Spin-off Pokémon games

Spin-off Pokémon games are games that are not part of the core series or side series. These games vary widely in genre, and cover many different consoles and handheld game systems. Sometimes, it is possible to connect the core series games to certain spin-off games in order to get a reward, normally a special Pokémon.

In the Japanese, Korean, and Chinese languages, the names of the spin-off games use Pokémon (Japanese: ポケモン, Korean: 포켓몬, Chinese: 寶可夢 / 宝可梦) instead of Pocket Monsters (Japanese: ポケットモンスター, Korean: 포켓몬스터, Chinese: 精靈寶可夢 / 精灵宝可梦).

Terminology

The term "spin-off" has been rarely used in official Pokémon media. However, it has been used by fans when broadly referring to all Pokémon games other than the core series and side series games.

In an interview published on Pokémon.com, these games are referred to as spin-offs: Pokémon Snap and Colosseum.^[1] A page about Pokémon Quest on the same website refers to it as an spin-off as well.^[2] In the Nintendo Power magazine, the games referred to as spin-offs include Pokémon Pinball, Snap, Trozei!, and Conquest.^[3]^[4]^[5]

List of spin-off games

Pikachu series

Hey You, Pikachu! (N64 virtual pet; player owns and explores various locations with a Pikachu, talking to it with a microphone)
Pokémon Channel (GameCube virtual pet; player watches TV with their Pikachu, and uses the GameCube's clock to unlock new programs)
Pokémon Dash (DS racing game; players play as Pikachu attempting to outrun Pokémon)

TCG

Pokémon Trading Card Game (Game Boy strategy; players use Pokémon Trading Cards to battle instead of actual Pokémon)
Pokémon Trading Card Game 2: The Invasion of Team GR! (Game Boy strategy, similar to the first game, but including Generation II Pokémon as well. Only released in Japan)
Pokémon Play It!, and its remake version Pokémon Play It! Version 2. Both are games for the PC that simulate the Card Game.
Pokémon Trading Card Game Online (Computer/tablet online TCG simulator)
Pokémon Trading Card Game Live (Computer/tablet/smartphone online TCG simulator)
Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket (Tablet/smartphone online TCG simulator)

Super Smash Bros. series

Main article: Super Smash Bros. series

Super Smash Bros. (N64 fighting game that pits various Nintendo characters against each other. Pikachu and Jigglypuff are playable, while various Pokémon appear out of Poké Balls to aid in combat)
Super Smash Bros. Melee (GameCube sequel to Super Smash Bros., where Pichu and Mewtwo are added as playable characters. As with the previous game, a variety of Pokémon appear as helpers to the fighters, as well as Trophies)
Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii sequel that sees the addition of Lucario and a Pokémon Trainer as added characters while Pichu and Mewtwo do not return. As in the previous two games, a variety of Pokémon appear as extra help and trophies)
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U (Sequel. Pikachu, Jigglypuff, Lucario, and Charizard return as playable characters, and Greninja is a newcomer to the series, and Mewtwo returning as DLC. Charizard is a standalone character, rather than linked to Squirtle and Ivysaur with the Pokémon Trainer.)
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Switch sequel that sees the return of every series veteran, including Pikachu, Jigglypuff, Pichu, Mewtwo, Pokémon Trainer, Lucario, and Greninja. Incineroar is also introduced as a playable fighter.)

Snap series

Pokémon Snap (N64 first-person rail shooter; player takes pictures of Pokémon on Pokémon Island)
New Pokémon Snap (Switch sequel to the original game)

Picross

Picross NP Vol. 1 (SNES game, similar to the unreleased Pokémon Picross. It included 12 Pokémon-themed puzzles, such as Togepi)
Pokémon Picross (GBC game; player paints by numbers. It was announced in various game magazines in 1999, but was never released)
Pokémon Picross (3DS free downloadable game)

Pinball series

Pokémon Pinball (Game Boy pinball game; players can battle and capture various Generation I Pokémon)
Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire (GBA pinball, similar to the first game, but includes Hoenn-native Pokémon only)

Puzzle series

Pokémon Puzzle League (N64 puzzle game, similar to Tetris Attack, and based on the anime. Only released in North America, Australia and Europe)
Pokémon Puzzle Challenge (GBC puzzle game, also similar to Tetris Attack)

Trozei series

Pokémon Trozei! (DS puzzle game; players have to line up four Pokémon in a row in order for them to disappear)
Pokémon Battle Trozei (3DS sequel to Pokémon Trozei!)

Mystery Dungeon series

Main article: Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

Ranger series

Main article: Pokémon Ranger series

Pokémon Ranger (DS action RPG; player is a Pokémon Ranger and visits a new region, Fiore)
Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia (DS action RPG that follows the same formula as its predecessor, but includes Generation IV Pokémon and travels to a new region, Almia)
Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs (DS action RPG; sequel to Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia, using the same capture style as Shadows of Almia, once again following the same formula as the previous two games, and travels to a new region, Oblivia)

Puck series

Pokémon Battrio
Pokémon Tretta
Pokémon Tretta Lab (3DS application for use with Tretta)
Pokémon Ga-Olé
Pokémon Mezastar

Rumble series

Main article: Pokémon Rumble series

PokéPark series

PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure (A Wii game; player takes the form of a Pikachu and competes in many minigames while befriending a variety of Pokémon)
PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond (A Wii game; player takes the form of a Pikachu and helps to restore peace to a land with the help of friends. A sequel to the aforementioned title.)

Detective Pikachu series

Detective Pikachu (3DS cinematic adventure)
Detective Pikachu Returns

Other

PokéPark: Fishing Rally DS (DS Download Play demo)
Learn with Pokémon: Typing Adventure (DS educational game that is played with an attaching keyboard)
Pokémon Conquest (DS tactical RPG crossover between the Pokémon and Nobunaga's Ambition series of games)
Pokédex 3D (3DS Pokédex for Generation V)
Pokédex 3D Pro (3DS National Pokédex for Generation V)
Pokémon Art Academy (3DS art game crossover between Pokémon and Art Academy series)
The Thieves and the 1000 Pokémon (3DS free downloadable, movie tie-in game; players collect Pokémon to fight thieves)
Pokémon Shuffle (3DS puzzle game)
Pokkén Tournament (Arcade fighting game heavily based on the Tekken series gameplay style. It was later released on Wii U. In 2017, it was ported on Nintendo Switch with the title Pokkén Tournament DX. This version features DLC content)
Pokémon GO (mobile application, location-based game)
Pokémon: Magikarp Jump (mobile application, Idle game)
Pokémon Quest (Nintendo Switch free downloadable game, mobile application, action RPG)
Pokémon Masters EX (mobile application RPG)
Pokémon Sleep (mobile application)
Pokémon Tower Battle (Facebook game)
Pokémon Medallion Battle (Facebook game)
Pokémon Smile (mobile application)
Pokémon Café ReMix (Nintendo Switch free downloadable game, mobile application, puzzle game)
Pokémon UNITE (Nintendo Switch free downloadable game, mobile application, Multiplayer Online Battle Arena)

External links

The Pokémon Company website section (Japanese)
- Full product list (Japanese)
Pokémon Korea website section (Korean)
The Pokémon Company International website all-games section
Nintendo subsite for Pokémon games (Japanese)
- Current games (Japanese)
- Old games (Japanese)

References

↑ We Interview DeNA’s Yu Sasaki about Pokémon Masters -Pokémon.com — "Are you planning to add characters from spin-off Pokémon games, like Pokémon Snap or Pokémon Colosseum?"
↑ Pokémon Quest Now Available on Nintendo Switch! - Pokémon.com — "Get ready to tap your way through an exciting new Pokémon adventure as Pokémon Quest is available now for Nintendo Switch! This title is the first Pokémon spin-off game created by GAME FREAK inc., the developers of the Pokémon main series games."
↑ Nintendo Power #278, page 47 — "In spin-offs ranging from Pokémon Pinball to Pokémon Snap [...]"
↑ Nintendo Power #278, page 50 — "The Pokémon series has a history of great spin-offs—here are some of our favorites. Pokémon Pinball (Game Boy Color) Pokémon Snap (N64 Pokémon Trozei! (Nintendo DS)"
↑ Nintendo Power #278, page 51 — "Making a spin-off that appeals to fans of both Pokémon and Nobunaga's Ambition is a tall order, but it looks like Pokémon Conquest might just pull it off."