Picross features 304 different types of Pokemon, which isn’t at all bad for a simple puzzle game. Even when accounting for the 49 Mega Evolutions, there are 255 different species of Pokemon available, with a broad selection taken from the first six generations of Pokemon games.

5 Pokemon Art Academy

Average Critic Rating: 76

• Release Date: October 24, 2014
• Region: N/A
• Starter Pokemon: N/A

Pokemon Art Academy is another 3DS game that’s effectively just been given a Pokemon skin. In all fairness, it at least offers tutorials demonstrating how players can draw their favorite Pokemon, although the 3DS itself can be somewhat limiting when it comes to the actual drawing part.

In a lot of ways, it’s more like a coloring book than an actual game, but it’s arguably a very good coloring book with high production values all around. Older players may not enjoy the experience all that much, but those aged below five or six will likely have a great time with the game.

How Many Pokemon are there in Pokemon Art Academy?

Sadly, given the scope and scale of Pokemon Art Academy, it’s difficult to pinpoint the exact number of Pokemon to feature across its 40 lessons. Given that the game focuses heavily on drawing though, it could be argued that it includes every single Pokemon in existence, depending on how good an artist the player is.

4 Pokemon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire

Average Critic Rating: 83 (Omega Ruby)

• Release Date: November 21, 2014
• Region: Hoenn
• Starter Pokemon: Treecko, Torchic & Mudkip

Though the likes of FireRed, LeafGreen, HeartGold & SoulSilver were all perfectly serviceable, Pokemon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire really raised the bar when it came to Pokemon remakes. Pretty much everything about the original games was improved and many newer series mechanics were added into the mix.

Mega Evolution was perhaps the biggest addition, with many Gen 3 Pokemon being treated to Mega forms. Mirage Spots allowed players to add a ridiculous number of Legendary Pokemon to their Pokedexes too, while the leap to 3D made returning to Hoenn an absolute delight.

How Many Pokemon are there in Pokemon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire?

Despite being remakes of the Gen 3 Pokemon games, Pokemon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire allow players to catch all 719 Pokemon up to and including those found in Pokemon X & Y. Like Pokemon Rumble World and Pokemon Battle Trozei, Hoopa is not included.

3 Pokemon Ultra Sun & Moon

Average Critic Rating: 84 (Ultra Sun)

• Release Date: November 17, 2017
• Region: Alola
• Starter Pokemon: Rowlet, Litten & Popplio

The decision to release Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon so soon after the base versions of the games went on sale was seen as a little strange by many, especially considering how little was actually changed. Granted, there is more content available in the updated titles, but there is also plenty of stuff missing as well.

One of the most noticeable additions is the concept of Ultra Beasts, with four of them available across the two games. There are also two new forms added for Necrozma, with players able to combine the Pokemon with Solgaleo or Lunala in much the same way that they could enhance Kyurem in Black 2 & White 2.

How Many Pokemon are there in Pokemon Ultra Sun & Moon?

Though there are quite a few noticeable changes in Pokemon Ultra Sun & Moon, the number of Pokemon isn’t really one of them. There are only five new Pokemon introduced in the games (Zeraora, Poipole, Naganadel, Stakataka, and Blacephalon), bringing the total number of available Pokemon to 807.

2 Pokemon Sun & Moon

Average Critic Rating: 87 (Pokemon Sun)

• Release Date: November 18, 2016
• Region: Alola
• Starter Pokemon: Rowlet, Litten & Popplio

While not quite as innovative as the first two mainline Pokemon games on the 3DS, Pokemon Sun & Moon still have a lot to offer. The biggest changes came in the form of the games’ gym battles as well as the idea of Pokemon having alternate, Alolan versions of themselves.

The concept of regional forms of Pokemon is one that has stuck with the series since, with the latest generation of Pokemon games also featuring regional variations. The Alola region is a lot of fun to explore too, even if some of the Pokemon introduced there are a little uninspired when compared to those found in earlier generations of Pokemon games.

How Many Pokemon are there in Pokemon Sun & Moon?

Pokemon Sun & Moon introduced 80 new Pokemon to the series, bringing the total number of Pokemon available in the games up to a mighty 802. Though marginally more than the previous generation, this remains the second-smallest generational increase in the number of Pokemon that the series has seen to date.

1 Pokemon X & Y

Average Critic Rating: 88 (Pokemon Y)

• Release Date: October 12, 2013
• Region: Kalos
• Starter Pokemon: Chespin, Fenneki & Froakie

As previously mentioned, Pokemon X & Y marked the series’ debut on the 3DS and did so with a rather emphatic bang. This was the first time that players got to experience the mainline games with a more traditional 3D gameplay style and they were also treated to a brand new art style.

The sixth generation Pokemon games introduced Mega Evolutions, which, for a while, completely changed competitive play. There are plenty of other big changes too, like customizable protagonists and the introduction of Fairy-type Pokemon, all of which combine to make X & Y the very best Pokemon games available on the 3DS.

How Many Pokemon are there in Pokemon X & Y?

Pokemon X & Y introduced 72 new Pokemon to the series, bringing the total number of known Pokemon from 649 to 721. Strictly speaking though, players will only be able to get their hands on 593 of these Pokemon in-game, with the rest needing to be traded into the game from older titles or downloaded at special events.

Which Nintendo Handheld Had the Best Pokemon Games?

There have been plenty of amazing Pokemon games over the years, with the first few having been released on the original Game Boy way back in the mid-nineties. In the quarter of a century since then, each subsequent Nintendo handheld has received numerous Pokemon releases, both when it comes to mainline installments and Pokemon spin-off games.

Some may therefore be wondering which console has the best Pokemon games, though the answer may well come as a surprise even to series fans. According to review aggregator sites, the Nintendo DS has the most highly-rated mainline Pokemon games, with the 3DS coming in second and the GBA and the original Game Boy tying for third place. As the 3DS can play DS games though, it’s an excellent console for any Pokemon fan.