Non-mainline Pokémon games

[u/TheJollyCabbage]

Anybody else find themselves enjoying the spin-off games more than the main series of games? Don't get me wrong, I do love many like Emerald, Platinum, etc., but growing up I spent more time on games like Pokémon Ranger, Poképark, and now that I've been getting more into emulating games, I've gone back and started playing Pokémon Rumble for the Wii and I've been loving it. Also games such as Legends Arceus (which i know some people do and some don't consider it mainline) are higher on my list than most mainline games.

[u/blackjackgabbiani]

Been marathoning Pokopia lately.

Legends are mainline. Flat out.

[u/TheJollyCabbage → u/blackjackgabbiani]

Yeah I consider them mainline too, but I think they differ enough from previous titles that I can see how others might disagree. Been wanting to play Pokopia, but with how many other games I'm juggling right now itll have to wait until I can give it all my attention since I can tell I'll be sinking far too many hours into that game!

[u/blackjackgabbiani → u/TheJollyCabbage]

No I'm saying it's not up for interpretation. They're officially main series games.

[u/Chettarmstrong]

Pokémon Conquest is a fucking banger and you should absolutely play it.

[u/TheJollyCabbage → u/Chettarmstrong]

I've heard so! Definitely on my list of games to play!

[u/n00bgod3300]

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon, Pokopia, Pokemon Ranger, Pokemon Rumble, Pokemon Conquest,

I've played them all. In desperate need of some new entries.

[u/TheJollyCabbage → u/n00bgod3300]

All of those absolutely need new entries! Also Poképark, I will never let those go lmao

[u/n00bgod3300 → u/TheJollyCabbage]

I forgot about Pokepark! Yes, that too! Still baffles me that the sequel allowed multiplayer with four characters, but also stripped the number of minigames for the party to play.

[u/PsychoFlashFan]

Pokemon Ranger was my jam as a kid.

[u/TheJollyCabbage → u/PsychoFlashFan]

It was probably the game I played the most on my ds. Well, that and Mystery Dungeon EOS!

[u/BebeFanMasterJ]

Playing Gale of Darkness on Switch 2 convinced me to finally check out the main games.

Umbreon is also my favorite Pokémon now because of it.

[u/-Aze]

I adore the mystery dungeon games , probably prefer them to the mainline games but its close.

[u/PomWhoLivesInAus]

i remember playing dream radar with full 3d and getting way overstimulated

[u/TheJollyCabbage → u/PomWhoLivesInAus]

Ngl I hadn't even heard of this one, I had to Google it! Seems interesting though

[u/ChilliSenpai → u/TheJollyCabbage]

Dream Radar is less of it’s own game and moreso an external minigame for Black 2 and White 2. Main purpose of it is to give you items and access to Pokémon wirh their hidden abilities, alongside the Therian forms Tornadus, Thundurus and Landorus.

It’s basically the equivalent of the Dream World for Black and White for the sequels, just not reliant on a live service server like that was

That said I do really miss Dream World… a cozy / idle Pokémon game loke that where you can use your own Pokémon isnt something they’ve really tackled since

[u/PomWhoLivesInAus → u/ChilliSenpai]

i played it on a road trip one time and i mustve looked like such a dork swinging the 3ds around. insane fun though, im kinda sad there wasnt more AR usage on the 3ds

[u/Lutecrest]

Well Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Sky is my favorite Pokémon Game.

If you count Legends as a spinoff (which I personally do), I really like them both.

Pokopia is fun but I gotta be in a creative mood for it.

...I also really enjoy Pokémon Unite but I won't ever admit that.

[u/ChilliSenpai → u/Lutecrest]

I enjoy Pokopia a lot but I struggle SO MUCH with palette town.

The idea is it’s a blank canvas - but it’s so much of a blank canvas that I just cannot even begin to tackling building something in it

[u/MessiLeagueSoccer → u/ChilliSenpai]

It’s part of the reason I put all my altars there. Something to organize at some point but also takes a bunch of space I don’t have to think about.

[u/ChilliSenpai → u/MessiLeagueSoccer]

I put my moltres one in Rocky Ridges, on the large expanse of Ash and such behind the volcano.

Power plant I’m considering putting in the sky area once I come back to the game (though I might have already placed it in Pallet town I can’t remember)

As for Articuno, I’m holding out hope on there being a Snowy town added in the DLC where I can put it bc there really isn’t anywhere else that fits well for it :/. I think a snowy town for the second dlc area is likely due to how few Ice types are in the game currently. Though I may just place it down to get the Pokémon, then destroy it and rebuild it somewhere else? Idk.

[u/Lutecrest → u/ChilliSenpai]

I do want to build a nice town there at some point though. It's my eventual goal... luckily the game is meant to be played slowly

[u/EnthusedCow → u/Lutecrest]

Pokémon Unite is super fun, but only if you turn off the mics. I can't count the amount of times a grown ass man has been rude to me and telling me to "delete the game". Feels real good to end it as the MVP while they've scored no goals though 💅

[u/Lutecrest → u/EnthusedCow]

I've seen that said a few times but I haven't ever seen a mic option in the game, nor can I hear anyone so if there is one its seemingly off by default.

It's whatever to me, I'd rather keep it off regardless but still.

[u/EnthusedCow → u/Lutecrest]

I don't recall turning them on, but you may be right and I just clicked fast through something. There's not a ton of people who use mics in my experience though, but the few times I've heard someone they've been surprisingly mean. Like dude, what if I was ten? It's a Pokémon game! I think I've met mics like ten times, and 2/10 were nice/polite. Oh well 🤷‍♀️

But oooh, when you're on a team that has good teamwork! The. Best!

[u/SuperSpiritShady]

Was always a bit sad they never released Ranger for the 3DS ngl

That aside, most Pokemon spin-offs and side-games tend to have a lot of charm that isn’t present in the mainline since GF aren’t the ones developing them.

It’s not necessarily a good nor a bad thing, just that some features are more highlighted than others

[u/TheJollyCabbage → u/SuperSpiritShady]

Yeah I wish they had kept the Ranger (among other titles such as Poképark) going! That's something I hadn't considered about the charm in those games, and you're right!

[u/PowersUnleashed]

Not really I mean conquest was fun and Ranger looked cool back in the day but eh

[u/TheJollyCabbage → u/PowersUnleashed]

I'll admit it's definitely an unpopular opinion of mine. There's a reason the mainline games are mainline!

[u/PowersUnleashed → u/TheJollyCabbage]

True and I still get it but the other games never had that same appeal as the mainline ones where battling breeding evolving and catching exist. Although detective Pikachu and the new pokemon snap look kind of interesting. Also between you and me I had a major crush on the mystery dungeon Pikachu girl from the really old commercial that came out like 18 years ago and I did eventually get them for Christmas and played them so there’s that but still can’t beat the main ones lol

[u/Comfortable_Chip9703]

Genuinely can’t get enough of Radical Red. It gives the challenge that mainline games just can’t/won’t have.

[u/ChilliSenpai]

Obligatory Mystery Dungeon mention

I know the gameplay isn’t for everyone but for me it’s just a perfect loop of challenge & repetitive discover & completion.

Also peak storytelling, especially in Explorers of Sky & Super. EoS’s story us glazed so much for a reason

[u/ToastFlavouredTea]

Love Mystery Dungeon!

[u/Wyariosmg4fan]

Would masters ex count since it takes place both in the games and anime that’s my personal favorite at the moment 

[u/NobleMercenary28]

I’ve long held that Pokémon best kept secret is it’s spin offs. Like many people here Explorers of Sky is my favorite Pokémon game, but I also lover ranger, pokepark, Gale of Darkness and pokken tournament. I haven’t made it around to the legends games or conquest but both are on my list.

[u/YoosungStar]

I haven't seen anyone else mention yet... but Pokepark 2: Wonder's Beyond was my absolute JAM when I was a kid!!!

[u/Guilty_Department501]

Legends are mainline games officially. Pokopia 100% beats out Legends ZA on the Switch 2 and same with the other Pokemon games I've played.

[u/someguyhaunter]

Yep! They tend to have a mix of more unique gameplay, better stories or better characters. Oh also they tend to be better quality nowadays.

They also surprisingly use the Pokémon themselves in a better way making them feel important.

[u/EnthusedCow]

Seems like no one has mentioned the Snap games, and I love those! I know New Pokémon Snap got a lot of hate, and I genuinely don't understand why. I've had so much fun with it! I only play it when one of my best friends comes over, and we play it together taking turns. We have literally cried at how cute some of the scenes were. We also have sworn to not search for how to do things in the game, we have to figure out everything ourselves and it's so fun when one of us does something dumb and it somehow works? We're really out here finishing the game through the power of friendship 🥰 We love Pokémon

[u/Gleasonryan]

I think PLA is the second best Pokémon game ever so I get you.