Summary
- The Pokémon timeline is based on the year each game was released, not the region it takes place in, which can be confusing.
- Console distinctions are no longer reliable for determining where games fall in the timeline since there are overlaps and remakes on different platforms.
- Pokémon Legends: Arceus is a core title in Generation 8, not a spin-off, and DLCs are now connected to the base game's story.
Currently, there are nine Generations in the including each of the Pokémon remakes, is to look at the year the game came out.
Using consoles used to be a good way to know where in the timeline games fell, but this method hasn't been so reliable since the Nintendo DS, which started hosting multiple Generations. Generations have since had an overlap on the 3DS, as well as on the Nintendo Switch, making it much harder to distinguish timelines based on the platform the games can be played on. Many older Pokémon games have become dated and no longer available on modern platforms, forcing players to find outdated systems and vintage cartridges to play them. Because of this, many of the older games are being remade for current consoles.
One Change Could Make Pokémon Gen 10's Open-World Games Even Better
Although they may be years away, there is already a change in Gen 10 Pokémon games that could make their open-world maps a lot better for players.
Pokémon's Generation Timeline Isn't Based On In Game Data
Below is the currently ed timeline for the core Pokémon games according to the fandom wiki Bulbapedia. The timeline is arranged to show the Generation, the consoles the games were released on, and the year the titles hit the market. This will help players visualize where all the core series games fall in the Pokémon timeline. This doesn't include spin-off titles like Pokémon Ranger or New Pokémon Snap, which aren't part of the game's main series.
Complete Pokémon Generation Timeline (So Far) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
Generations |
Years |
Consoles |
Games |
Gen 1 |
1996 - 1999 |
Game Boy |
|
Gen 2 |
1999 - 2001 |
Game Boy Color |
|
Gen 3 |
2002 - 2006 |
Game Boy Advance |
|
Gen 4 |
2006 - 2010 |
Nintendo DS |
|
Gen 5 |
2010 - 2013 |
Nintendo DS |
|
Gen 6 |
2013 -2016 |
Nintendo 3DS |
|
Gen 7 |
2016 - 2019 |
Nintendo 3DS / Nintendo Switch |
|
Gen 8 |
2019 - 2022 |
Nintendo Switch |
|
Gen 9 |
2022 - Present |
Nintendo Switch |
|
Though it may be perceived as such, Pokémon Legends: Arceus is not a spin-off game, but a core title in the series. It is the final title in Gen 8. As of Gen 8, games are also receiving DLCs, which are worth mentioning due to how they can be connected to the base game's stories.
Pokémon Gen 10 Games Should Steal This From Indigo Disk DLC (& It's Not The Synchro Machine)
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet does something new with its trainers. Here’s what it is, and why it should reappear in Gen 10 games and beyond.
The Future Of Pokémon
With Gen 9 having been kicked off by the release of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, it is now expected that the current Generation will also include at least one more release. There are a lot of rumors and hints about Pokémon Gen 5 remakes, though these titles have yet to be confirmed by Nintendo.
It is also possible that the company will try to follow up on the critical and commercial success of Pokémon Legends: Arceus and release another core game in the new format. This may just initiate a new standard for Generations of Pokémon games moving forward.
Source: Bulbapedia
