Core series

The core seriesIwata Asks : Pokémon X & Pokémon Y : Pokémon Born AnewPokemon's Master Speaks - IGNFamiliar First Partner Pokémon Are Appearing in Spades! — Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet | Official Website of Pokémon games, also known as the core games,Inside the Minds behind Pokémon! Pokemon.com, 4 Oct 2013 (archive)"You can check the particulars of Pokémon transferred from Pokémon GO as they would appear in core Pokémon games from their status screen." (text shown in the mobile version of Pokémon HOME after transferring Pokémon from Pokémon GO) the main series, or the Pokémon RPG series,,The Official Pokémon YouTube channel: Pokémon 2018 Video Game Press Conference, 30 May 2018Masuda: (speaking about Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!) I believe all of these things kind of illustrate how these games have evolved in somewhat of a different direction compared to the traditional main series Pokémon RPGs. And my goal for these games is really to create a Pokémon RPG for everyone. And I believe that not only have we managed to make these titles great entry games for those who are new to the Pokémon RPG series, but at the same time, really provide a new and fresh experience that long-time fans of the series will enjoy. So it's really my hope that all sorts of people will give these games a try. So that concludes my introduction today for Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, but before I go I would like to say just one more thing. So at Game Freak we're also hard at work on another all-new core series Pokémon RPG, exclusively for Nintendo Switch. is a series of role-playing video games and the primary series of Pokémon games. The series began with the first installment in the Pokémon franchise, , released for the Game Boy in on February 27, 1996. The core series games are primarily developed by Game Freak and are published by Nintendo. They are released only on Nintendo's , though this includes the Nintendo Switch, which is both a handheld and a home console.
The games in this series traditionally follow a standard model in which the embarks on a through a particular region to catch and raise , battle other s, fight against a villainous team, and earn recognition (usually by collecting badges from Gym Leaders and becoming the of a Pokémon League).
The Pokémon Video Game Championships are conducted using the core series games.
==Terminology==
===Series title===
In English, the core series has been referred to as the main series, Pokémon RPG series, or core series in official marketing materials. However, all Western releases of games use the abbreviation Pokémon in their titles, regardless of whether they are core series games or .
In Japanese, Korean, and formerly in Chinese, the series is called the Pocket Monsters Series (Japanese: ポケットモンスターシリーズ,Game Pocket Monster Series | Pocket Monster Official Site (archive)GAME LIST Korean: 포켓몬스터 시리즈,Pokemon Official Site (archive) Chinese: 精靈寶可夢系列 / 精灵宝可梦系列Nintendo HK Official Youtube channel: Nintendo SpotLight E3 2017 (附中文字幕), 14 Jun 2017). On Game Freak's website, it is referred to as the main series (本編シリーズ) instead.GAME FREAK official site All core series games, except Pokémon Legends: Arceus and Pokémon Legends: Z-A, contain the full name Pocket Monsters in their Japanese title, whereas side series and spin-off games use the abbreviation Pokémon instead. While the Japanese releases of the Pokémon Stadium series use Pocket Monsters in English subtitles, they use Pokémon in in their Japanese names.
===Game titles===
====Game versions====
Prior to Generation VI, it was standard for the Western releases of the core series games to include the label "Version" in their title, such as "Pokémon Red Version" or "Pokémon Diamond Version". In Japanese, the word was used sporadically and inconsistently, although it was prominently featured in a title with "Pocket Monsters: Crystal Version" (Japanese: ポケットモンスタークリスタルバージョン). Game titles with the word "Version" have also been sometimes written without it in official text, such as "Pokémon Red" or "Pokémon Diamond".
The plural "Versions" when referring to multiple games has also been used occasionally."The Gold, Silver, and Crystal Versions of Pokémon ARE compatible with Pokémon Stadium 2™ [...]" (manual of Pokémon Crystal, page 1)"This Game Pak can be linked to either Pokémon Ruby or Sapphire Version. It CANNOT be linked to the Red, Blue, Yellow, Gold, Silver, or Crystal Versions." (manual of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, page 3)The core series game titles released from Generation VI onwards do not include the word "Version", such as Pokémon X, Pokémon Omega Ruby, etc.
====Remake titles====
The names of remakes of core series games are generally derived from the names of the original source games, with a modifier word attached to the front. For instance, are remakes of .
====Italicized game titles====
From Generation I to , the Pokémon core series game titles were usually written with no italics in the game manuals and box descriptions. From onwards, the titles have been consistently written in italics."You can migrate Pokémon caught in the Game Boy Advance™ Pokémon series: Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, FireRed, and LeafGreen versions [...]" (manual of )"Various language versions of Pokémon Black 2, Pokémon White 2, Pokémon Black, and Pokémon White can communicate, battle, and trade with one another." (manual of Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, page 4)"This is Pokémon Omega Ruby. The types and likelihood of Pokémon that will appear differ from Pokémon Alpha Sapphire." (back of the box of Pokémon Omega Ruby) Game titles are also italicized on the Pokémon.com website"The launch of Pokémon Gold and Pokémon Silver on Virtual Console has given us the chance to take a second look at some of those classics’ most iconic, fun, and memorable events." Ten Can’t Miss Activities in Johto and Beyond - Pokémon.com and in the creator messages from the Pokémon Adventures manga."The Game Boy games Pokémon Gold and Silver are now on sale!!" (Hidenori Kusaka, volume 3 of Pokémon Adventures)"You can play Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen in all sorts of ways [...]" (Hidenori Kusaka, volume 18 of Pokémon Adventures)
==Classification==
===Content model===
While there are no strict rules that make a game a core series game, and previously assumed rules are continuously broken, the games generally have a similar plot structure and .
The begins the game in a small town or city of a given region, having no of their own. Through a course of events, the player receives a first partner Pokémon, usually from the region's Pokémon Professor; there are almost always three first partner Pokémon to choose from, with one type, one type, and one type, and a character who will become the player's rival will typically choose (or already have) another member of the trio based on the player's choice.
After this point, the player begins to journey across the entire region (which contains several settlements like cities and towns, themselves usually connected by route), any wild Pokémon they choose to, and using a party they assemble to take on other Pokémon Trainers. Most regions have eight Gym Leaders that the player must defeat in order to obtain a Badge from each one, though in games set in the Alola region, the player instead participates in the island challenge, and in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, they defeat five frenzied noble Pokémon. In addition to repeated interactions with their rival, the player must also stop the plans of a villainous team, which often involve the manipulation of Legendary Pokémon.
After all eight Gym Leaders have been defeated or the island challenge has been completed, the player can enter the Pokémon League, where the of the region awaits challengers. However, a series of Trainers known as the Elite Four must usually be defeated in succession before the Champion can be fought. The Champion is often introduced prior to the player's Pokémon League challenge, and may aid the player on their adventure. After defeating the Champion, the player becomes a Champion themself, which is usually honored by their entry into the Hall of Fame. Pokémon Legends: Arceus is the only game in the core series to not feature the Pokémon League in any form.
The player's defeat of the Champion can usually be considered the ending of the game, as it is followed by the credits being shown. However, there is always post-game content that the player gains access to after this. Often, there is a post-game plotline and locations and facilities that could not be previously accessed become available. Since , there is usually at least one facility specifically dedicated to . The overarching goal is to obtain many species of Pokémon in order to complete the Pokédex. In the first two generations, every Pokémon species in the game has to be obtained in order to complete the Pokédex, and the player is awarded a diploma for achieving this. From Generation III to Generation VI, there are two separate Pokédexes, each with their own diploma as a reward for completing them: the regional Pokédex, which only contains the Pokémon native to the region the game is set in, and the National Pokédex, which is unlocked in the post-game and contains every Pokémon in the game. Starting in Generation VII, the games only contain a regional Pokédex, the completion of which usually rewards the player with a diploma, while the National Pokédex is confined to companion applications like Pokémon Bank and Pokémon HOME.
===Release model===
While releases continue to break patterns, the release of core series games tends to follow a pattern.
When a generation of Pokémon games begins, a pair of games is always released. These paired versions feature virtually the same storyline as each other, but the available Pokémon differ, and some other elements are usually slightly different. This encourages trading, as it is required in order to complete the Pokédex.
Many generations feature what Game Freak internally calls an upper version (Japanese: upper version)Nintendo UK YouTube: Pokémon Ultra Sun & Pokémon Ultra Moon Introduction – Episode 4 – A new Pokémon adventure awaits, 3 Nov 2017 and what Western fans commonly refer to as a "third version", i.e., a follow-up game or pair of games released after the first games of the generation that takes place in the same region with added features. These games typically both share and lack certain regional that were available in one or both of the original paired versions; thus, a of an upper version must link together with the original pair to complete the regional Pokédex as well. On the contrary, upper versions typically contain certain Pokémon from different regions that are unavailable in the original pair, thus being more helpful in completing the National Pokédex. Until Generation VII, only a single third version following an original pair was ever released at a time; Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon were the first of these games to be released as a pair. Unlike other generations, Generation V opted for a sequel story instead, while Generation VI, Generation VIII, and Generation IX entirely forwent follow-up games set in the same region, the latter two instead providing additional features to the original pair of games via paid .
Sometimes, a secondary set of paired versions that are remakes of earlier titles may also be released. Starting from Generation VIII, singular version games with the subtitle "Legends" have been released, being original stories taking place in previously visited regions in the distant past and being single-player action RPG titles. Both Generation VIII and Generation IX have released "Legends" games, with Generation VIII releasing Pokémon Legends: Arceus, a game set in Sinnoh in the past, then known as Hisui, and Generation IX releasing Pokémon Legends: Z-A, a game set in Lumiose City of the Kalos region.
===Pokémon===
Most generations introduce that evolve into or from previously released Pokémon. Each region typically has mythology related to Legendary Pokémon that reside there. All generations also introduce at least one Mythical Pokémon, which are almost always event-exclusive upon being introduced but may become available through other means in later generations.
In all generations, there are some Pokémon that cannot be encountered until after the becomes . These are often Legendary Pokémon, such as . These Pokémon may or may not be part of the game's regional Pokédex.
Before the release of a new generation, new Pokémon are often used to promote the new by including them in the or in .
===Box art===
The box art for each game features one which was introduced in that generation (or, in the case of remakes, the generation of the original games). This Pokémon is referred to by fans as a game mascot, and with the exception of Kanto- and Hisui-based games, it is always the Legendary Pokémon available in that game at the climax of the storyline.
In terms of the artwork itself, the international and all region releases of the initial paired games of each generation from Generation III to use their game mascot's original Ken Sugimori artwork for their box art, whereas all other core series games use specially made artwork.
The titles in the Japanese games typically use some shade of red and blue for either the characters or outlines of the characters. This is most likely in reference to the first internationally released core games of Pokémon Red and Blue. The DLC Expansion Pass for Pokémon Sword and Shield uses yellow and green, possibly in reference to and .
==List of core series games==
38 core series games have been released in Japanese (22 counting paired releases as single games) and 37 have been released in English, French, Spanish, German, and Italian (21 counting paired releases as single games).
In , 28 core series games (15 counting paired releases as single games) have been released in Korean, with the first being in 2002 prior to the foundation of Nintendo of Korea and in 2006, followed by in 2008. However, at least were released in Japanese,South Korean blog with official and localized Ruby and Sapphire material hence the lack of language restrictions in the Korean Pal Park.
In , 13 core series games (7 counting paired releases as single games) have been released in both Simplified and Traditional Chinese, with the first being in 2016. However, the Japanese versions of as well as of were released in specific Chinese-speaking territories like Taiwan and Hong Kong.
 	Original versions	Original versions	Upper versions and expansions	Upper versions and expansions	Remakes	Remakes
(Japan)	 	 	 	 	 	
(Japan)	 	 	 	 	 	
(West) 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
===Trademarks===
Nintendo, Creatures, and Game Freak have trademarked several titles with the which have not currently been used but which fit the naming scheme of the core series games. The following information comes from the Japan Platform for Patent Information:
English 	Japanese	Application no.	Registration no.
Pocket Monsters Topaz 	 	2002-063587 	4677891
Pocket Monsters Tourmaline 	 	2002-063588 	4684698
Pocket Monsters Amethyst 	 	2002-063589 	4677892
Pocket Monsters Moonstone 	 	2002-063590 	4684699
Pocket Monsters White Gold 	 	2002-063591 	4677893
Pocket Monsters Yellow 	 	2008-093268 	5222903
Pocket Monsters Black 	 	2008-093269 	5222904
Pocket Monsters Brown 	 	2008-093270 	5222905
Pocket Monsters White 	 	2008-093271 	5222906
Pocket Monsters Gray/Grey 	 	2008-093272 	5222907
Pocket Monsters Vermilion 	 	2008-093273 	5222908
Pocket Monsters Purple 	 	2008-093274 	5222909
Pocket Monsters Crimson 	 	2008-093275 	5222910
Pocket Monsters Scarlet 	 	2008-093276 	5222911
GraySpecifically trademarked with this English spelling	 	2008-094459 	5406253
Pocket Monsters Red 	 	2009-060068 	5341298
Pocket Monsters Green 	 	2009-060069 	5293290
Pocket Monsters Blue 	 	2009-060070 	5307992
Pocket Monsters Yellow 	 	2009-060071 	5341299
Pocket Monsters Brown 	 	2009-060073 	5307993
Pocket Monsters Gray/Grey 	 	2009-060075 	5341302
Pocket Monsters Vermilion 	 	2009-060076 	5307994
Pocket Monsters Purple 	 	2009-060077 	5307995
Pocket Monsters Crimson 	 	2009-060078 	5341303
Pocket Monsters Scarlet 	 	2009-060079 	5341304
Delta Emeraldはちま起稿 	 	2014-035118 	5701924
The 2002 trademarks were filed around the same time as trademarks for , and are all the English names of minerals written in (, , , , and ). The 2008 trademarks were filed alongside trademarks for , and are all the Japanese names of colors written with a single . The 2009 trademarks were filed alongside trademarks for Black, White, and Scarlet, and are all the English names of colors written in katakana. Of these, , , and are shades of red.
 and Pokémon Diamond and Pearl were planned alongside Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire.Game Informer interview from August 14, 2017 Despite being released after Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen and before Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, Pokémon Emerald was trademarked earlier than Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire.Emerald trademarkRuby trademarkSapphire trademark
Contrary to what is sometimes reported, an equivalent to Blue matching the pattern of FireRed and LeafGreen was not trademarked by Nintendo, Creatures, or Game Freak. However, Game Freak's Junichi Masuda mentioned in Japanese and "WaterBlue" in English on an August 2004 blog post explaining the company's choice of "FireRed" and "LeafGreen" as both the Japanese and international titles for the remakes of .Junichi Masuda's old official blog (Japanese)Junichi Masuda's old official blog (English)
The Delta Emerald trademark has been commonly misreported as "Pokémon Delta Emerald", but this latter name was not trademarked. The name might suggest a relation to the Delta Episode in , which features references to Pokémon Emerald.
Tsunekazu Ishihara and Junichi Masuda have explained why upper version counterparts to Iwata Asks about Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 (Nintendo)Iwata Asks about Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 (Nintendo of America)Iwata Asks about Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 (Nintendo of Europe)Dr. Lava's translation of a Spanish Official Nintendo Magazine interview from late 2016Reddit AMA by Game Informer on their visit to Game Freak from August 2017 or did not materialize. In the case of the hypothetical Pokémon Gray or Grey Version, Game Freak decided to instead develop to surprise fans (though Black 2 and White 2 were later considered upper versions in some promotional material for the Pokémon Sword and Shield Expansion Pass), while the potential Pokémon Z was passed over in favor of being designed for the Pokémon 20th Anniversary, with a potential spiritual successor in Pokémon Legends: Z-A.
 published an article in early June 2017 describing a "clerical error" by The Pokémon Company, which initially listed as Nintendo Switch titles alongside being Nintendo 3DS titles during their announcement.Eurogamer (June 6, 2017)
==Connectivity==
Certain demos of core series games allow players to receive special Pokémon and items:
* Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire Special Demo Version: Allows players to receive a and/or a with their respective Mega Stones in .
* Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon Special Demo Version: Allows players to receive a with the Ability in .
Each of the side series games allow players to transfer their Pokémon and items to and from the core series or receive Pokémon and items to bring back to core series games:
* Pokémon Stadium: Allows players to transfer their Pokémon from the Generation I core series games to battle in 3D.
* Pokémon Stadium 2: Allows players to transfer their Pokémon from the Generation I and Generation II core series games to battle in 3D.
* Pokémon Box Ruby & Sapphire: Allows players to store their Pokémon from the Generation III core series games.
* Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness: Can trade Pokémon with the Generation III core series games.
* Pokémon Battle Revolution: Allows players to transfer their Pokémon from the Generation IV core series games to battle in 3D.
* My Pokémon Ranch: Allows players to store their Pokémon from (and from in Japan).
* Pokéwalker: Allows players to store their Pokémon from to gain experience by walking. Additionally, Pokémon caught in the Pokéwalker can be transferred to Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver.
* Pokémon Dream World: Allows players to send Pokémon caught in this game to the Generation V core series games.
* Pokémon Dream Radar: Allows players to send Pokémon caught in this game to .
* Poké Transporter: Allows players to transfer their Pokémon from the Generation V games, and the Generation I and II games on Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console, to Pokémon Bank.
* Pokémon Bank: Allows players to store their Pokémon from Generation VI and Generation VII core series games.
* Pokémon HOME: Allows players to store their Pokémon from core series Nintendo Switch games, and can also receive transferred Pokémon from Pokémon Bank and .
Some allow players to receive items or special Pokémon in the core series:
* Pokémon Pikachu 2 GS: Allows players to convert Watts accumulated by walking into items to be sent to the Generation II games.
* Pokémon Channel: In the European and Australian versions of the game, it allows players to receive a gift in the Generation III core series games.
* Pokémon Ranger series: Allows players to receive a special Egg and other special Pokémon in the Generation IV core series games through Ranger Net missions.
* Pokémon GO: Allows players to transfer Generation I Pokémon, Alolan forms, , and How to transfer Pokémon from Pokémon GO to Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee! caught in this game to . Allows players to transfer most Pokémon caught in this game to Pokémon HOME via the GO Transporter.
* Pokémon Pass: Allows players to receive serial codes for certain event Pokémon.
==Timeline==
==Notes==
==References==
==External links==
* The Pokémon Company website game list: has "Pocket Monsters Series" filter (Japanese)
** The Pokémon Company "Pocket Monsters Series" page (archive) (Japanese)
** The Pokémon Company "Pocket Monsters Series" product list (archive) (Japanese)
* Pokémon Korea website section (Korean)
* The Pokémon Company International website all-games section
* Nintendo subsite for Pokémon games (Japanese)
==Related articles==
* Spin-off Pokémon games
** Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series
** Pokémon Ranger series
** Pokémon Rumble series
** Super Smash Bros. series
* Pokémon Stadium series
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