How to start playing Pokémon: a first adventure that makes sense

Pick the kind of adventure you want

The traditional Pokémon RPG loop is straightforward: explore a region, catch wild Pokémon, develop a team and take on stronger opponents. Different games change the structure around that loop. Scarlet and Violet use open-world exploration; Sword and Shield offer a more directed Gym journey. Legends: Arceus puts surveying and catching at the center, while Let’s Go simplifies several systems.

Start by checking the exact game and system in our game finder. A game being part of the Pokémon series does not make it available on every Nintendo console. Pokémon GO, TCG Pocket and UNITE are separate games with different rules, rather than mobile versions of the console adventures.

Your first useful goals

1. Read the opening controls and find the save option. Use the game’s own save function, even if another platform also offers snapshots.
2. Pick whichever starter appeals to you. A type disadvantage is something the rest of your team can help solve.
3. Catch a few different species and open their summaries. Notice their types, attacks and the stats those attacks use.
4. Practice a favorable matchup against a nearby opponent. Compare that with a neutral hit rather than judging attacks only by their animation.
5. Heal and restock before a long route. Keep some Poké Balls for a species you have not seen yet.

Build understanding before optimizing

A team of six does not need six rare Pokémon. A reliable attacker, a useful switch-in and a Pokémon that helps catch new teammates can solve very different problems. Try new catches before deciding which ones belong in your regular party.

For an ordinary story playthrough, detailed EV training, breeding and perfect individual stats can wait. First learn why a move works, when switching is useful and how to recover when a battle goes badly. Those habits carry between games even when the special battle mechanic changes.

If you get stuck, look for a guide that names your specific game. Instructions for catching in Legends: Arceus will not describe the catching controls in Let’s Go, and a Scarlet raid strategy is not a Sword and Shield Max Raid strategy.