5 Best Pokemon Emulators Of 2023
Grab a Master Ball and put on your trademark hat; it’s time to check out the best Pokemon emulators of the year!
Before we go any further, I should probably say that this article isn’t for emulating a little Pokemon into your every day life. Pikachu isn’t suddenly going to appear inside your lunchbox eating your sandwiches, people! We can’t work miracles!
We’ve gone ahead and listed 5 of the best Pokemon emulators for playing all your favourite Pokemon games on your computer or smartphone. Battle, catch, snap, and explore your favourite Pokemon regions at home or on the go without carrying multiple devices.
Come on; we all want to do it. That’s why you’re here, after all!
What you didn’t come here for is a load of waffle from yours truly, so let’s get to it. The following emulators aren’t in any order and cover a variety of Nintendo consoles. Happy searching, and don’t forget to read the important message below before you get started!
**PLEASE READ – Sharing ROMs is very illegal, and we can’t write articles from jail. **
Retro Dodo created this article for you to find out more about the best Pokemon emulators and it should be thought of as a digital myth, a magical grimoire, or a custom-made Pokedex. Retro Dodo does not condone illegal downloading or any other Psyduck shenanigans that might get anyone (namely us) into second-hand prison clothes. Please check the legality of ROM downloading in your region and always follow government guidelines on both internet safety and copyright laws.
Table of Contents
1. Project 64 – N64
- Open-source
- Linux, MacOS, FreeBSD, Android, Windows
DOWNLOAD HERE
First up on our list of the best Pokemon emulators is Mupen 64, one of the most versatile N64 emulators on the internet. It’s used as the core program for many other emulators and as the ‘core’ in RetroArch, but we’ll get onto that in a little while.
Mupen64 is on open-source program, meaning that its continually updated by the retro gaming community.
The code is also available for people to manipulate to make their own emulators.
And, because this emulator allows people to play the best Pokemon games on multiple operating systems including FreeBSD, it’s helping to keep our favourite games alive and kicking all over the world.
A lot of emulators mess up the C-Button functions, but playing Pokemon Stadium and Pokemon Snap on this program is a dream. Game on the go with the Android emulator or kick back in the office and pretend to fill in those spreadsheets.
Why bag a company bonus when you can catch Pokemon 9-5!
2. TGB Dual – GBC, DMG
- Freeware
- Windows
DOWNLOAD HERE
Next up on our list of the best Pokemon emulators is TGB Dual. Anyone looking to revisit the best Gameboy Color games and the best Gameboy games should definitely take a look at this one!
TGB Dual is one of the most reliable Gameboy emulators for Windows. It’s quick, it’s no nonsense, and it also plays two games at once.
Wait, what?
That’s right; TGB Dual can open two games at the same time, allowing users to swap Pokemon between Red and Blue, Gold and Silver etc. It’s the perfect way to finally complete those Pokedexes people!
Weirdly, it’s also possible for two people to play two games at the same time with an external controller added into the mix. Now, when your partner or mate disagrees with which game to play, there doesn’t have to be an argument!
I’ve saved the best feature till last. If someone else has TGB Dual installed on their controller, then wireless battles on early Gameboy games suddenly become a reality. We’re talking Pokemon Gold action over WiFi!
3. Citra – DS
- Open Source
- Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android
DOWNLOAD HERE
You just stumbled upon the best of the best Nintendo DS emulators of all time; Citra!
Readers looking for the best Pokemon emulators for DS gameplay can take a load off and cancel the rest of their plans.
There are other emulators for Nintendo’s dual-screen demon, but Citra wipes the floor with them all.
Remember when we checked out Yuzu, the best Nintendo Switch emulator? Well, Citra is made by the same people! (Notice the heavy orange theme going on here?)
These emulators are the real deal and highly regarded in the retro gaming world. Citra boasts the ability to play games in crystal clear 4K and comes with multiplayer support.
And, it runs smoothly on all of the main operating systems and machines!
I don’t think anyone has truly lived until they’ve played Pokemon Diamond in 4K. It blew my mind the first time, and the multiple layouts function adds to the whole package. It’s like when a waiter adds parmesan to your favourite dish and instantly cranks the flavour up a notch.
With local WiFi support and super-slick playback, Citra kicks every DS game into the present day with a bang!
4. RetroArch – Multiple Consoles
- Open Source
- Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Raspberry Pi
DOWNLOAD HERE
Anyone looking for an emulator that covers every console and every Pokemon game should definitely give RetroArch a try.
It’s a one-stop-emulation-shop and one of the smartest programs around.
Regular Retro Dodo readers should know all about RetroArch by now. Instead of just replicating the innards of one console, it uses cores to emulate all of our favourite machines from the VirtualBoy to the 3DS.
Just think how good it would be to play a little Pokemon Yellow before diving straight into Pokemon HeartGold without having to swap systems or carry around all your handhelds.
For the purposes of this section, we’re going to take a look at the GBA. RetroArch has two cores for Nintendo’s Purple Powerhouse; GBSP and mGBA. Both work perfectly and RetroArch emulates all the best Pokemon games for GBA and beyond!
5. Dolphin – GameCube, Wii
- Open Source
- Windows, MacOS, Android
DOWNLOAD HERE
Searching for the best Pokemon emulators to play more modern Pokemon games? Just download Dolphin and direct your energy towards searching for pocket monsters instead!
Dolphin emulates all the best GameCube games and the best Wii games.
It’s free to download and works on Windows, OSX, and Android.
Because who doesn’t want to play Pokemon Colosseum on the bus instead of doom scrolling through Reddit?
It’s worth noting now that your PC or smartphone is going to have to be pretty powerful to pull off GameCube and Wii emulation. Large file sizes and 3D games require lots of processing power, and a device that’s not up to scratch will result in lots of annoying lag and games crashing.
‘But what makes Dolphin one of the best Pokemon emulators?’, I hear you screaming at your computer like an angry child. Well, it’s reliable, it has a smooth output on the right machines, and it also boasts a tonne of customisable settings.
Map keys like a pirate maps stars, mess around with resolution, enter cheat codes, view save states; the list is endless.
You name it, and Dolphin can do it. Apart from swim through the ocean; your tech would probably fry!
This article may contain affiliate links.
If you use these links to purchase an item we may earn a commission. Thank you for your support.
Seb Santabarbara
Seb Santabarbara has bought every Nintendo console that has ever been released in his 31 years on Planet Earth. His favourite game franchise is Zelda, and he’s patiently waiting for Banjo-Kazooie to come back to the fold. When he’s not playing games, he’s travelling the world in his self-converted camper van.
How to Use Pokemon Emulator for iPhone in 2023 [with Guide]
Since Classic Pokemon was first released in 1996, it gains widespread popularity all over the world. Although mobile games are fine, compared with classic games like Super Mario, Pokemon, etc., it still has its shortcomings in detail. So, here comes a question, how can I play classic Pokemon game on iPhone? The best way to play classic Pokemon games on your iPhone is to install an emulator. Today, in this post, we will introduce everything you need to know about Pokemon Go emulator for iPhone.
- Part 1: Best 4 iOS Pokemon Emulators for iPhone
- Part 2: Pokemon Games on App Store
- Part 3: Hot FAQs about Pokemon Games
- [Bonus Tips] How to Spoof Location on Pokemon Go?
Part 1: Best 4 iOS Pokemon Emulators for iPhone
After knowing where to find a Pokemon emulator for iPhone. It’s time to introduce some amazing emulators and tell you how to install those emulators on your iPhone. Here are the 4 top-rated emulators for iPhone:
- 1. Pokemon Emulator — GBA4iOS
- 2. Pokemon Emulator — Happy Chick
- 3. Pokemon Emulator — Delta
- 4. Pokemon Emulator — Game Play Color
1 GBA4iOS
There are many emulators in the markets, but definitely, the GBA4iOS emulator is the best one.
Here are some coolest features that make GBAiOS the best emulator:
- You do not need to jailbreak your iPhone.
- GBA4iOS allows you to emulate and enjoy not just GBA, but GBC and GB games.
- It have so many wonderful features includes multiplayer support, dropbox support, cheat codes, save states, controller skins, etc.
As we all know, Apple doesn’t allow emulators on the Apple Store, so, here comes a question, how to install GBA4iOS on your iPhone? Don’t worry, keep reading and you will find the answer.
How to Install GBA4iOS emulator on Your iPhone?
Step 1. Head over to gba4iosapp.com on your iPhone. On the page, you will see GBA4iOS 2.0. Click it and a window will prompt, then tap Install. After Pokemon emulator GBA4iOS installed on your iPhone, click the app and you will be prompted with the pop on that whether or not you want to access the application. Click on Continue to open up the application.
Tips
There is another version i.e. 1.
6, please do not install it as it is for the devices that are running iOS 5.0 or older version.
Step 2. In case the emulator is not working at all you need to change the date. For this go to Settings > General > Date & Time. Set the date to anything before 19th Feb 2014. Open the emulator again and it will start working. If it does so then you need to change the date and time settings to Automatic. It is one of the ways to make sure that the emulator works perfectly.
Step 3. If you are still not able to access the GBA emulator then head over to Settings > General > Profile & Device Management. Click on the emulator under the ENTERPRISE APP.
Step 4. If you have your own personal ROMs then you can easily upload it to the emulator. For this, hit the Settings icon on the top left corner of the application and sign in to your Dropbox account to get the ROMs uploaded by turning on/green Dropbox sync.
Alternatively, click on the «+» icon on the top right corner. Choose the game i.e. Pokemon or any other that you want to download.
Step 5. Click Download once you see the prompt to download and install the game from the internal web browser. There are three tabs on the top of the application. You need to make sure that the ALL tab is selected so that you can access both Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance games on the same screen.
Step 6. Tap on Pokemon Go and you are done. Now, you can play GBA and GBC games on the emulator with ease and perfection.
2 Happy Chick
Happy Chick is a integrated emulator platform that allows you to play many games on your iPhone. It support both iOS and Android system.
Here are some advantages of Happy Chick emulator:
- Happy Chick can emulate more than 18 systems, including FAB/MAME/MAMEPLUS, PS, PSP, FC(NES), SFC(SNEC), GBA, GBC, MD, NDS, etc.
- It is easy to install and use without complex operation.
- Happy Chick supports Cloud saving which allows you to backup games anytime.
- Do not need to jailbreak your iPhone.
How to Install Happy Chick on Your iPhone?
Step 1. Open Happy Chick website on Safari. Click Download button.
Step 2. In the next page, click Install now button under the Method 2.
Step 3. Select Install HappyChick Link#1 or Install HappyChick Link#1 as you wish. Then tap Install and Happy Chick app will appear on your iPhone’s home screen.
Step 4. Go to Settings > General > Device Management, then click Trust to allow Happy Chick run on your iPhone.
Step 5. Open Happy Chick app, enable location service on this app. See, you have already installed Happy Chick on your iPhone successfully and you can play classic Pokemon game on your iPhone right now.
3 Delta
The third one we want to introduce is Delta emulator. Delta allows you to play old school games on your iPhone too. Like other emulators, it is also widely used among classic game player.
As one of the best emulators, Delta has its advantages:
- Delta supports a variety of consoles include GB, GBA, GBC, SNES, NES, NDS, etc.
- It has many features, including multi-player support, Cloud syncing, iPad split-screen support and more.
- It supports for iOS 10 and above.
- It is a jailbreak-free emulator for iPhone.
As Apple App Store is not allows Delta to be download through due to some security reasons, in order to download Delta emulator, we need to use a third-party installer app named Emus4U.
How to Install Delta Emulator on Your iPhone Through Emus4U
Step 1. Open Emus4U page on Safari. Click Install Emus4U button.
Then follow the guide to install it on your iPhone.
Step 2. After Emus4U app appears on your home screen, go to Settings > General > Device Management and trust the Emus4U profile.
Step 3. Open Emus4U app, go to EMULATORS section and search Delta. Tap Get.
Step 4. Tap Install on the pop-up window. After Delta is downloaded on your iPhone’s home screen, go to Settings > General > Device Management and trust the Delta profile. Till now, you have already install Delta emulator on your iPhone.
4 Game Play Color
Game Play Color is one of the best emulator for iPhone which allows you to play old school games on your iPhone. With the help of Game Play Color, you can play Pokemon on your iPhone quickly and conveniently.
Here are some wonderful features of Game Play Color emulator:
- Game Play Color supports GB and GBC games.
- It allows you to enjoy your games in full, rich, 8-bit audio.
- The offline support function allows you to play games even without signal.
How to Install Game Play Color on Your iPhone?
Tips
Before installing Game Play Color, please make sure ROMs are downloaded on your Google Drive.
Step 1. Open Game Play Color website on Safari.
Step 2. Tap Share button at the bottom and select Add to Home Screen.
Step 3. On the pop-up window, tap Add. You will see a Game Play icon show on your iPhone’s home screen. Then tap it.
Step 4. After opening Game Play app, sign in your Google Drive account and sync your account by copying the access code it gives.
Step 5. The compatible ROMs will show on the screen, tap the game you want to play. That’s it, you can play classic game on your iPhone now.
Part 2: Pokemon Games on App Store
Although install an emulator is a good choice to play Pokemon Games on your iPhone, but, definitely, this is a little bit complicated for most of us. Fortunetly, for Pokemon lovers, there are some Pokemon game you can download from App Store and play directly on your iPhone. Here I will introduce 3 Pokemon games for all of you guys.
- 1. Pokemon Go
- 2. Pokemon Quest
- 3. Pokemon Masters Ex
1 Pokemon GO
Pokemon GO is an AR game published in 2016, which allows players (also called trainers in game) to locate, capture, train, batttle Pokemon and go head to head against Team Rocket also. The most attractive part of this game is that, once you turn on camera on your iPhone, you can find Pokemon in real world.
2 Pokemon Quest
As a free-to-play action-adventure game, Pokemon Quest with a blocky design, in the game, player can control the base camp and the Pokemon team.
The task is to complete all the levels on the island and beat the wild Pokemon. To those Pokemon fanatics, this game is definitely worth trying.
3 Pokemon Masters
Pokemon Masters (also called Pokemon Masters Ex) released in 2019. This game allows players to battle and recruit various Pokemon trainers from the main series game.
Besides of unlocking the main series, player can also take part in limited-time events. Events incluse single-player story event and cooperative multiplayer events. After defeated powerful enemies, players will receive event rewards and prizes.
Part 3: Hot FAQs About Pokemon Games
1 Are Pokemon Emulators Illegal?
No, they are not, you can play Pokemon emulators online for iPhone easily and you can even download them. However, emulators do not function themselves, they need ROMs to run. Unless you want Nintendo to come after you for $150,000, forget about downloading ROM.
If you have the original copy of the Pokemon game, you can legally download ROMs.
2 Are Pokemon Emulators Safe?
Yes, Pokemon emulators are safe to download. Make sure to scan them after downloading to rule out the issues of viruses and malware. Moreover, we advise that you download them from the official website to ensure safety. The only catch is that you can’t play Pokemon emulator with ROMs. Downloading ROMs is illegal.
3 Can You Play Pokemon on iPhone or Android?
Yes, you can play Pokemon on iPhone or Android. And the requirements are as follows.
iPhone: iPhone 6s or above, iOS 12 or above, Internet connection, GPS and Location Services, Unjailbroken devices
Android: Android 6 or above, 720×1280 pixels prefered, Internet connection, GPS and Location Services, Unrooted devices.
You may also like: 6 Best & Free Online Android Emulator Apps for PC
4 How to Play Classic Pokemon Game on Your iPhone?
1 Emulator
As we mentioned above, the best way to play classic Pokemon games on your iPhone is to run an Pokemon emulator on your iPhone.
An emulator is software that allows your device to behave like anther system. In brief, with the help of the right emulator, your iPhone will behave like a video game console, so that you can play GBC, GBA and GB games on your iPhone.
2 ROM
Besides an emulator, a ROM is also needed if you want to play classic game on your iPhone. A ROM is a computer file that contains all data of the video game. But here’s the point, although emulators are legal to use, ROMs are complicated. Nintendo states that it is illegal to share, download and play a Nintendo ROM from the Internet. Even we all know that it is illegal to share, download with others, we can still find the ROMs you looking for. We certainly do not recommend you guys to do this.
5 Where to Find Emulator for iPhone?
Since we already know an emulator is the key to play classic Pokemon games on your iPhone. Now here comes a new question, where to find them?
1 iEmulators
Here I want to introduce iEmulators to you guys, there is no doubt that iEmulators is the best place that allows you to find and download emulators on your iPhone without jailbreak.
And what’s more, it’s free! In iEmulators you can get some popular emulators such as GBS4iOS, Happy Chick, etc. easily.
2 BuildStore
BuildStore is also a good choice for you to download emulators, but it’s not free. The advantage of BuildStore compare with iEmulators is that it clean installation on your iPhone and will not access revocation often.
You may also like: Top 5 Gaming Emulators for iOS in 2022
[Bonus Tips] How to Spoof Location on Pokemon Go?
It’s possible that you haven’t heard of this location spoofer before, but as a brand-new utility, iMyFone AnyTo has emerged as one of the top applications for falsifying GPS position in Pokémon Go.
Guide
Learn How to Use the Coupon
Change GPS Location on iOS/Android
- Faking Location without jailbreak: It tricks apps that require GPS location. You don’t have to worry about bricking your phone or installing questionable packages.
- Simulating movement with customized speed: If you have a game that requires walking, like Pokémon Go, you can plan the route by setting the moving speed.
Try It Now
Tips
Quick navigation:
1:11 Teleport Location with Teleport Mode
2:33 Simulate GPS Movement with Two-spot Mode & Multi-spot Mode
Step 1: To start using this location spoofer, just go to the official website of iMyFone AnyTo. Download the package from there, then install it.
Step 2: Connect your device to the PC.
Step 3: Select Teleport Mode from the top right corner of the screen. Select the location, and enter the location you want to change location to fake.
Step 4: After selecting the fake location, just click the Move button.
All apps on your device that need to be located will now switch entirely to your fake location.
With this app, all you have to do is sitting in comfort as your avatar does the walking for you. Brave all sorts of climates and terrains all from the comfort of your home.
Conclusion
Try It Free
PokePlus — Pokemon Games
by PokePlus
In a nutshell, the Pokémon Odyssey hack is a crossover between the Pokémon Made in the Abyss and Etrian Odyssey franchises! Before you a new history and region. No more stadiums, criminal organizations and Elite Fours — it’s time for pure exploration! On the island of Talrega is the entrance to the Yggdrasil labyrinth. It’s a giant labyrinth full of treasures. It attracts adventurers from all over the world. Well… Read more
Categories Pokemon Games Tags GBA, Anime, Manga
by PokePlus
The Pokémon Unown mod uses a version of FireRed as the basis to add an element of unpredictability to the plot of the original game.
Encounters with wild Pokemon and rival teams are now random, but within reasonable limits. For example, you can’t encounter the legend or complete Pokémon evolutions on the first route. And a fiery type will not be caught on a fishing rod or in water. It is a controlled randomizer that allows … Read more
Categories Pokemon Games Tags GBA, Nuzlocke, Randomizer
by PokePlus
The Pokémon Good Ruby Mod is a fan-made version of the Ruby Pokémon Game from the developer of the Yet Another Fire Red Hack. In fact, before you is a standard mod for 386+ Pokemon with new mechanics and other modern features. Functions have been updated to the level of games of the seventh generation. Separation of attacks into special and physical, magic type, new tricks. In addition to the first three Pokemon … Read more
Categories Pokemon Games Tags DoesntKnowHowToPlay, GBA
by PokePlus
How to survive the Pokémon Journey? That’s the question the game «How You Survive A Pokémon Journey?» asks.
from a fan developer. In this game, you, playing as a boy or a girl, go on an adventure as a Pokémon trainer. The task is simple: survive to the end, collect badges, become a master. It would seem that everything is easy and familiar, but now it is important to monitor the state of not … Read more
Categories Pokemon Games Tags PC
by PokePlus
The Pokémon Red Fire mod is inspired by the fan game Emerald Kaizo. The goal of the Red Fire version is to increase the difficulty of the passage and eliminate the non-linearity as much as possible. In doing so, the author sought to maintain the structure of the original Fiery Red Pokémon game on the GBA. The trainers in the mod are placed in such a way that the player cannot avoid the fight. The number of Pokémon your opponents have gradually increases throughout the game. … Read more
Categories Pokemon Games Tags GBA
Pokemon Games for PC: Online, Browser, Best
In this article, we have compiled the top Pokemon games in which you can collect your own collection of pocket monsters.
Browser games
Idle Pokemon
The great and terrible Cookie Clicker, coupled with Progress Quest, spawned a whole sub-genre of games that play themselves with minimal attention from the player. When fantasy idle games got fed up with everything, the developers of such projects turned their attention to other settings.
This is how Idle Pokemon was born — a project in which your wards continue to swing even when you are not online. You just have to increase their level, choose active units for your squad and sometimes call bosses, battles with which also take place automatically.
Play
Pokemon Vortex
This game is one of the oldest unofficial browsers in the Pokémon universe, as it was first launched back in 1999 under the name Pokémon Crater. Since then, the project has managed to close in 2007, survive two years of oblivion and restart under a new name in 2009year.
The game is distinguished by the presence of seven unique Pokémon developed by the portal administration.
Each player has a chance to acquire these pets — for this you just need to travel to certain locations and hope for the favor of the random house.
Play
Pokemon Revolution Online
The main advantage of this MMORPG in the Pokemon universe is multiplatform, which allows you to play both in the browser and in the mobile application on the same account in the same game world. The project implemented a change of day and night, affecting the skills and evolution of the wards. In addition, the game features over 500 classic Pokemon, and its storyline and basic gameplay are borrowed from classic console games like Pokemon Red Fire.
The main disadvantage of the game is the inability to play it in Russian.
Play
Pokemon Battle Arena
This little fun browser game is a 2D platform deathmatch arena that is very atypical for Pokemon games. Players start the battle with the chosen character, among which you can meet Pikachu, Squirtle, Charamander, Bulbasaur and even Meowth from Team R.
The selected skin has almost no effect on the gameplay — everyone starts the battle unarmed and with the same stats. Periodically, pokeballs with weapons appear on the map — a baseball bat, a chainsaw, a machine gun, or even a set of infantry mines.
Despite the cute and unpretentious graphics, the game can even be called bloody, because as the damage is received, the character’s skins begin to become covered with abrasions. You can fight here both against bots and online against other fans of dynamic poke-mochilov.
Play
Pokemon Planet
This browser-based MMO project is similar to the rest of the games in our selection — here you have to catch Pokemon around the game world, as well as trade or fight with other players. In terms of graphics, the developers also took the long-trodden path and stylized it as the first versions of console Pokémon. Even the game mechanics migrated to this project from consoles almost unchanged.
The most important difference between Pokemon Planet and other games from our top is the presence of legendary Pokemon in it, which only the most patient and pumped players can catch.
In addition, the complexity of locations as you progress through here increases noticeably more than in other poke browsers. So this game can be called the most hardcore on our list.
Play
Pokemon Pets
In Pokemon Pets, the browser concept of the world of Pokemon is taken to a new level. The game is favorably distinguished from competitors by a high level of graphics and a huge amount of statistics — both for each of your wards, and according to the results of battles. The scale of the project is amazing — it has 520 locations, more than 1000 NPCs and about 23,000 unique types of Pokémon.
The game has many interesting and unique mechanics — for example, catching water Pokemon is carried out using fishing rods. The built-in stat calculator and detailed help, which includes not only a FAQ about game mechanics, but also training videos, will help you not to get confused in numbers, modifiers, types of damage and other things important for victory.
Play
Pokemon Showdown
Unlike most of the projects presented in our selection, which in one way or another try to recreate the entire gameplay of classic console poke games, Pokemon Showdown concentrates on only one of their elements, but the most interesting.
This free online game is all about dueling between teams of Pokémon. At the same time, the concept of pumping is absent here as such — you can include any of the characters available in the game in your team, or even fight with a random set. In such conditions, the skill of each of the players comes first, so the game can be called the most balanced in our top. You can play Pokemon Showdown both in the browser and by downloading the official client.
Play
Client games
Pokemon Go
Of course, a selection of the best Pokemon games is unthinkable without a game that returned gamers’ interest in the franchise. Just a couple of years ago, Pokemon were caught on their mobile phones by everyone and everywhere — schoolchildren in parks, students in bars and respectable uncles in business centers. The very concept of this game was almost a breakthrough, because it became the first mainstream game project with the active use of augmented reality.
However, you can play it even without a camera — the locations are arranged according to GPS coordinates, and drawing Pokemon on top of the camera image is only needed to give the game a special atmosphere.
At the same time, not only monsters available for catching are scattered around the real world, but also a bunch of game locations, including those very Jims, in battles for which tens and hundreds of people sometimes converged. In the first week after the release, Pokemon Go was downloaded more than 10 million times.
AndroidiOsPlay via emulator on PC
Pokemon Blaze Online
One of the few Pokemon client MMORPGs in the world that can be downloaded and run even on the oldest PCs with 256 MB of RAM. The game is distinguished by a deep processing of the source material — the developers wrote their own original plot for it and slightly reworked the role-playing system of classic poke games.
Another feature of the game is a full-fledged cycle of changing the time of day, which affects which mobs spawn in the game locations. Finally, the developers of Pokemon Blaze Online are closely following the development of lore, so the project was the first free-to-play MMO to feature the Alolan evolution branch that Nintendo added to Pokemon GO.
Play
Pokemon Masters
Pokemon Masters is a mobile RPG that was released in 2019, but now users have left over 340,000 reviews for it on the Play Market, and the number of downloads has exceeded 10 million. The player will assemble a team of cute Pokemon, train them in combat abilities and perform in the arena. A turn-based combat system is presented — in order to defeat the enemy, you need to think over the moves and take into account the characteristics of both his fighters and your own.
The game boasts nice cartoonish graphics, familiar characters and frequent updates from developers.
AndroidiOS
Pokemon MMO 3D
Pokemon MMO 3D is a real-time MMORPG that invites you to explore a huge open world, find and control Pokemon in intense battles with people from different countries. Actually, this is all that can be said about the game — we run, collect «animals», fight and pump the level of the character. I am glad that the game is developing to this day — the developers are improving its technical part, making the world more saturated, adding new content.
Play
Pokemon Sword and Shield
In Pokemon Sword and Shield, players explore the Galar region, a spectacular place that hides many secrets. What is more interesting is that Pokémon and people live in a commonwealth here.
The gameplay is already familiar to you — the player will have to complete tasks, collect a collection of «fighters» and train them, as well as perform in arenas in battles for the title of champion. Moreover, it is much more interesting to fight with other players over the network — they certainly will not give up slack. There is also the possibility of customizing the main character and peaceful activities, like cooking food in the camp.
Buy Now (Nintendo Switch)
Pokemon Cafe Mix
In Pokemon Cafe Mix, you can take a break from being a trainer and run your own diner in the world of Pokemon. You have to feed the pretty animals, and each order is executed individually in the form of a simple puzzle. If you fail to satisfy the desire of the visitor, you will lose a precious heart — but do not worry, because they are restored over time, as in any similar casual game.
Pokemon Cafe Mix consists of not only puzzles, but also communication with customers, hiring the Pokemon themselves, and other things. The game is shareware, and it is available not only on Nintendo Switch, but also on Android and iOS mobile systems.
Nintendo SwitchAndroidiOS
Pokemon UNITE
The creators themselves call Pokemon UNITE a «big project» — and contrary to the expectations of the fans, this loud phrase turned out to be a shareware MOBA in the universe we are considering.
If you are familiar with DOTA 2 or League of Legends, then the gameplay is familiar to you — it is based on 5v5 battles, and the participants in this battle control characters with unique abilities. Each team will have to defend their base and try to destroy the enemy, while fighting monsters, catching wild Pokémon and leveling up the hero along the way.
Nintendo SwitchAndroidiOS
New Pokemon Snap
New Pokemon Snap is an entertaining game for the little ones, in which players have to travel through picturesque places and take pictures of Pokémon in their natural habitat.
There are no battles and complex game mechanics, and the gameplay is reduced to exploring locations and taking pictures. However, this does not give a reason to call the game boring: firstly, New Pokemon Snap features many types of Pokemon, and many of them need to find a special approach, and secondly, all photos will be saved in an album where they can be edited according to at your discretion — add filters, effects, frames, stickers and other embellishments.
Buy (Nintendo Switch)
Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu / Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee
Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee take on the role of an aspiring Pokémon trainer and set out on a journey through the Kanto region in search of exciting adventures!
Legendary Pokémon will become your partners and you will spend an incredible amount of time with them. The more you take care of your partner — stroke, feed, dress him up — the more he becomes attached to you and the more success awaits him in battles.
In addition, you can trade creatures with friends, enjoy the beautiful views of the game world and engage in intense duels.
Buy Now (Nintendo Switch)
Pokkén Tournament DX
Pokkén Tournament DX is a fighting game set in the Pokemon universe in which players can choose from over 20 famous Pokémon and enter the arena. Each animal has its own set of unique moves, and the combat system is rich in possibilities. The game is available on Nintendo Switch and you can play in handheld mode, including local multiplayer — one joystick per player.
Buy (Nintendo Switch)
Pokémon Ultra Sun / Pokémon Ultra Moon
Games for the Nintendo 3DS family of consoles that invite gamers to explore a new region, discover an alternate history, and meet new Pokémon to accompany them on this adventure.
In Pokémon Ultra Sun and Pokémon Ultra Moon, travel between worlds through Ultra Wormholes to uncover the motives of a mysterious group of Ultra Explorers and tame over 400 Pokémon! The developers know how to entertain players: in addition to the usual for a series of battles, there is surfing, character customization, photo hunting and many other activities!
Buy Now (Nintendo Switch)
Great Detective Pikachu
Pikachu is not only the funniest and most popular Pokemon, but also an outstanding detective who solved many crimes! In Great Detective Pikachu, he, along with a guy named Tim, will take on the investigation of a mysterious disappearance.
Players will have to explore the streets of the city, communicate with witnesses, look for clues and even participate in brawls! The project demonstrates a look at Pokemon from a completely new perspective, and Pikachu fans will surely be delighted with the new image of the famous character.
Buy Now (Nintendo 3DS)
Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl
Diamond & Pearl are two nearly identical games with minor differences in story and Pokémon set. Many fans note that this is one of their favorite pocket monster projects, as it brought over 100 new creatures to the game world, as well as several useful mechanics that were aimed at improving interaction between trainers.
Unfortunately, many also remember this game as a set of extremely rare Pokémon that were always difficult to obtain.
Buy now (Nintendo Switch)
Pokémon: Black 2 & White 2
A sequel to the successful Pokémon: Black & White that, although not too different from its predecessor in terms of gameplay, adds a lot to the already existing world — change locations, new pocket monsters, new adventures and so on.
The Protagonist is a young Pokémon Trainer who travels around the Unova region, building his collection of creatures and battling other Trainers around the world. To complete the game, you need to collect all the Pokémon, however, some of them will be inaccessible to you if you own only the White Edition, and vice versa.
The game could not be found on official game services.
Pokémon: Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire
Like the previous games in the collection, Pokémon: Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire is basically two projects. However, here the differences in the plot are already more significant. In Omega Ruby, the main villains are the Magma Team, who want to dry up the seas on the planet with the help of the Pokémon Groudon, giving humanity more space.
In the alternate storyline presented in Alpha Sapphire, the antagonists are the «Team Aqua», who, on the contrary, want to return the world to an ice age state, using the powers of a huge Kyogre.
Buy (Nintendo DS)
Pokémon: Crystal
This project is part of a series of Pokémon games that also includes Red, Blue, Yellow, Gold and Silver.
And in fact, these games are the classics of virtual entertainment dedicated to Pokemon. Users can explore the vast world, meet other characters, collect Pokémon, and so on.
Compared to the previous parts, Crystal has added a lot of new and interesting things: teaching Pokémon new tricks, animated pictures of your pets, visual accompaniment when entering a new location.
Buy Now (Nintendo DS)
Pokémon: Platinum
Pokémon: Platinum is another popular Pokémon game that has received many useful new features and delighted fans. Improved animations, backstories, illustrations and more. Moreover, a storyline has appeared, which now develops depending on the actions of the gamer!
More Legendary Pokémon, tougher opponents and improved multiplayer have been added. Also, Platinum is the first game that implements camera rotation and viewing the location from other angles.
The game could not be found on official game services.
Pokémon: Yellow
Quite an old game, but still very much loved by many fans of the series.
The thing is that the project was released just at the time when the series about pocket monsters was at the peak of popularity, and the game itself was very tied to the events of the anime.
Characters familiar from the cartoon, pikachu that never leaves your side, and many achievements that can be obtained for a high level of skill.
Buy (Nintendo DS)
Pokémon: Reborn
This project stands out from other Pokémon games quite strongly. The thing is that the events of Pokemon Reborn take place in a rather gloomy and apocalyptic city, in which everything is shrouded in smog, reservoirs are filled with acid, and dangerous personalities roam the streets.
Other than that, it’s a familiar Pokemon game in which you have to walk around the world and collect creatures, but the ultimate goal is to save Reborn City and turn the metropolis into a city of dreams.
Download
Pokémon: Team Turbo
A collection of simple mini-games that offer users to enjoy casual arcades of various genres.
At the same time, most of the mini-games are designed for children, which confirms the presence of simple, educational puzzles Bulbasaur’s Domino Dash, Squirtle’s Door Dilemma and others. There are also six racing races, which, although not difficult, can cheer you up.
The game could not be found in the official game services.
Pokemon Legends Arceus
An action role-playing game that combines traveling across a large region, finding and taming wild Pokemon, developing pets and participating in fights. Players are waiting for large-scale uncharted spaces, bright graphics and new Pokémon.
Buy (Nintendo Switch)
Pokemon-like games
Minimon
This game is not technically a Pokemon game. It is dedicated to collecting small ubiquitous animals, which are called «mini-monsters» or minimons here. Having caught several of these creatures, you can participate in battles with other collectors.
In fact, Minimon is a clone of the classic Pokémon games that does not use the names and images from the original series, but has similar game mechanics.
This made it possible to bypass restrictions from Nintendo and distribute their project on a paid basis through the Steam platform. Another difference between the game and most of its competitors is the fully 3D game world.
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My Pocket Stars
A multiplayer browser game that obviously borrows a lot from the popular pocket monsters. A vibrant world open for exploration, funny characters, recognizable style, and cute-not-Pokémon, whose designs are sometimes too reminiscent of the original animals.
Of course, they need to be caught, trained and sent into battle with other trainers’ pets in order to become a world champion. In addition to PvP battles, there are also PvE campaigns that add additional variety to the gameplay.
Play
Temtem
If you’re looking for a PC game that’s as close to Pokémon as possible, look no further. Temtem inherits the best of the original pocket monster games, but also complements it with great graphics and smooth, colorful animations.
Turn-based battles and a variety of creatures are also in place.
Nevertheless, it should be taken into account that the project was released quite recently, and at the time of this writing it may be a bit damp, and Russian localization has not yet been added to the game.
Buy Now
Monster Legends
Extremely fast-paced Pokemon clone that always has something to do. There is no open world in the game, and monsters should not be caught, but grown by crossing simpler breeds.
Monster Legends boasts an impressive bestiary, each of which is unique, has its own skills, belongs to a particular element, and so on. The developers have also added a few mechanics to their project that are not found in other similar games, for example, a rune system that allows you to make your team even more unique.
Download (Android)
Coromon
Perhaps at the moment this is the best and most original alternative to projects about Pokemon. The developers left everything for which many people love games about pocket monsters, and improved some of the mechanics that did not receive enough attention in the original projects.
For example, Coromon managed to develop the theme with rarer and stronger «shiny» animals better than his mastermind. When learning new tricks — your pets will no longer forget the old ones, and so on. The project also boasts stylish, pixelated graphics that pay homage to the great RPGs.
Buy
Pending
DokeV
Another good Pokemon clone, which is a free MMORPG. Like the original games, DokeV is all about exploring the world, collecting local Pokémon (called tokkabees here) and teaching them how to fight.
The game differs from other similar projects with incredibly colorful graphics, casual and simple, which will allow gamers of all ages to understand the gameplay.
Project website
Games closed
Pokemon Legends
This online Pokemon game was created by a team that has previously worked on other similar projects, including Pokemon World Online, The Pokemon League and Pokemon Battle Arena. Not surprisingly, the game has incorporated many of the features from them, transferring old developments to a modern engine that supports HTML5.
The graphics in Pokemon Legends, like many similar projects, are inspired by classic Pokemon console games like Pokémon Ruby. The disadvantage of the game is not the most convenient interface with many windows, which is quite easy to get confused.
Pokemon Battle Quest
Pokemon Battle Quest differs from many similar browser-based Pokemon games by having to store your Pokeballs somewhere between battles. At the beginning, a warehouse is issued with a capacity of 50 units. You can expand the available storage volumes by purchasing real estate.
Otherwise, everything is very similar to other games from our selection — we have to explore the world, catch wild Pokemon and participate in battles against other players.
PokeMonLake
At first glance, PokemonLake is no different from most of the games in our top — all the same graphics stylized as old consoles, characters from the original game and the search for new pets in the bushes.
The beauty of this project is revealed not in PvE mode, but in PvP.
