Which Pokémon games can you play on Switch?

Start with the kind of play

Sword and Shield offer a directed Gym journey. Scarlet and Violet use a more open structure. Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl revisit Sinnoh, while Let’s Go revisits Kanto with a different catching system. Legends: Arceus emphasizes field research and catching; Legends: Z-A changes battle timing and movement.

FireRed and LeafGreen are also available as standalone Switch downloads. They are distinct purchases, not an automatic entitlement to every GBA Pokémon game through Nintendo Switch Online.

Spin-offs serve different goals

New Pokémon Snap is about photography. Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX is a dungeon-crawling adventure. UNITE is a team battle game, and other Pokémon releases can focus on entirely different activities. Read the genre and player information on the exact listing.

Decide what matters before comparing versions

If your main goal is playing alongside a friend, inspect the multiplayer mode. Local co-op, local wireless, online battles and exploring together are different features. “Multiplayer” without a mode description is not enough.

If your goal is transferring a collection, inspect HOME compatibility by game, species and form. A Pokémon appearing in one Switch game does not mean it can enter every other one.

Check the console generation

Original Switch software and Switch 2-exclusive software are different product categories. Switch 2 supports compatible Switch games, but original Switch cannot run a Switch 2-exclusive title. An upgrade edition can also have its own purchase and feature rules.

The game finder links each entry to its relevant official source and separates it from emulation and fan projects. Use it to narrow the hardware question first, then read a gameplay guide for the adventure that fits.