Pokémon has been an AAA franchise for nearly two decades, including more than its fair share of spin-off titles – everything from letting you become one of the eponymous creatures to taking a different approach to capturing them all. Here are the seven best spin off Pokémon spin-offs.
7. Pokémon Picross
Puzzles and Pokémon is a concept that had been explored prior to Pokémon Picross, but none were ever this addicting. It takes the classic Picross formula and adds a healthy dose of creature capturing. Each time you complete a puzzle you reveal the face of a Pokémon and capture them. Caught Pokémon will help you complete harder puzzles to capture more difficult creatures like legendaries. This freemium title is a great way to kill a lot of precious time while becoming a master.
6. Pokémon Art Academy
This title was a pleasant surprise. The premise is as simple as you think; open your 3DS and learn how to draw Pokémon. On the surface it’s a fun throw away title for kids, but in reality it is a great drawing tool that lets you sketch some of your favorite monsters in dynamic ways. You can learn everything from basic portraits to how to scale properly and have a blast while doing so.
5. Pokémon Snap
We gotta catch ‘em all … on film! Most people thought becoming Todd Snap to capture Pokémon in their natural habitat behind a camera was a horrible idea. Most people were wrong. Pokémon Snap turned out to be an unexpected instant classic. Commissioned by Professor Oak to photograph every known species of Pokémon on a particular island, you had to use a plethora of tools and creative thinking to discover all the creatures hidden in the environments. It was a unique concept that had players engaged on their quest the capture the rarest of them all.
4. Pokémon Trading Card Game
In the 90s Pokémon trading cards were just as popular as the game if not more. So naturally if you combined the two the result would be an instant hit. The Trading Card Game taught you how to play the real life game while letting you challenge players over and over again to build the best deck. Though the title was a bit bare in terms of content, it was probably the hardest game to master in franchise history.
3. Pokémon Conquest
One of the few hidden gems in the franchise’s lineage, Pokémon Conquest stands above the rest. The game takes places in a universe inspired by Feudal Japan were the generals use their Pokémon to wage war. Unlike its turn based cousin Conquest is a tactical RPG. Players battle across a grid based board with environments that add powers to the corresponding creature type. You must maneuver and match up with your enemies all while being aware of the battlefield itself. With a great campaign and post game quests, there is plenty to see and conquer.
2. Pokkén Tournament
The first Pokémon fighting game where you actually fight in the traditional fighting game sense, Pokkén Tournament delivers. The home version may not be here yet, but if you can find an arcade with the cabinet it’s a must play. Inspired by the Tekken style of fighting, you have 360 degrees of playing space to unleash kicks, flips, and elemental powers. You have a diverse list of characters to choose from outside of fighting Pokémon, and the movesets feel natural for the majority of the Pokémon. It’s a great game for both franchise and fighting game fans.
Great Detective Pikachu (Honorable Mention)
Pikachu is wearing a hat with a raspy voice shaking down the bad guys. Enough said.
1. Pokémon Stadium 2
Despite its age, Pokémon Stadium 2 is the complete package. It allows you to do almost anything you ever wanted to do in the Pokémon universe. Big battles in huge stadiums, an in depth trainer prep school, a fun collection of mini games, and the ability to transfer your creatures to a 3D existence on the big screen to name a few things that made it great. No matter if you were a novice or a master, Stadium 2 had something for everyone. With different cups to master and the ability to have a mini game battle royal with friends, Pokémon Stadium 2 is still great living room fun.
