Summary
- The longest gap between main series Pokemon game releases is now three years, as of 2025.
- No new main series Pokemon games were released after 2022, but a new one is promised for 2025.
- Pokemon Legends: Z-A is confirmed for the original Switch this year.
2025 marks the longest gap between main series Pokemon game releases, breaking an unfortunate record for the franchise. New Pokemon games have been released on a near-constant basis since the original Pokemon games exploded in popularity in the 1990s. These Pokemon games range in importance from experimental spin-off games to remakes to brand-new generations that add a slew of new creatures to the franchise canon.
Since the original Pokemon games launched in 1996, there’s only ever been a max of two years between main series releases. The previous longest gap started in 2019 with Pokemon Sword and Shield on the Nintendo Switch, which weren’t followed up by Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl until 2021. Now that it’s 2025, though, the longest gap between main series Pokemon games has been extended to three years.
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2022 saw the release of both Pokemon Legends: Z-A and the Generation 9 games Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. There hasn’t been a new main series Pokemon game since then, as pointed out by Centro Leaks. The lack of a new main series Pokemon game has undoubtedly left some fans disappointed, though the good news is that one new game is promised to be released this year and others are believed to be on the way in the relatively near future as well.
List of Main Series Pokemon Games in the US
- Pokemon Red and Blue – 1998 (released in 1996 in Japan)
- Pokemon Yellow – 1998
- Pokemon Gold and Silver – 1999
- Pokemon Crystal – 2000
- Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire – 2002
- Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen – 2004
- Pokemon Emerald – 2004
- Pokemon Diamond and Pearl – 2006
- Pokemon Platinum – 2008
- Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver – 2009
- Pokemon Black and White – 2010
- Pokemon Black 2 and White 2 – 2012
- Pokemon X and Y – 2013
- Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire – 2014
- Pokemon Sun and Moon – 2016
- Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon – 2017
- Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu and Let’s Go Eevee – 2018
- Pokemon Sword and Shield – 2019
- Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl – 2021
- Pokemon Legends: Arceus – 2022
- Pokemon Scarlet and Violet – 2022
- Pokemon Legends: Z-A – 2025
Pokemon Legends: Z-A is releasing in 2025 for the Nintendo Switch, with leaks suggesting that the game may be getting a native Switch 2 port as well. Other leaks have suggested that another main series Pokemon game could be released in late 2025, but that it won’t be Generation 10. Some have jumped to the conclusion that the other main series Pokemon games coming in 2025 are remakes of Black and White, but that’s just speculation at this time.
While no new main series Pokemon games have been released since 2022, Scarlet and Violet did receive significant expansions in 2023.
As far as the Generation 10 Pokemon games go, they aren’t expected to be released until 2026 at the earliest. If they do release in 2026, it will mark the longest gap between Pokemon generation since the four years that separated Gen 4’s Diamond and Pearl and Gen 5’s Black and White. While some have assumed that the Geneartion 10 Pokemon games will be exclusive to the Switch 2, the latest leaks suggest that the games are actually being built for the OG Switch, though like Legends: Z-A, they may get native Switch 2 ports as well.
Fans should take all Pokemon franchise leaks with a massive grain of salt, though the bright side is that they should get some answers about the franchise’s future sooner rather than later. The next Pokemon Presents event is expected to take place on February 27, and fans can expect plenty of exciting Pokemon series announcements during the show.
Pokemon
Pokemon is a franchise that needs no introduction. One of the most successful media empires in history, Pokemon spans games, television, films, manga, merchandise, music, and more.
- Created by
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Satoshi Tajiri
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