Generation

A generation is a grouping of the Pokémon games that separates them based on the Pokémon they include. In each generation, a new set of Pokémon, moves, and Abilities that did not exist in the previous generation are released.

Generational lines are typically ignored in other parts of the franchise, which continue from where the last generation left off and keep the story going (this is especially true of the anime), and may ignore older parts of the canon that explicitly declare to be true something that is later changed.

To date, there are six generations, each introducing their own quirks into the franchise. The Generation I and II games are compatible with one another via the Time Capsule but not with later games; the four most recent generations are also compatible with each other (forward only) via dual-slot mode, Pal Park, Poké Transfer, and Poké Transporter, but not with the Generation I and II games.

Gen	New Pokémon	Total Pokémon	Main games (JP/US)	Console games (JP/US)	Side games (JP/US)	Anime	TCG
I	151	151	Red and Green (1996) Blue (1996) Red and Blue (—/1998) Yellow (1998/1999)	Stadium (Japanese) (1998/—) Stadium (English) (1999/2000)	Pinball (1999/1999) Snap (1999/1999) Puzzle League (—/2000)	Original series Pocket Monsters Pocket Monsters: Orange Archipelago Chapter	Base Set Jungle Fossil Team Rocket Gym Heroes Gym Challenge
						Indigo League Orange Islands
II	100	251	Gold and Silver (1999/2000) Crystal (2000/2001)	Stadium 2 (2000/2001)	Puzzle Challenge (2000/2000)	Original series Pocket Monsters: Gold & Silver Chapter	Neo Genesis Neo Discovery Neo Revelation Neo Destiny Expedition Aquapolis Skyridge
						The Johto Journeys Johto League Champions Master Quest
III	135	386	Ruby and Sapphire (2002/2003) FireRed and LeafGreen (2004/2004) Emerald (2004/2005)	Colosseum (2003/2004) Box RS (2003/2004) XD (2005/2005)	Pinball R&S (2003/2003) Dash (2004/2005) Trozei! (2005/2006) Mystery Dungeon Red/Blue (2005/2006) Ranger (2006/2006)	Advanced Generation series	EX Ruby & Sapphire EX Sandstorm EX Dragon EX Team Magma vs Team Aqua EX Hidden Legends EX FireRed & LeafGreen EX Team Rocket Returns EX Deoxys EX Emerald EX Unseen Forces EX Delta Species EX Legend Maker EX Holon Phantoms EX Crystal Guardians EX Dragon Frontiers EX Power Keepers
						Advanced Advanced Challenge Advanced Battle Battle Frontier
IV	107	493	Diamond and Pearl (2006/2007) Platinum (2008/2009) HeartGold and SoulSilver (2009/2010)	Battle Revolution (2006/2007) Ranch (2008/2008) Pokémon Rumble (2009/2009) Mystery Dungeon Blazing/Stormy/Light (2009/—) PokéPark Wii (2009/2010)	Mystery Dungeon Time/Darkness (2007/2008) Ranger 2 (2008/2008) Mystery Dungeon Sky (2009/2009) Ranger 3 (2010/2010)	Diamond & Pearl series	Diamond & Pearl Mysterious Treasures Secret Wonders Great Encounters Majestic Dawn Legends Awakened Stormfront Platinum Rising Rivals Supreme Victors Arceus HeartGold & SoulSilver Unleashed Undaunted Triumphant Call of Legends
						Diamond and Pearl Battle Dimension Galactic Battles Sinnoh League Victors
V	156	649	Black and White (2010/2011) Black 2 and White 2 (2012/2012)	PokéPark 2 (2011/2012) Pokémon Rumble U (2013/2013)	Learn with Pokémon: Typing Adventure (2011/2012) Pokémon Rumble Blast (2011/2011) Pokémon Conquest (2012/2012) Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity (2012/2013)	Best Wishes series Best Wishes! Best Wishes! Season 2 Best Wishes! Season 2: Episode N Best Wishes! Season 2: Decolora Adventure!	Black & White Emerging Powers Noble Victories Next Destinies Dark Explorers Dragons Exalted Boundaries Crossed Plasma Gale Plasma Freeze Plasma Blast Legendary Treasures
						Black & White Rival Destinies Adventures in Unova (and Beyond)
VI	70	721	X and Y (2013/2013) Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire (2014/2014)	None	Pokémon Bank/Poké Transporter (2013/2014) Battle Trozei! (2014/2014) Pokémon Art Academy (2014/2014)	XY series	XY Flashfire
						The Series: XY