7 Worst Pokémon Games Of All Time, Ranked

Pokémon games have been a staple of gaming culture since the late 90s. With over twenty years and thousands of Pokémon titles, there’s no shortage of games to choose from. However, with so many games, including the most recent Scarlet and Violet, determining which titles are the best and which should be left in the past can be difficult. To help you make an informed decision, we'll dive into the worst of the worst and find out which Pokémon games have earned their place at the bottom.

7. Hey, You, Pikachu!

Hey You, Pikachu!, released for the Nintendo 64 in 1998, was one of the earliest attempts to create a Pokémon game that offered a unique experience by utilizing voice commands. The game stands out for its ambitious idea but ultimately falls flat because of its lack of memorable gameplay and unpolished overall design.

Players had to use a microphone peripheral to communicate with their virtual Pikachu, who would respond accordingly. Unfortunately, due to the technology's limitations at the time, the responses could have been more accurate and logical. On top of this, the game's actual mechanics were less than inspiring, like tidying up leaves or finding lost items. This makes it more tedious than fun. Ultimately, Hey You, Pikachu! was an interesting experiment that ultimately failed to meet the high expectations of Pokémon fans.

6. Pokémon Channel

Pokémon Channel, released for the Gamecube in 2003, was an ambitious attempt at creating a unique interactive experience. The game allowed players to interact with various Pokémon characters and partake in mini-games to enhance their “television channel” viewing experience.

Unfortunately, the game was held back by its repetitive nature (as there weren’t enough activities or content to keep players engaged), and its overly complex menu system felt more like a chore than a feature. Coupled with sloppy graphics and tedious battles, Pokémon Channel quickly became one of Nintendo's least successful attempts at creating a truly immersive gaming experience.

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5. Pokémon Picross

Released for the Game Boy in 1999, Pokémon Picross was a spin-off of the classic picross puzzle game with a few Pokémon inspired twists. Unfortunately, while there were some interesting features, like a comprehensive tutorial and over 300 puzzles, the gameplay quickly became monotonous due to its slow-paced nature and lack of variety.

Additionally, the game did not connect to the main series, making it feel more like an isolated experience than part of the larger universe. Ultimately, Pokémon Picross failed to capture players’ attention and has since been largely forgotten by even diehard fans of the franchise.

4. Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia

The sequel to the original Pokémon Ranger game, Shadows of Almia, was released for the Nintendo DS in 2008. While its plot and gameplay were similar to the first title, it failed to capture the same level of success due to a lack of new features and an overall feeling that it was more of the same. The game also had several technical issues that sometimes made playing it frustrating. It's a shame, as there are plenty of exciting ideas here, and it could have been much better with some tweaks.

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3. Pokémon Trozei!

Another DS title, Pokémon Trozei!, attempted to take the puzzle genre in a new direction by introducing some unique elements from the classic RPG series into its gameplay. Unfortunately, this experiment failed miserably as the game's levels were too repetitive, and the overall lack of content made for a short and tedious experience. While Trozei! may have looked like a fun idea on paper, the game's shallow execution made it one of the worst Pokémon titles ever released.

2. Pokémon Battle Revolution

Pokémon Battle Revolution marked the franchise's debut on Nintendo's then-new Wii console. The game featured many of the same mechanics that defined earlier games in the franchise but with a newfound emphasis on online play. Unfortunately, this only highlighted how limited, and outdated other aspects of the game were. It was criticized for having little content overall and lacking innovative features or ways to battle other players. As a result, it was quickly forgotten and is now considered one of the worst Pokémon games ever made.

1. Pokémon Stadium: Gold & Silver Edition

This follow-up game to Pokémon Stadium had some new features but was essentially an inferior version of its predecessor. Compatible with Gold/Silver cartridges, this edition brought back Gym Leader Castle mode. Still, most of the other additions were either bug fixes or minor tweaks that didn't add much to the overall experience.

The game has also mainly been criticized for its shallow single-player experience and lack of replay value. Additionally, many players have complained about the game's complex battle system and "machine learning" feature that makes the computer opponents overly tricky. Whether you’re looking to relive a terrible childhood experience or just interested in seeing how far the series has come, this list is sure to provide all the information you need.

If you're curious to try more games of acquired tastes, check out Worst Call of Duty Games of all time and the 9 Worst Games of 2022 here at Pro Game Guides.