Pokemon Games With the Best Graphics

Key Takeaways

• Pokemon Scarlet and Violet showcase the most accomplished third-person 3D graphics in the series on Nintendo Switch.
• Heart Gold and Soul Silver set the standard for top-tier 2D graphics in Pokemon games on Nintendo DS.
• Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl have some of the best graphics despite being faithful remakes on the Switch.

High-definition graphics have never been a core feature of the Pokemon games. It was not until recently that the series was given a graphical overhaul with HD graphics on the Nintendo Switch through games like Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. Despite this, the current Pokemon titles lack the graphical fidelity of some of their role-playing game peers, restrained by the Nintendo Switch’s limited capabilities compared to current generation hardware.

While this may remain true into the near future until the release of the next Nintendo Switch, the Pokemon Company has done well to create stand-out titles that lean on specific device requirements to develop games that have become exemplars of different graphic styles that the Pokemon games have become well-known for.

5 Heart Gold and Soul Silver (HGSS)

Best Top Down 2D Graphics

Heart Gold and Soul Silver (HGSS) are the best Pokemon games with top-down 2D graphics. Released in 2009, HGSS were remakes of the original Pokemon Gold and Silver, faithfully recreating the regions of Johto and Kanto for players to explore. The games improved upon the original titles in every way, featuring new elements such as the Battle Frontier and even a compatible walking device known as the Pokewalker to train Pocket Monsters.

Building on the first four generations of titles encompassing top-down 2D graphics, from Pokemon Platinum to Black and White 2, HGSS set the standard of making two-dimensional graphics look top-tier in an RPG setting. While no Octopath Traveller, for its time, HGSS had some of the best 2D graphics in gaming, pushing the Nintendo DS to its limit, effectively capturing the original feeling of traversing the regions of Johto and Kanto in full 2D.

4 Pokemon X and Y

Best 2.5D Graphics

Pokemon X and Y was the first step for the Pokemon Company in adopting 3D graphics. Released on the Nintendo 3DS in 2013, X and Y had players explore the French-inspired region of Kalos while stopping the evil Team Flare and its maniac leader, Lysandre, from consuming the Pokemon world in darkness. Pokemon X and Y leaned on the Nintendo 3DS’s unique 3D capabilities to blend 2D and 3D elements to create 2.5D. The games also included, for the first time, 3D areas, but these lacked longevity, with only short sections of the game dedicated to 3D.

To this day, Pokemon X and Y have the best 2.5D graphics in Pokemon, setting the standard for future games that lean on 3D immersion.

3 Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

Best 3D Graphics

The newest games in the franchise, Scarlet and Violet, are the most accomplished third-person 3D titles in the series. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are the most graphically impressive Pokemon games, pushing the Nintendo Switch to its limit in raw power and performance. Despite the technical flaws and often buggy performance, Scarlet and Violet are great examples of how far the Pokemon series has come since its original 2D roots on the Gameboy. Scarlet and Violet have consequently set the bar high for future titles in the series, such as Pokemon Legends: ZA, releasing in 2025.

Throughout Scarlet and Violet’s base game and subsequent DLC, the standards of 3D are kept to a high level, giving players the immersion they need as they explore the open world of the Paldea region.

2 Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

Cutest Art Style

Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, released in 2021, were faithful remakes of the original Pokemon Diamond and Pearl on the Nintendo DS. Loyal to their core, the titles did little to expand upon the original games, with only a few examples of new content added, such as the ability to capture the Legendary Pokemon Darkrai and battle the Pokemon god Arceus – not present in the original games without attending exclusive events.

One feature, however, that sets it distinctly apart from Diamond and Pearl is its graphical style. Divisive in the Pokemon community due to its unique cutesy look, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl adopted the Chibi art style, for better or worse, depending on your taste. While the style is contentious for a good reason, there is no question that the graphics of Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are some of the best in the Pokemon games, deserving a spot on this list.

1 Pokemon Let’s GO Pikachu and Eevee

Best Top Down 3D Graphics

Despite their simplistic nature, Pokemon Let’s Go and Eevee are great-looking games in their own right, being some of the best top-down 3D games in the series. Remakes of Pokemon Gold and Silver, Let’s GO Pikachu, and Eevee incorporated core elements of the Pokemon GO games on mobile into the titles, merging them with traditional elements.

Unlike in other mainline games, players cannot battle Pokemon in Let’s GO, leaning on features from Pokemon GO such as using the touch screen to throw Pokeballs for a successful catch. Despite their shortcomings, the games look great, with clean, crisp graphics that showcase what the Nintendo Switch is capable of when not dealing with large open-world environments that require extensive graphical fidelity.