Summary
- Pokemon Black and White 2 are considered the best 2D Pokemon games for their bold sequels and visually impressive sprites and backgrounds.
- Pokemon HeartGold & SoulSilver elevate the second generation's experience with detailed graphics and improved mechanics.
- Pokemon Conquest, a tactical RPG, stands out for blending traditional Pokemon gameplay with turn-based strategy elements and vibrant visuals.
Pokemon is one of the most popular franchises of all time. Although recent games focus on expanding the series with 3D worlds, its 2D titles built the fan base by delivering attractive graphics for each console and, above all, solid gameplay that turned the series into the phenomenon it is today.
Therefore, defining the best 2D Pokemon games is a complex task, because releases from both the main series and the many spin‑offs each offer a unique charm. Well‑crafted sprites and memorable soundtracks make these games special, adding quality and nostalgia that still resonate with fans of the franchise.
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10 Pokemon Conquest
One Of The Most Enjoyable Pokemon Spin‑Offs
Pokemon Conquest
- Released
- June 18, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone due to Mild Cartoon Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes
- Genre(s)
- Tactical, RPG
While most Pokemon spin‑offs are experimental, Pokemon Conquest delivered one of the franchise’s most inventive gameplays, blending the traditional formula with turn‑based strategy elements taken from Nobunaga’s Ambition. Set in the feudal Ransei region, its story spotlights political ambition, and players must plan tactically to capture and unify rival nobles’ territories during each battle.
Although gameplay and story are solid, with a fair learning curve, what secures Pokemon Conquest a place among the best 2D entries is its visual quality. Each Pokemon sprite looks vibrant, and even the simple animations are polished, creating a surprisingly rich presentation that makes this release one of the franchise’s most distinctive outings.
9 Pokemon Yellow
Game Holds A Special Place In Many Hearts
Pokemon Yellow
- Released
- October 18, 1999
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Adventure, Strategy, JRPG
Leaving aside the spin‑offs, Pokemon Yellow stands as one of the series’ boldest releases, providing an experience modeled on the anime by granting a Pikachu starter and scenes that feature characters previously unseen in the games. Meeting the Team Rocket trio, Jessie, James, and Meowth, instantly sets a distinctive tone and makes the journey unlike any other title the series had offered to that point.
While exploring Kanto, players can also obtain the three starters at fixed map locations near where Ash caught them in the show, capturing the spirit of the cartoon with precision. Thanks to that authenticity, and despite its modest visuals, Pokemon Yellow continues to provide one of the series’ most resonant nostalgic experiences across all 2D games.
8 Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Red & Blue Rescue Team
Spin‑offs That Delivered One Of The Best 2D Pokemon Experiences
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team
- Released
- September 18, 2006
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone Due To Mild Cartoon Violence
- Genre(s)
- Roguelike
With an ambitious premise, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Red and Blue Rescue Team make Pokemon the heroes, launching a story that diverges from the standard series template. The game fuses roguelike dungeon crawling with a heartfelt plot about camaraderie, delivering a standout experience that still ranks among the franchise’s most rewarding 2D adventures.
The narrative unfolds organically, as missions and events emerge logically within the established world, turning every objective into a coherent piece of a larger storyline. The design also demands planning, because players must choose carefully which items to carry into each exploration, a system that rewards forethought and raises the stakes of every quest.
7 Pokemon Platinum
Excellent Way To Experience Sinnoh
Pokémon Platinum
- Released
- March 22, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
Pokemon Platinum showcases some of the franchise’s finest visuals and fixes many issues found in Diamond and Pearl by refining Pokemon distribution and widening the regional roster. These changes give players more freedom to build teams and, paired with an overall faster pace, make the adventure flow better than its predecessors.
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The plot also received adjustments: the addition of Giratina and the Distortion World introduces a slightly darker tone than the traditional journeys that fans expected. By capitalizing on those tweaks, Pokemon Platinum unlocks Sinnoh’s full potential and earns recognition as one of the franchise’s best 2D entries.
6 Pokemon Firered & Leafgreen
Among The Finest 2D Pokemon Experiences
Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen
- Released
- September 7, 2004
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Pokemon FireRed & LeafGreen served as perfect remakes to introduce Kanto to a new generation, updating the originals with sharper 2D graphics and then‑modern mechanics that honored the franchise’s roots. They preserved the original charm while improving pacing, connectivity, and balance, setting a benchmark for the best 2D Pokemon ever developed.
Years later, these remakes still resonate with fans thanks to consistent design, polished pixel art, and a soundtrack that precisely captures the essence of the series. Ideal for newcomers and veterans alike, they represent one of the most refined experiences of the Game Boy Advance era and a genuine gold standard for the franchise’s classic catalog.
5 Pokemon Crystal
A Great Pokemon Game For Nostalgia
Pokémon Crystal
- Released
- December 14, 2000
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Although the HeartGold and SoulSilver remakes offer many players a superior Johto experience, Pokemon Crystal still ranks among the franchise’s finest 2D games because it marked a pivotal step in the series’ evolution. Its story, still straightforward, introduced several first‑time technical features for the era, such as brief sprite animations before battles, along with a range of other small details.
For a long period, Pokemon Crystal stood as the definitive second‑generation edition, enabling a female protagonist and other upgrades that refined overall gameplay. Accordingly, even though newer releases surpass it technically, the game remains an excellent choice for nostalgia seekers and carries a strong retro charm, still captivating series veterans and introducing newcomers to Johto’s original spirit and timeless design sensibilities.
4 Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers Of Sky
Considered One Of The Best Pokemon Spin‑Offs
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky
- Released
- October 12, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone
- Genre(s)
- Roguelike
Among the many spin‑offs that Pokemon has spawned, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky stands out as one of the franchise’s strongest 2D entries, providing players with top‑tier storytelling and gameplay. Although the plot revisits familiar tropes. Such as a human transformed into a Pokemon who must unravel hidden truths, it nevertheless develops in a surprisingly mature fashion for its audience.
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky also expanded on Explorers of Time and Darkness by adding extra missions, new playable Pokemon options, and a host of quality‑of‑life tweaks that made the entire experience flow more smoothly. For players seeking strong 2D games yet uninterested in the main‑series formula, this release proves not only a superb spin‑off but also one of the franchise’s finest titles overall.
3 Pokemon Heartgold & Soulsilver
One Of The Most Complete Remakes In The Entire Franchise
Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver
- Released
- March 14, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
Leveraging the Nintendo DS’s hardware, the system hosts some of the finest 2D Pokemon entries ever produced, showcasing detailed graphics and sprites that elevate overall presentation. Pokemon HeartGold & SoulSilver, as direct remakes of the second generation, raised the original experience to a new level, most notably by letting any Pokemon follow the player on the field, a simple yet captivating touch.
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Further, the remakes retain the second generation’s landmark scope by letting players journey through both Johto and Kanto, challenge sixteen Gym Leaders, and re‑enact the iconic showdown with Red atop Mt. Silver. Paired with numerous added mechanics and quality‑of‑life upgrades, these factors establish the games as some of the franchise’s absolute best 2D installments available to handheld RPG fans.
2 Pokemon Emerald
Stood Among The Franchise’s Best Game Boy Advance Experiences
Pokemon Emerald
- Released
- May 1, 2005
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone
- Genre(s)
- RPG
By consolidating everything that worked in Ruby and Sapphire, Pokemon Emerald remains one of the series’ strongest choices for anyone seeking a premier 2D Pokemon experience. Beyond refining the third generation’s original pair, it introduced fresh content that cemented the game as a Game Boy Advance classic, most notably the Battle Frontier for players who relish advanced combat challenges today.
The game also improved narrative pacing by pitting players against both Team Magma and Team Aqua, allowing the main campaign to showcase each faction’s perspective and thereby heightening dramatic tension. Coupled with attractive visuals and smoothly animated sprites, these enhancements secure Pokemon Emerald’s status as one of the franchise’s finest 2D titles for collectors and competitive battlers alike.
1 Pokemon Black And White 2
Stand As The Best 2D Pokemon Games Ever
Pokémon Black 2
- Released
- October 7, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone due to Comic Mischief, Mild Cartoon Violence
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
As the final main‑series entry on Nintendo DS, Pokemon Black and White 2 claim the title of best 2D Pokemon games for multiple reasons, foremost the developers’ bold decision to craft a direct sequel, rare within the franchise. Unova consequently expands with new areas, Gyms, and characters, giving players the sense of exploring a world that has genuinely progressed since the events of the original.
In addition, the games’ 2D visuals are gorgeous, featuring sprites and backgrounds that pushed the Nintendo DS to impressive limits. Their robust post‑game further shines: after clearing the main storyline, players unlock expansive new areas and events, such as the Pokemon World Tournament, ensuring hours of additional exploration and cementing the pair as top‑tier franchise entries for dedicated DS adventurers.
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