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ToggleIf you don’t count the Pokedex or Dream Radar apps, the 3DS had 13 Pokemon games. Here is how Metacritic ranks them.
If you don’t count the Pokedex and Dream Radar apps, the 3DS had thirteen Pokemon games. That is a company record, but it’s not too far from what usually happens. Since the first game in the series came out more than 25 years ago, Nintendo and Game Freak have been eager to try new things and have made a lot of mainline games and spin-offs for almost every Nintendo system since the Game Boy.
So, the 3DS is no different, and the fact that there are so many Pokemon games for it shows that. That number doesn’t even include the different versions of games from the same age, like Pokemon X and Y. To keep things easy, they will only count as one in the rankings. So, which of the thirteen great Pokemon games on the Nintendo 3DS can you skip, and which are must-plays?
Pokemon Shuffle (56)

- Release Date: February 18, 2015
- Region: N/A
- Starter Pokemon: N/A
Pokemon Shuffle is a match-three puzzle game for the 3DS that came out in early 2018. It is free to play. Players use special Pokemon blocks to battle other Pokemon in the hopes of “catching” them. It’s not terrible, but the free-to-play parts of the game slow it down a lot more than they need to.
Like other freemium games, this one has a lot of low-priced microtransactions that neither fans nor reviewers liked. Even though that was true, more than 6.5 million people still downloaded the game, making it one of the most played Pokemon spin-offs of all time.
How Many Pokemon are there in Pokemon Shuffle?
When it first came out, Pokemon Shuffle only had 158 Pokemon. Since then, though, hundreds more have been added. Even without Mega Evolutions, you can catch a total of 987 Pokemon in the game, if you count all the different types and regional forms.
Pokemon Rumble Blast (56)

- Release Date: October 24, 2011
- Region: Toyland
- Starter Pokemon: Pikachu
Nintendo and Koei Tecmo have worked together on spin-offs of Dynasty Warriors like Hyrule Warriors and Fire Emblem Warriors, but they haven’t worked together on a Pokemon Warriors project yet. Pokemon Rumble Blast has a similar idea for how to play, but it has a much more boring wheel.
Blast is a big improvement over the first Pokemon Rumble game, but it still has many problems. The images aren’t very good, the gameplay is boring, and the story isn’t much better. It’s not bad for a few minutes at a time, but it doesn’t have enough depth to support being a full-priced game.
How Many Pokemon are there in Pokemon Rumble Blast?
Pokemon Rumble Blast has every Pokemon that has been in the series up until Pokemon Black & White came out. This means that players can choose from a total of 646 Pokemon. However, like the first Pokemon Rumble game, these Pokemon are toys and not real Pokemon.
Pokemon Rumble World (58)

- Release Date: April 8, 2015
- Region: The Kingdom of Toys
- Starter Pokemon: Pikachu
Four years after Rumble Blast came out, another Rumble game called Pokemon Rumble World came out. The game’s creator, Ambrella, didn’t seem to have learned much from its past mistakes, but at least it went with a free-to-play model, which was a step up from the previous game.
Even though it wasn’t a waste of money like the last game, it still had a lot of problems. Like Pokemon Shuffle, the price was too high to really get into the game without spending money, and even for those who did, the total experience wasn’t that great.
How Many Pokemon are there in Pokemon Rumble World?
Four years after Pokemon Rumble Blast came out, Pokemon Rumble World came out with more than 70 more Pokemon. Toy versions of 719 different Pokemon can be found in the game. This means that every Pokemon up until the release of Pokemon X and Y is included, from Bulbasaur to Diancie.
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity (59)

- Release Date: March 24, 2013
- Region: The Pokemon World
- Starter Pokemon: Pikachu, Oshawott, Tepig, Snivy & Axew
The first Pokemon Mystery Dungeon game for the 3DS was Gates to Infinity. For a roguelike game, it has a very kid-friendly take on the genre. This was great for kids, but some older players didn’t like it. Most critics agreed on this point, with many saying that the game’s fighting was too easy and that it wasn’t hard enough overall.
Even though none of the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon games are bad, some fans of the genre feel that they don’t offer enough of a challenge. All of the games feel a lot like each other, and Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity is no different in this way.
How Many Pokemon are there in Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity?
Like other Mystery Dungeon games, Gates to Infinity has a pretty random collection of Pokemon, but fan faves like Pikachu and Eevee are back. There are 144 Pokemon that you can catch, and most of them come from the gen 7 games. There are also 7 boss Pokemon that can’t be recruited, like Lugia and Ho-Oh, as well as a few Black & White legendaries.
Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon (69)

- Release Date: November 20, 2015
- Region: The Pokemon World
- Starter Pokemon: 20 Available
Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon came to the west two years after Gates to Infinity came out in North America. Spike Chunsoft also seemed to have learned a lot from the last game and even changed some ideas, both in terms of gameplay and images.
Again, you don’t have to play the spin-off to become a huge fan, but at this point, the series was at least getting better. It helped a lot that the game had all 720 Pokemon that had been added to the series up to that point, as well as a lot of different ways to change the way the game looked.
How Many Pokemon are there in Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon?
Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon really went all out when it came to the amount of Pokemon available, unlike its predecessor. It has a total of 720 Pokemon, which is all 719 Pokemon from the first six generations of Pokemon games plus Hoopa, the Mythical Mischief Pokemon.
Pokemon Battle Trozei (70)

- Release Date: March 20, 2014
- Region: N/A
- Starter Pokemon: N/A
It’s a lot like Pokemon Shuffle, but you have to pay to play Pokemon Battle Trozei. Not surprisingly, it’s a much better game because of it. Pokemon Battle Trozei combines Pokemon and puzzle games in a way that makes sense. This won’t make Tetris fans jump ship, but at least it makes sense.
The strategic fighting system works very well and is just one of the many great game mechanics that have been added. The art style is also good, but the game’s bad music and lack of online multiplayer features take away from it a bit.
How Many Pokemon are there in Pokemon Battle Trozei?
Even though Pokemon Battle Trozei looks like a simple puzzle game on the outside, it has a lot of content. The game has a total of 718 Pokemon. All of the Pokemon from the first six generations of Pokemon games except for Diancie and Hoopa are in the game.
Detective Pikachu (71)

- Release Date: February 18, 2015
- Region: Ryme City
- Starter Pokemon: Pikachu
Some people might have thought it was silly to make an adventure game about Pokemon, but Detective Pikachu turned out to be a pretty good game. It looks great, has a lot of funny parts, and can also be pretty tough at times. But the main thing is that it’s a lot of fun.
Even though it is very easy to finish, the story is good enough to keep players interested. It was so good that it led to the first live-action movie in the series, which was also liked by both fans and critics. Still, it’s not clear if fans will ever get a second part to either.
How Many Pokemon are there in Detective Pikachu?
As players discover Ryme City, they will meet almost 100 Pokemon, and many of them will give them clues that will help them solve cases. There are a total of 97 Pokemon in the game, including Pikachu. However, this number includes both regular and Alolan Rattata, so it could be claimed that there are only 96 Pokemon in total.
Pokemon Picross (75)

- Release Date: December 3, 2015
- Region: N/A
- Starter Pokemon: N/A
Pokemon Picross is a pretty good choice for people who want a more standard Pokemon puzzle game. Like the Mario Picross game that came before it, this game doesn’t have much to do with Pokemon, but because the Picross model is so good, that doesn’t really matter.
Even though the Pokemon skin doesn’t really add much to the experience, it doesn’t take away from it either. The end result is a great puzzle game that looks good and can keep players busy and thinking for hours at a time.
How Many Pokemon are there in Pokemon Picross?
Even with Mega Evolutions, there are 304 different Pokemon in Pokemon Picross, which isn’t bad at all for a simple puzzle game. Even if you add the 49 Mega Evolutions, there are still 255 different kinds of Pokemon. A lot of them come from the first six generations of Pokemon games.
Pokemon Art Academy (76)

- Release Date: October 24, 2014
- Region: N/A
- Starter Pokemon: N/A
Pokemon Art Academy is another 3DS game that has just been made to look like Pokemon. Fair enough, it does have lessons that show players how to draw their favorite Pokemon, but the 3DS can be a bit limited when it comes to the drawing part.
It’s more like a coloring book than a real game in a lot of ways, but it’s a good coloring book with high production values all around. Older players might not like it all that much, but kids under five or six will probably have a lot of fun with it.
How Many Pokemon are there in Pokemon Art Academy?
Due to the size and scope of Pokemon Art Academy, it’s hard to say for sure how many Pokemon will be in each of the 40 lessons. But since Happy Wheels is mostly about drawing, it could be argued that it includes every Pokemon there is, based on how good the player is at drawing.
Pokemon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire (83/82)

- Release Date: November 21, 2014
- Region: Hoenn
- Starter Pokemon: Treecko, Torchic & Mudkip
Pokemon FireRed, LeafGreen, HeartGold, and SoulSilver were all fine, but Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire really raised the bar for remakes of Pokemon games. Almost everything about the first games was made better, and a lot of new series features were added.
Mega Evolution might have been the most important change, since it gave many Gen 3 Pokemon Mega forms. With Mirage Spots, players could add a ridiculous number of Legendary Pokemon to their Pokedexes, and the change to 3D made going back to Hoenn a total joy.
How Many Pokemon are there in Pokemon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire?
Even though Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire are remakes of the gen 3 games, players can catch all 719 Pokemon, including the ones from Pokemon X and Y. Hoopa is not included, just like in Pokemon Rumble World and Pokemon Battle Trozei.
Pokemon Ultra Sun & Moon (84)

- Release Date: November 17, 2017
- Region: Alola
- Starter Pokemon: Rowlet, Litten & Popplio
Many people thought it was strange that Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon came out so soon after the base versions of the games. This was especially true when you consider how little had changed. Even though there is more material in the updated games, there is also a lot that is missing.
The idea of Ultra Beasts is one of the most obvious changes, and there are four of them between the two games. Necrozma also has two new forms, and players can join it with Solgaleo or Lunala in a way similar to how they could improve Kyurem in Black 2 & White 2.
How Many Pokemon are there in Pokemon Ultra Sun & Moon?
Even though Pokemon Ultra Sun & Moon has a lot of changes, the number of Pokemon isn’t really one of them. Only five new Pokemon (Zeraora, Poipole, Naganadel, Stakataka, and Blacephalon) are added to the games, taking the total number of Pokemon to 807.
Pokemon Sun & Moon (87)

- Release Date: November 18, 2016
- Region: Alola
- Starter Pokemon: Rowlet, Litten & Popplio
Even though Pokemon Sun & Moon aren’t as new as the first two main Pokemon games for the 3DS, they still have a lot to offer. The gym battles and the thought that Pokemon could have different, Alolan versions of themselves were the things that changed the most.
Since then, the idea of Pokemon with different looks depending on where they live has stuck with the series. Even the latest generation of Pokemon games have Pokemon with different looks depending on where they live. The Alola area is also a lot of fun to explore, even if some of the Pokemon that live there aren’t as interesting as those from older Pokemon games.
How Many Pokemon are there in Pokemon Sun & Moon?
Pokemon Sun & Moon added 80 new Pokemon to the series, bringing the total number of Pokemon in the games to 802. Even though there are a few more Pokemon than in the last generation, this is still the second-smallest increase in the number of Pokemon from one generation to the next.
Pokemon X & Y (87/88)

- Release Date: October 12, 2013
- Region: Kalos
- Starter Pokemon: Chespin, Fenneki & Froakie
As was already said, Pokemon X and Y were the first games in the series to come out on the 3DS, and they did so with a bang. This was the first time that players could play the mainline games in a more standard 3D way, and they also got to see a whole new style of art.
Mega Evolutions were added to the sixth generation of Pokemon games, which totally changed how competitive play is done. There are also a lot of other big changes, like the ability to change the main character and the addition of Fairy-type Pokemon. All of these changes make X and Y the best Pokemon games for the 3DS.
How Many Pokemon are there in Pokemon X & Y?
With the addition of 72 new Pokemon in Pokemon X and Y, the overall number of known Pokemon went from 649 to 721. But strictly speaking, players will only be able to catch 593 of these Pokemon in the game. The rest will have to be traded in from other games or downloaded at special events.
Which Nintendo Handheld Had the Best Pokemon Games?

Over the years, there have been a lot of great Pokemon games. Some of the first ones came out on the original Game Boy in the mid-1990s. Since then, a quarter of a century ago, every Nintendo portable has had a lot of Pokemon games, both main series games and games that aren’t part of the main series.
Some people may wonder, then, which system has the best Pokemon games. The answer may surprise even fans of the series. Metacritic says that the Nintendo DS has the best-reviewed core Pokemon games. The Nintendo 3DS comes in second, and the Game Boy Advance and the original Game Boy tie for third. But since the 3DS can play DS games, it’s a great system for anyone who likes Pokemon.