The Pokémon games have always placed a focus on not having too many recurring characters. The expansive world of Pokémon has been created in such a way that few characters will appear in a completely different region in a game separate from the one they are introduced in.
However, over time there have been so many games, and even more spin-offs and side adventures that at least a few characters have managed to reappear further down the line. Whether they are almost random characters or significant faces that fans will remember, there have been a few great recurring characters in Pokémon games.
7 Blue/Gary
Blue is the initial rival of the player character Red in the original Pokémon games. While he is portrayed as brash, haughty, and villainous through the initial game, it appears that he was changed by his defeat at the hands of Red in the closing stages of the game. However, despite his quick loss to Red he did become Pokémon League Champion for a few moments and thus managed to find a good position moving forwards.
Instead of remaining league champion or a member of the Elite Four, Blue reappears in Pokémon Gold & Silver as the new leader of Viridian City gym. He succeeded Giovanni in this role and the player has to defeat him and his varied set of Pokémon for a gym badge. He also appears in the Pokémon Championship Tournament and the Alola Battle Tree later, having grown out of his petulant childish ways.
6 Bruno
An original member of the Elite Four from the first generation of games, the fighting trainer Bruno is a memorable face for fans of the first-ever set of Pokémon games. Appearing as the second of the Elite four in Pokémon Red, Blue and Yellow, Bruno was always a difficult character to fight due to the powerful Machamp he would finish the battle with.
Bruno is notable for loving to travel around different islands with his Pokémon. While he appears in later games as an Elite Four member, he also shows up at various spas and is an opponent in the first two Pokémon Stadium games. He is always accompanied in any battle by his powerful Machamp, no matter what other Pokémon he has switched and changed along the way.
5 Cynthia
A strange character that just keeps turning up everywhere, Cynthia is considered the most travel-loving character in maybe the entire Pokémon universe. She goes around the world investigating Pokémon legends and myths, trying to uncover the roots of the more legendaryPokémon out there.
After being introduced in Pokémon Pearl and the other fourth-generation games, she turned up in the Heart Gold and Soul Silver remakes in the Sinjoh Ruins. She then turned up in Undella Town in Black and White, featured in the champion’s tournament in Black and White 2, and even featured more recently in Pokémon Sun and Moon.
4 Koga
Another character that goes all the way back to the original games, Koga was a gym leader in Pokémon Red and Blue. His mastery of poison-type Pokémon made him an incredibly frustrating trainer to battle against. But his story didn’t end there, as his daughter Janine becomes the leader of the same gym in Pokémon Gold and Silver.
Koga has moved up in the world and was promoted to a member of the Elite Four in this generation. While he hasn’t appeared much recently, Koga is a memorable battle with a ninja master style in his second appearance, and once again provides an incredible challenge to the player as they progress through the Elite Four.
3 Misty
One of the most recognizable characters in any Pokémon game due to her appearances in the Pokémon anime, Misty is the gym leader of Cerulean City and has one of the more memorable water-type teams from any of the games. She is one of the few characters who really seems to age and grow through the games.
After encountering her in Pokémon Red & Blue, Misty appears once again as the gym leader in Pokémon Gold & Silver, but she has aged and seems to have continued her training to become a true master. It feels like running back into an old friend, seeing the growth that Misty has undertaken where most characters are similar to when they were first encountered.
2 Lance
Lance is another member of the original Elite Four from the first generation of games. When the player initially encounters him, he is the fourth and final member of the group that has to be battled before facing the Pokémon champion. Lance is one of the few Dragon-type trainers to be found in the Pokémon world, as these are incredibly difficultPokémon to capture and train generally.
After this, Lance reappeared in Pokémon Silver and Gold as the new Pokémon League Champion, since Red has left and moved on to continue his studies. Lance is another trainer that reappears in Black and White 2 as part of the tournament of champions. He is usually magnanimous in defeat, and a proud trainer that loves his dragons.
1 Red
The original player character from the first generation of games may not be the player character any further than that, but he ages and continues his studies after surrendering his position as Pokémon League Champion. He has appeared many times since winning the Pokémon League, as the final battle in Pokémon Silver & Gold and in many further games.
He is in Pokémon Stadium 2 as a member of the champion tournament and appears alongside Blue in Pokémon Sun and Moon as part of the Battle Tree. Red has been one of the most consistent, famous, and changing characters throughout the history of the Pokémon games, and he will likely continue appearing in the future.