Summary

Nintendo’sPokemonfranchise is one of the largest franchises in the world. Even if someone has never picked up a video game, chances are they can recognize Pikachu due to the series' success. The series has countless mainline titles and a whole host of spin-offs, making the series one for the history books.

With that many games, it can be tough to decide which ones are the most comforting for players. Considering a lot of players already have their favorites, it can be tough to decide the ones that are the absolute best. Here are the top 7 most comforting games in the franchise.

Pokemon Puzzle Leaguewas released in 2000 for the N64. The game focuses on Ash and Pikachu as they work their way toward winning the Puzzle League Tournament, a tournament in which the two must complete puzzles to win and become the Puzzle League Champion. Just like with other puzzle games, the objective is to get a row of blocks that are the same color before new blocks are pushed up from the bottom. If the blocks reach the top, the player loses.

This is one of those games that players can take a step back from and not really need to plan too far into the future. While the game takes strategy, players don’t need to sit there and contemplate each move the way they would if they were facing a tough opponent or a Pokemon they want to catch within the mainline games in the series.

WhilePokemon Stadium 2doesn’t have a real storyline, it features a ton of content that players can participate in. The game itself has a stadium aspect where players will compete to earn trophies and complete different tournaments. However, there is a Mini-Game Park that features 12 mini-games, a Free Battle Mode that allows players to practice Pokemon battles, and it can connect to the 1st and 2nd generation games.

What makes this game so comforting is the fact that players have so many options for what they can do. If they’re feeling adventurous, they can take on the different tournaments at the stadium; however, they can also play some mini-games or just connect to a Game Boy game and customize their player’s room, which can be extremely relaxing.

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX

What if you woke up one day and you were a Pokémon? You can meet and recruit over 400 Pokémon in a dungeon-crawling adventure within their world! Build a rescue team to take on mysterious, changing dungeons and strategically plan your moves as you venture forth to make the Pokémon world a safer place…and uncover your true purpose along the way.As you recruit Pokémon, these trusty teammates will need somewhere to stay, so build rescue team camps to house, manage, and strengthen your Pokémon friends. Think hard about who is right for the job and how to approach each mysterious dungeon as you prepare a rescue team. You’ll move a single square at a time or use Auto mode to speed up movement until you engage other Pokémon in turn-based battles—but don’t forget about Pokémon strengths, weaknesses, and potential rare qualities!Even the most capable rescue teams need help sometimes, so if you find yourself in trouble, you can send a rescue request to other players online or use an offline password system. This version adds Mega Evolved Pokémon, gorgeous watercolor-inspired graphics, and more! Get comfortable being a Pokémon; there’s a lot of work to do.

was released in 2020 as a remake of thePokemon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue TeamandRed Rescue Teamgames, which were made popular on the Game Boy in 2005. The game follows the story of a human who has somehow turned into a Pokemon and must learn to live with their new body.

This game is comforting because it takes a classic game and gives players more options. Players can pick the Pokemon they turn into and then pick their partner Pokemon. From there, the game is very forgiving, allowing them to take over another Pokemon if they die in a dungeon. The game is all about saving other Pokemon, which gives players a break from always fighting them.

was originally released in 1999 for the Nintendo 64. However, a sequel was released for the Nintendo Switch in 2021, which is another great option for a comforting game. The game follows the story of a photographer tasked with taking photos of Pokemon for Professor Oak. These Pokemon live on an island that hasn’t been disturbed by humans, allowing players to see how Pokemon live and work together.

This game is one of the more relaxing games on the list because it allows the player to sit back and enjoy the beautiful scenic views of the island they are on. They can slowly move through the game, taking pictures of whatever Pokemon jumps out to them. This allows players to truly take a step back and just enjoy the moment that they are in, something that isn’t always appreciated in games.

Pokemon Legends: Arceusis a prequel to the 4th generation gamesPokemon Diamond and Pearl. The game follows the protagonists ofDiamond and Pearlas they are thrown back in time to the Hisui region, the predecessor to the Sinnoh Region. This game takes the franchise in a different direction as, rather than focusing on battling Pokemon, the game solely focuses on gathering data and completing the Pokedex, no matter how they go about doing it.

This is so comforting because it takes a beloved game franchise and gives players a chance to see it in a new light. They get to learn about the early days of Pokemon and human interaction, allowing them to truly enjoy everything that Pokemon has to offer. Additionally, it is just a nice game that lets players go at their own pace, deciding what to do and where to go next.

Pokemon Let’s Go PikachuandLet’s Go Eeveeare remakes of the original Pokemon games,Pokemon Red and Blue, which took place ingeneration 1. However, this remake gives players a partner Pokemon of either Pikachu or Eevee (depending on the version). It also added new content, such as regional forms of Pokemon and their Mega Evolutions. The game follows the story of the original games, following the player character from Kanto.

These remakes are so comforting because it is the classic game that everyone remembers but with modern mechanics. Players can spend their time roaming around Kanto in search of Pokemon, working to challenge the Elite Four, or just hanging out with their partner Pokemon. Additionally, the game came with the Poke Ball Plus, which is a controller for the game in the shape of a Poke Ball, creating an even more comforting atmosphere.

1Your Childhood Mainline Pokemon Game

Nothing Hits Quite Like The First

By far, the most comforting Pokemon game to any fan of the franchise is the game that started it all—their childhood Pokemon game. This game is what created their obsession with Pokemon and helped solidify them as fans of the franchise, and this game can be different for everyone. Everyone has that game that just takes them back to their childhood.

This childhood game is comforting for players for many reasons. It transports them back to when they were kids and makes them think of a simpler time. These childhood games always stick out the most in players' minds, even all these years later. The comfort comes from knowing that the kid playing those games has turned into an adult who still loves them.