The Pokémon franchise is approaching its 30th anniversary on February 27, 2026, with Kotaku publishing refreshed rankings of mainline and spin-off games. These articles highlight the series' iterative evolution and diverse spin-offs, timed ahead of an anniversary stream revealing The Pokémon Company's 2026 plans. Pokémon Legends: Z-A, a significant departure from tradition, features in the updated mainline ranking.
The Pokémon series, known for its heavily iterative design, continues to build on previous entries while introducing notable departures, as noted in a Kotaku article published on February 25, 2026. Titled 'The Best And Worst Parts Of Each Pokémon Game,' the piece ranks the strengths and weaknesses of each mainline Pokémon RPG, starting with the original Game Boy titles. It emphasizes how each game strides over its predecessors without overhauling the core formula. A key highlight is Pokémon Legends: Z-A, described as one of Game Freak's most significant shifts from the traditional approach. The ranking, originally from 2023, was updated in 2025 to incorporate Legends: Z-A, which is now out and changing aspects of the series.
In a companion article, also from February 25, 2026, Kotaku ranks 25 notable Pokémon spin-off games from worst to best, covering genres beyond the standard RPG catching and battling. Examples include Pokkén Tournament, apps, and Detective Pikachu, offering varied experiences for fans. Titled 'Before Pokopia, Let's Rank The Pokémon Spin-Off Games From Worst To Best,' it was originally published in 2023. The timing aligns with the franchise's 30th anniversary stream, just days away, where The Pokémon Company will share updates on its 2026 activities.
These rankings reflect the series' broad appeal, spanning mainline RPGs and eclectic spin-offs, as the anniversary marks three decades since the originals.
