Which Pokémon Game to Play First: Switch, Switch 2 and Your Phone

The right Pokémon game to play first depends on the device you own and how you like to play: a long adventure on Nintendo Switch, a relaxed building game on Switch 2, or quick battles and cards on your phone.

Below are the games worth starting with, sorted by that choice.

Pokémon games are tied to hardware, so the first question is which device you have, and the second is how much time you want to give it.

Last checked: October 2026. New releases change this list, so check the release dates before you buy.

Pick by how you like to play

You want a long adventure. The main series is the place for that. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet is an open-world game on Switch, and Pokémon Legends: Z-A, from October 2025, is set in a single city and plays on Switch and Switch 2.

You want something relaxed. Pokémon Pokopia, released in March 2026 for Switch 2 only, is a life-sim in which you build a home for Pokémon. It is more about building than battling.

You want a few minutes at a time on your phone. Pokémon TCG Pocket, Pokémon GO and Pokémon Champions all run on mobile, each in a different style.

You want the classics. Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen came to Switch in February 2026, and older remakes are on the same console.

The games, one by one

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. An open-world adventure for Switch, with an update that improves performance on Switch 2. It is a full-price Nintendo game, so check the eShop for the current price.

How to start:

1. Check that you own a Switch or Switch 2.
2. Choose either Scarlet or Violet. The versions differ mainly in which Pokémon are exclusive to each.
3. Buy it on the Nintendo eShop or as a cartridge.
4. Install the Switch 2 update if you have that console.
5. Pick a starter and follow the opening tutorial.

Honest note: it runs best on Switch 2, and on the original Switch performance can be uneven.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A. Released in October 2025, it takes place in one city, Lumiose, with more action-oriented battles than the older games. It is on Switch, and there is a separate Switch 2 Edition.

How to start:

1. Check which console you have.
2. Choose the standard version or the Switch 2 Edition.
3. Buy it on the eShop or as a cartridge.
4. Start a new game and choose a starter.
5. Explore the city in the order the story suggests.

Honest note: there are two versions, so check which one the listing refers to before paying.

Pokémon Pokopia. A cozy life-sim for Switch 2, reviewed very well by critics and often compared to Animal Crossing. You rebuild a world for Pokémon rather than battling.

How to start:

1. Confirm you own a Switch 2, because it does not run on the original Switch.
2. Buy it on the eShop or as a cartridge.
3. Create your character.
4. Gather materials and place your first buildings.
5. Invite Pokémon to settle as the area grows.

Honest note: it has no traditional battles. If you want to train and fight, look at the main series instead.

Pokémon TCG Pocket. A digital card game for Android and iOS, released in October 2024. It has no download cost and offers optional in-app purchases.

How to start:

1. Open the App Store or Google Play on your phone.
2. Search for the app and check that the developer is The Pokémon Company.
3. Download it and create an account.
4. Open your first packs and build a deck.
5. Play the tutorial battles.

Honest note: the cards are digital and have no resale value. This is a separate game from the physical cards.

Pokémon Champions. A battle game for Switch, iOS and Android, released in April 2026, with no download cost. It is about team battles rather than exploring.

How to start:

1. Choose your device and open its store.
2. Download Pokémon Champions.
3. Sign in with a Pokémon account.
4. Build a team of Pokémon.
5. Try a practice battle before playing online.

Honest note: it is competitive by design. If you want a story, start elsewhere.

Pokémon GO. A mobile game from 2016 in which you walk around to find and catch Pokémon. It has no download cost and offers optional purchases.

How to start:

1. Download it from the App Store or Google Play.
2. Allow location access.
3. Create your trainer profile.
4. Walk to find your first Pokémon and throw a ball.
5. Visit nearby stops for items.

Honest note: it works best when you are outdoors and on the move, and it uses your phone's location and battery.

The honest part: no single game replaces the others

The mainline games are separate adventures rather than sequels, so you do not need to play them in order. The mainline series changes generation every few years, and the next one is reportedly due in 2027, so a game you buy now will not be the last.

Some games can exchange Pokémon through the official Pokémon HOME app, but progress does not carry over from game to game, so check each game's page before assuming your team will move with you.

A download that costs nothing is not the same as a game that costs nothing to finish. The phone games are built around optional purchases, and it is worth deciding on a limit before you start.

What does not cost extra: the downloads for Pokémon GO, TCG Pocket and Champions.

Before you buy

• Check which console you own. Pokopia needs a Switch 2.
• Check whether the listing is the standard version or the Switch 2 Edition.
• Compare cartridge and download prices. They are often similar.
• Set a spending limit on any phone game before starting.
• For a child, check the age rating on the eShop or app store.
• Read the first few pages of reviews for the specific game, not the series.
• New games arrive often, so look at the release date before buying.
• Only use official stores. Fake download sites exist.

What it costs

Approximate as of October 2026. Check each store, prices change:

• Phone games: no upfront cost, with optional in-app purchases.
• Switch and Switch 2 games: one full-price purchase each, so check the eShop for the current price.
• The console: the largest cost, if you do not already own one.

Phone only: no upfront cost.

One Switch game: the price of a Nintendo title.

Switch 2 and Pokopia: the console plus the game.

FAQ

Which Pokémon game should a beginner start with?

For an adventure, Scarlet and Violet or Legends: Z-A. For something relaxed, Pokopia. For your phone, TCG Pocket or Pokémon GO.

Do I need a Switch 2?

Only for Pokopia. The others run on the original Switch or on your phone.

Are the phone games free?

They cost nothing to download, with optional purchases inside.

Can I play the old Pokémon games?

Some remakes, such as FireRed and LeafGreen, are on Switch.

Is a new Pokémon game coming?

The next main-series generation is reportedly due in 2027.

Do I need to play the games in order?

No. The main-series generations are separate stories.

Wrap-up

That is which Pokémon game to play first: pick your device, pick your style, and start with one. Are you after a long adventure, a relaxed builder or something for your phone?

Links

• The Pokémon Company: release schedule
• Nintendo Life: Pokémon games out now

Pokémon and its character names are trademarks of Nintendo, Creatures Inc. and GAME FREAK inc. This site is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by The Pokémon Company.

Updated October 2026