The Funny Side of the Poke Ball: The 10 Worst Pokemon Games of All Time

As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but marvel at the legendary Pokémon games that have left an indelible mark on us all. Titles such as HeartGold and Emerald, with their captivating gameplay and endearing charm, have become treasured collectibles, much like cherished memorabilia. These games, considered timeless classics, continue to captivate and inspire a new generation of trainers.

This article, on the contrary, does not focus on the usual games. Instead, it delves into the underperforming aspects of the franchise, which were born from the times when Game Freak or their subsidiary teams decided to experiment with unusual ideas. Unfortunately, these attempts led to outcomes that fell short of expectations.

Here are the ten Pokemon video games considered the poorest of their kind, games that we’d prefer to keep stored on a computer and avoid revisiting.

What are the worst Pokémon video games of all time?

Playing Pokémon Dash by continuously swiping Pikachu across the DS touch screen until the lower screen broke might have seemed enjoyable. However, Pokemon Channel seemed to confuse watching TV with Pokemon as “gameplay.” Not to mention Pokemon Rumble U, where the fun quickly faded when you realized the entire game takes place in a small arena. These stories serve as warnings about Pokémon, wrapped up in their iconic branding. Prepare yourself, as things could get even more disappointing from here.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

Before jumping to conclusions, let’s discuss. Scarlet and Violet aren’t all bad, after all. Their narrative is robust and varied, their personalities intricate and amusing, and the gameplay mechanics are engaging and user-friendly.

Frankly speaking, the launch version was plagued with issues to such an extent that it could have been dubbed as the Pokemon Beedrill Version. Characters would walk through walls or during your conflicts, models exhibited strange glitches, and the frame rates crashed more than Snorlax when using Heavy Slam.

In the open-world game, it seemed as though certain regions were off-limits until specific levels were reached. Fortunately, the arrival of Switch 2 gave it a refreshing update, albeit a few years later.

Pokemon Shuffle

A Pokemon match-three game theoretically seems like it would be a huge success. However, what we ended up with was Pokemon Shuffle, a free-to-play game that’s overflowing with more types of currency than a global financial institution.

Items such as hearts, coins, gems, and clocks. Oh dear. The level of challenge suddenly spikes around level 60, and unless you’re ready to spend, you won’t progress beyond level 61. It swiftly transforms from a relaxing, enjoyable Pokémon-like game into a tedious paywall. It becomes evident that something is amiss when the game seems more concerned with preventing enjoyment than promoting it.

Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

It wasn’t expected that these games would disappoint, given they were the long-awaited Gen IV remakes. But somehow, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl seemed more like an enhanced repaint rather than a refreshing update, lacking the original versions’ allure.

Instead of the same outdated Pokedex and non-reusable TMs (seriously, in 2021?), the game features a chibi art style that feels like the Switch’s processor is on holiday. To add insult to injury, the developers have neglected to incorporate the enhancements made in Platinum.

Pokemon Channel

If your ideal Pokemon experience revolves around relaxing with Pikachu while watching TV, then you’re in luck! The Pokemon Channel has arrived for you. However, for those seeking a more engaging gameplay, this GameCube title may not deliver much excitement, and if it does, it might not be very good.

Professor Oak has asked you to tune in to programs featuring Pokemon. While there are some entertaining moments with Pikachu and other characters, it lacks the interactive elements like gameplay or the satisfaction that comes from achieving goals. You might find the news more stimulating instead.

Pokemon Dream Radar

The game titled “Nintendo 3DS” advertised an exciting augmented reality journey, but instead offered dull digital experiences. In essence, “Pokemon” Dream Radar seemed less like a fun game and more like a trial for the device’s capabilities.

In simpler terms, you rotate your Nintendo 3DS device around the room while playing a game where you aim at floating clouds to capture Pokemon. However, with shallow content, limited features, and a high risk of accidentally dropping the handheld during play, it’s challenging to justify the $3 price tag for this underperforming game, even considering its low cost.

My Pokemon Ranch

Fundamentally, my Pokémon Farm functions primarily as extra storage space. However, it boasts a collection of mini-games, which ideally would enhance its worth. Regrettably, if these mini-games lack excitement and instead feel like mundane tasks, they won’t add much value to the overall experience.

In this alternative landscape, reminiscent of a ranch, your beloved Pokemon are tossed about as if they were playthings in a game arcade. Unfortunately, there’s no room for interaction or advancement in this monotonous setting.

If you’re fond of observing Pokémon do a small jump, it’ll feel like a heavenly experience for you. However, I should mention that there’s also Pokémon HOME available, which is more truthful about not being a game.

Pokemon Rumble U

The Pokémon Rumble series debuted with an exciting start, as Rumble Blast offered straightforward gameplay yet boasted complexity, similar to Diablo in its exploration, along with a youthful allure.

In Pokemon Rumble U, they chose to simplify the battles by confining them to a compact fighting zone. Quickly, the combat feels monotonous, as there’s no storyline or deeper purpose, making it just a game of pressing buttons without thought.

The NFC figures gimmick was neat, but even that couldn’t save this from a level of nothingness.

Pokemon Art Academy

It’s as if Mario Paint had a chance encounter with Pokemon, but somehow left the joy and adventure behind. Pokemon Art Academy focuses on teaching you how to color in Pokemon characters. While it offers detailed lessons for digital coloring and may appeal to those seeking to hone their skills, as a game experience it falls flat without any engaging storyline or challenges.

Instead of coloring a Pikachu yellow followed by a Charizard orange, you may find yourself second-guessing your decisions, much like considering the purchase of more vibrant crayons to unleash your creativity on a real coloring book.

Pokemon Dash

As a diehard Pokémon fan, imagine stripping down the usual roster of playable Pokémon, leaving just Pikachu as your sole companion. Instead of the traditional battles, you’d find yourself in high-speed top-down races on your Nintendo DS. To propel Pikachu forward, you’d have to swipe continuously on the touchscreen – a game I like to call Pokémon Dash.

Races in this game are often uninspired, the tracks offer little variety, and you might find yourself overusing your DS touchscreen more than enjoying the game itself. With minimal depth and no real reason to replay, it may lead to wrist strain rather than amusement. Your DS deserves games that challenge and engage, just as Pikachu, Pokemon’s iconic yellow mascot, deserves a better gaming environment.

Hey You, Pikachu

The microphone attachment for the N64 was innovative for its era, and the game Hey You, Pikachu aimed to leverage this technology. In theory, this meant you could interact with Pikachu directly, but in reality, it turned out to be a frequently glitchy experience where Pikachu often misunderstood commands or got distracted easily.

Progress is barely noticeable, and there’s hardly any substantial payoff. It feels more like an interesting trinket than a full-fledged game, which makes it quite fitting for the top spot on this list.

In the extensive history of the Pokémon series, there are overlooked titles that have gathered disapproval rather than acclaim for every Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Black 2, or White 2.

Thankfully, even in the face of disappointing games, there’s always a chance for improvement, particularly with the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2. However, let’s cross our fingers that they won’t actually create a “Pokemon Beedrill” version, although mentioning it might have just sparked an idea in someone from the Pokemon development team!

2025-06-18 22:43