Up until the release of the Nintendo Switch, Pokemon mainline games were exclusive to Nintendo handheld systems. While players were getting epic RPG adventures on handheld, home systems were somewhat left behind, and would only receive Pokemon spin-offs of inconsistent quality, to say the least.

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Although some of the spin-off titles have not reviewed well, nearly every mainline Pokemon game has been appreciated by fans and critics.

The Nintendo 64 of course makes no exception. This was the first home system Pokemon games were released on, and despite those games being quite outdated, players still have fond memories of them. There are four games (five including the Japanese-exclusive Pocket Monster Stadium) in total, but which ones are the best, and which ones are still worth playing today?

5 Hey You, Pikachu!

Metascore: 57

Hey You, Pikachu! is, simply put, one of the weirdest spin-offs ever. It's a digital pet/life simulation game where players are tasked by Professor Oak with taking care of a wild Pikachu for one year (in-game time, of course). There are different kinds of activities players can undertake each day, and upon completion of each activity they will receive Pika Points, which can be used to unlock new items in Abra's store. The game has very little to offer in terms of content, as it's little more than a glorified digital pet device. Of course, the game was primarily targeted at kids as an entry-level title to the series, so its simplicity shouldn't come as a surprise.

The most interesting aspect of the game is probably the fact that this is one of the only two games on the Nintendo 64 that made use of the Voice Recognition Unit peripheral, which surprisingly isn't the strangest exclusive in Japan. This device can be paired with a microphone to allow the system to recognize human speech, which allows the player to communicate directly with Pikachu. The game's heavy reliance on this peripheral is what makes any kind of re-release unlikely, meaning that the game will be probably stuck on an old system, something that's not so unusual.

4 Pokemon Puzzle League

Metascore: 81

Pokemon Puzzle League is a Pokemon-themed entry in the long-running Puzzle League series. The game plays like a typical entry, where players need to clear the playfield by arranging blocks of the same color in lines of three or more, both horizontally or vertically. The game's main story mode sees players taking the role of Ash Ketchum as he battles gym leaders, elite four, and more characters from the Kant region, with the game increasing in difficulty over time. Once the story mode is beaten, players can venture through it one more time at a higher difficulty setting, which can prove to be quite the challenge, even for puzzle game veterans.

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Of course, the game can also be played in multiplayer, and there's even an infinite mode where blocks keep coming until the player is defeated. This is probably where the game shines the most, and players won't harm themselves by challenging a friend on the Nintendo Switch re-release. While puzzle games like this may seem too simple by today's standards, Pokemon Puzzle League still provides an engaging and fun gameplay experience, even if it has very little to do with except for characters' sprites.

3 Pokemon Snap

Metascore: 77

Pokemon Snap is the first spin-off released on the system chronologically, and it's one of the most fondly remembered by fans. The game offers a unique perspective on the Pokemon world, as players are tasked not with catching all the Pokemon, but with taking pictures of them instead. Players move automatically in linear paths while aiming around with their cameras, hoping to find the best possible picture of each Pokemon.

While the game is surely very different from the mainline series, it's still riddled with the unique charm of the Pokemon world, so much so that fans have been requesting a sequel or a remake for ages. Finally, Nintendo listened to fans' demands with the release of New Pokemon Snap on Nintendo Switch, which was a triumphant return for this strange subseries.

2 Pokemon Stadium

Metascore: N/A

Pokemon Stadium is technically the second game in the Pokemon Stadium series, as it follows the Japanese-only Pocket Monster Stadium. However, since the original game was never released in the US and Europe, players consider this as being the first entry in the series. Pokemon Stadium has no real story mode. Players are instead tasked with facing Pokemon battle tournaments of increasing difficulty, and they are allowed to choose between different Pokemon teams offered by the game.

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At the time of release, Pokemon Stadium was a revolutionary way of experiencing Pokemon battles, as up to that point players could only see battle on a tiny Game Boy screen. The game also provided 9 minigames, all of which can be played in multiplayer, which is much easier to do in the Nintendo Switch Online version. The game might not offer much for contemporary Pokemon fans, but it's still a nice time capsule for the late 90s, and it brings a lot of nostalgia for all those who grew up with the first generation of Pokemon. Also, the game is necessary to unlock the infamous Surf Pikachu, something that has become almost legendary in the community.

1 Pokemon Stadium 2

Metascore: 78

Pokemon Stadium 2 expands upon its predecessor by introducing second-generation Pokemon. The game is compatible with every second-generation title, meaning that players can transfer every Johto Pokemon into the game. Other than that, everything is pretty much identical to the first game. Players are once again tasked with completing a series of tournaments, but this time around there are more opponents to face, including returning gym leaders from the Kanto region and even the original game's protagonist, Red.

Minigames are also expanded upon, as there are now 12 to choose from. They can still be played by up to four players, and they offer a nice distraction from the main game. Considering that the game is now available on the Nintendo Switch Online program, players might want to give this one a go, as it is undoubtedly the best the Nintendo 64 had to offer to Pokemon fans.

Pokemon Stadium 2

Platform(s)

Nintendo 64

Released

March 28, 2001

Developer(s)

Nintendo EAD , HAL Laboratory

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

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