When Detective Pikachu was confirmed to actually still exist on Tuesday, a comment caught my eye
It got me thinking. Recently I've been applauding The Pokémon Company for how diverse the spin-offs have been the last few years, but now I'm thinking that Pokémon may have even Mario beat in terms of the variety of game genres it has covered.
Let me list it out for you since I'm bored at the moment, not including apps. Most are how TPC listed them, but there is a little liberty here and there. Correct me if you think I'm wrong with some.
Turn-Based RPG - Games: 27 (17 sets)
Obviously the main games are the focal point and are a turn-based RPG. This is the core of Pokémon.
Game List:
Pokémon Red/Green, Pokémon Blue, Pokémon Yellow, Pokémon Gold/Silver, Pokémon Crystal, Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire, Pokémon Colosseum, Pokémon FireRed/LeafGreen, Pokémon Emerald, Pokémon XD: Gales of Darkness, Pokémon Diamond/Pearl, Pokémon Platinum, Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver, Pokémon Black/White, Pokémon Black 2/White 2, Pokémon X/Y, Pokémon Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire
Battle Simulator - Games: 4
Obviously this is a genre essentially created by/for Pokémon and somewhat a sub-genre. It takes the mechanics of the above and just uses them for battles, removing the RPG aspect.
Games: Pokémon Stadium, Pokémon Stadium, Pokémon Stadium 2, Pokémon Battle Revolution
Mini-Game Compilation - Games: 5ish
Nintendo was well known for having mini-game compilations on the Wii and Pokémon has had a fair few of them. However, most of the mini-games were a part of other games such as in Stadium and PokéPark titles so not always the main focus
Games: Pokémon Stadium, Pokémon Stadium 2, Pokémon Party mini, Pichu Bros. Mini, PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure, Pokémon e-Reader mini-games
First Person Shooter -Games: 2
Yeah that's right. Pokémon Snap is for all intents and purposes an on-rails first person shooter. Who'd have thought? Granted, you're not killing the Pokémon, but you're shooting them...on film. Dream Radar is an Augmented Reality FPS too
Games: Pokémon Snap, Pokémon Dream Radar
Virtual Pet - Games: 3+2 devices
This one was a hard genre to pin down. Basically, you look after a Pokémon. Some involve feeding, others do not. I think Pokémon Channel fits here but feel free to correct me
Games: Hey You, Pikachu!, Pokémon Channel, Pokémon Breeder mini, Pocket Pikachu, Pocket Pikachu 2
Pinball - Games: 3
Pinball is an underconsidered genre, but it's one on its own. Three Pokémon Pinball games have existed, but none since 2003
Games: Pokémon Pinball, Pokémon Pinball mini, Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire
Card Game - Games 3
There have been numerous card games. Some based on the actual TCG, others on more traditional card games
Games: Pokémon Trading Card Game, Pokémon Card GB 2: Here Comes Team Great Rocket, Pokémon Zany Cards
There's multiple puzzle games of various different genres too, but you can count it as just one if you want
Match Puzzles - Games: 3
Match-3 puzzles have been a massive thing on mobile, but Pokémon has been doing it since 2000 with Puzzle League and then with the Pokémon Trozei series, which has massive mechanic shifts each release.
Games: Pokémon Puzzle League, Pokémon Puzzle Challenge, Pokémon Shuffle, Pokémon Trozei, Pokémon Battle Trozei
Tile Puzzle - Games: 1
Basically it's Tetris. Enough said
Games: Pokémon Tetris
Picross - Games: 1
Basically it's Picross. Enough said
Games: Pokémon Picross
Other Puzzles - Games: 2
Pokémon had a couple of puzzle collections on the Pokémon mini, I found them hard to define. I'll amend if suggestions
Games: Pokémon Puzzle Collection, Pokémon Puzzle Collection Vol. 2
Racing Game - Games: 2
There have been two dedicated Pokémon racing games. One on the Pokémon mini, the other on the Nintendo DS being the much maligned Pokémon Dash
Games: Pokémon Race mini, Pokémon Dash
2D Platformer - Games: 2ish
There's two 2D platformers. Sort of. Pokémon Race mini, while a racing title, is solely a 2D platformer. The other is one you created yourself using e-Reader cards
Games: Pokémon Race mini, Pokémon e-Reader Construction Block game
Roguelike - Games: 10 (6 sets)
The classic Mystery Dungeon game shifted into Pokémon. Mystery Dungeon is the most popular of the Pokémon spin-off games, though that popularity has gone down somewhat in recent years.
Games: Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky,
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Keep Going! Blazing Adventure Squad/Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Let's Go! Stormy Adventure Squad!/Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Go For It! Light Adventure Squad, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Gates to Infinity, Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon
Adventure - Games: 6
The Pokémon Adventure games are quite different, almost to being in a separate genre. Pokémon Ranger players differently to Togepi which plays differently to PokéPark, but such is Action/Adventure
Games: Togepi's Great Adventure, Pokémon Ranger, Pokémon Ranger Shadows of Almia, Pokémon Ranger Guardian Signs, PokéPark Wii - Pikachu's Adventure, PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond
Action - Games: 4
Not quite adventure, but definitely action. This is where TPC lists the Pokémon Rumble games.
Games: Pokémon Rumble, Pokémon Rumble Blast, Pokémon Rumble U, Pokémon Rumble World, Band of Thieves & 1000 Pokémon (TPC list this as a StreetPass Game, but no.)
Typing Adventure - Games: 1
A unique genre that follows on from Typing of the Dead. Basically type a Pokémon to capture it as it goes through the level
Games: Pokémon Typing Adventure
Strategy RPG - Games: 1
Basically an RPG you have to consider placement and strategies rather than just go in and attack. This game was a crossover with the Nobunaga's Ambition series.
Games: Pokémon Conquest
Art Tutorial - Games: 1
Essentially tutorials on how to draw but with a Pokémon twist.
Games: Pokémon Art Academy
Fighting - Games: 1
Although The Pokémon Company lists it as "Pokémon Action Battle", this is quite clearly a Fighting Game. Player vs player across 3 rounds to work out who is the best
Games: Pokkén Tournament
Cinematic Adventure - Games: 1
And the game which caused this discussion. Cinematic Adventure is still quite unclear but that's the genre of the game
Games: Detective Pikachu ~Birth of a New Duo~
Utility - Software: 8
Basically software that aids your main game, but none of them are actually games
Software: Pokémon Box: Ruby & Sapphire, Pokémon Ranch, Pokémon Bank, Poké Transporter, Pokédex 3D, Pokédex 3D Pro, Pokémon Tretta Lab, Pokémon TCG How To Play DS
Think I've got them all
tl;dr: That's 22 genres covered. Has Pokémon beaten Mario? What's your favourite spin-off?
So, what genre has Pokemon not tackled yet?
It got me thinking. Recently I've been applauding The Pokémon Company for how diverse the spin-offs have been the last few years, but now I'm thinking that Pokémon may have even Mario beat in terms of the variety of game genres it has covered.
Let me list it out for you since I'm bored at the moment, not including apps. Most are how TPC listed them, but there is a little liberty here and there. Correct me if you think I'm wrong with some.
Turn-Based RPG - Games: 27 (17 sets)
Obviously the main games are the focal point and are a turn-based RPG. This is the core of Pokémon.
Game List:
Pokémon Red/Green, Pokémon Blue, Pokémon Yellow, Pokémon Gold/Silver, Pokémon Crystal, Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire, Pokémon Colosseum, Pokémon FireRed/LeafGreen, Pokémon Emerald, Pokémon XD: Gales of Darkness, Pokémon Diamond/Pearl, Pokémon Platinum, Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver, Pokémon Black/White, Pokémon Black 2/White 2, Pokémon X/Y, Pokémon Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire
Battle Simulator - Games: 4
Obviously this is a genre essentially created by/for Pokémon and somewhat a sub-genre. It takes the mechanics of the above and just uses them for battles, removing the RPG aspect.
Games: Pokémon Stadium, Pokémon Stadium, Pokémon Stadium 2, Pokémon Battle Revolution
Mini-Game Compilation - Games: 5ish
Nintendo was well known for having mini-game compilations on the Wii and Pokémon has had a fair few of them. However, most of the mini-games were a part of other games such as in Stadium and PokéPark titles so not always the main focus
Games: Pokémon Stadium, Pokémon Stadium 2, Pokémon Party mini, Pichu Bros. Mini, PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure, Pokémon e-Reader mini-games
First Person Shooter -Games: 2
Yeah that's right. Pokémon Snap is for all intents and purposes an on-rails first person shooter. Who'd have thought? Granted, you're not killing the Pokémon, but you're shooting them...on film. Dream Radar is an Augmented Reality FPS too
Games: Pokémon Snap, Pokémon Dream Radar
Virtual Pet - Games: 3+2 devices
This one was a hard genre to pin down. Basically, you look after a Pokémon. Some involve feeding, others do not. I think Pokémon Channel fits here but feel free to correct me
Games: Hey You, Pikachu!, Pokémon Channel, Pokémon Breeder mini, Pocket Pikachu, Pocket Pikachu 2
Pinball - Games: 3
Pinball is an underconsidered genre, but it's one on its own. Three Pokémon Pinball games have existed, but none since 2003
Games: Pokémon Pinball, Pokémon Pinball mini, Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire
Card Game - Games 3
There have been numerous card games. Some based on the actual TCG, others on more traditional card games
Games: Pokémon Trading Card Game, Pokémon Card GB 2: Here Comes Team Great Rocket, Pokémon Zany Cards
There's multiple puzzle games of various different genres too, but you can count it as just one if you want
Match Puzzles - Games: 3
Match-3 puzzles have been a massive thing on mobile, but Pokémon has been doing it since 2000 with Puzzle League and then with the Pokémon Trozei series, which has massive mechanic shifts each release.
Games: Pokémon Puzzle League, Pokémon Puzzle Challenge, Pokémon Shuffle, Pokémon Trozei, Pokémon Battle Trozei
Tile Puzzle - Games: 1
Basically it's Tetris. Enough said
Games: Pokémon Tetris
Picross - Games: 1
Basically it's Picross. Enough said
Games: Pokémon Picross
Other Puzzles - Games: 2
Pokémon had a couple of puzzle collections on the Pokémon mini, I found them hard to define. I'll amend if suggestions
Games: Pokémon Puzzle Collection, Pokémon Puzzle Collection Vol. 2
Racing Game - Games: 2
There have been two dedicated Pokémon racing games. One on the Pokémon mini, the other on the Nintendo DS being the much maligned Pokémon Dash
Games: Pokémon Race mini, Pokémon Dash
2D Platformer - Games: 2ish
There's two 2D platformers. Sort of. Pokémon Race mini, while a racing title, is solely a 2D platformer. The other is one you created yourself using e-Reader cards
Games: Pokémon Race mini, Pokémon e-Reader Construction Block game
Roguelike - Games: 10 (6 sets)
The classic Mystery Dungeon game shifted into Pokémon. Mystery Dungeon is the most popular of the Pokémon spin-off games, though that popularity has gone down somewhat in recent years.
Games: Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky,
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Keep Going! Blazing Adventure Squad/Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Let's Go! Stormy Adventure Squad!/Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Go For It! Light Adventure Squad, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Gates to Infinity, Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon
Adventure - Games: 6
The Pokémon Adventure games are quite different, almost to being in a separate genre. Pokémon Ranger players differently to Togepi which plays differently to PokéPark, but such is Action/Adventure
Games: Togepi's Great Adventure, Pokémon Ranger, Pokémon Ranger Shadows of Almia, Pokémon Ranger Guardian Signs, PokéPark Wii - Pikachu's Adventure, PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond
Action - Games: 4
Not quite adventure, but definitely action. This is where TPC lists the Pokémon Rumble games.
Games: Pokémon Rumble, Pokémon Rumble Blast, Pokémon Rumble U, Pokémon Rumble World, Band of Thieves & 1000 Pokémon (TPC list this as a StreetPass Game, but no.)
Typing Adventure - Games: 1
A unique genre that follows on from Typing of the Dead. Basically type a Pokémon to capture it as it goes through the level
Games: Pokémon Typing Adventure
Strategy RPG - Games: 1
Basically an RPG you have to consider placement and strategies rather than just go in and attack. This game was a crossover with the Nobunaga's Ambition series.
Games: Pokémon Conquest
Art Tutorial - Games: 1
Essentially tutorials on how to draw but with a Pokémon twist.
Games: Pokémon Art Academy
Fighting - Games: 1
Although The Pokémon Company lists it as "Pokémon Action Battle", this is quite clearly a Fighting Game. Player vs player across 3 rounds to work out who is the best
Games: Pokkén Tournament
Cinematic Adventure - Games: 1
And the game which caused this discussion. Cinematic Adventure is still quite unclear but that's the genre of the game
Games: Detective Pikachu ~Birth of a New Duo~
Utility - Software: 8
Basically software that aids your main game, but none of them are actually games
Software: Pokémon Box: Ruby & Sapphire, Pokémon Ranch, Pokémon Bank, Poké Transporter, Pokédex 3D, Pokédex 3D Pro, Pokémon Tretta Lab, Pokémon TCG How To Play DS
Think I've got them all
tl;dr: That's 22 genres covered. Has Pokémon beaten Mario? What's your favourite spin-off?