These are my top 5 Pokémon games on Nintendo Switch 2 — including a controversial entry, and one that you may have forgotten
Anyone else remember number three?
· TechRadarOpinion By Harry Padoan published 28 March 2026
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I’ve played a lot of Pokémon over the years, including just about every mainline game, and a fair few spin-offs too. I didn’t actually start playing until Pokémon Black and White released, and I’d just hit age 10 (good times), but I swiftly made it my mission to go back to the days of Red and Blue, and work my way through the franchise’s catalogue.
Although the Pokémon games hit something of a rough patch on Nintendo Switch, it’s been pleasing to see a return to form of late, with some well-received releases and exciting new announcements to boot. OK, I’m not sure if I’m a fan of the recently revealed starters for Pokémon Winds and Waves (although Gecqua is pretty solid). However, we did get Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, Pokémon Pokopia, and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness on Nintendo Switch 2 within the span of just one month.
And with the Switch 2’s recent influx of Pokémon titles, I got thinking. What are the best Pokémon games that you can play on Nintendo’s latest hybrid console? So, I’ve compiled a list of my top 5 pocket monster outings available on Switch 2. Notably, this list includes Switch games playable on Switch 2 and brings together spin-offs as well as mainline entries.
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I’m sure that just about everyone will have a different top five to mine — and indeed to each other — so please do let me know your favorite Pokémon games on Switch 2 down in the comments! Right, without further ado, let’s dive into my list.
5. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
OK, put your pitchforks away. Look, as someone who pre-ordered Pokémon Violet in 2022, I shared a lot of the outrage over this game's performance. Poor framerates — especially in built-up areas — and poor graphical quality definitely felt like a shame to see. But things have changed.
That’s right, Scarlet and Violet got a free upgrade on Switch 2, which bumped up the resolution and smoothed out framerates, and it feels so much better to play now.
But it’s not all about performance. I’m probably more positive than most on this entry, I’ll admit, but I couldn’t help but admire its ambition. Instead of using a fully linear progression system, Scarlet and Violet opted for multiple storylines — one where players collect gym badges, another where they’re tasked with defeating Team Star, and a third where they have to hunt down Titan Pokémon.
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