I’m right here to current to you a listing of unbelievable sport titles that you’ll have by no means skilled earlier than; the most effective Pokemon Mini video games.
The authentic black and white Game Boy is one among my favourite online game consoles as a result of it’s the epitome of “retro gaming”. The simplistic monochrome graphic fashion, the outdated fashion LCD display screen with the crispy pixels. I like it.
I just lately found one other retro sport console that has a really related really feel. And it’s a console I had neglected completely.
In the previous, once I heard “Pokémon Mini”, I assumed that we have been speaking a couple of Tamagotchi clone that had the primary technology Pokémon (inexperienced/pink/blue/yellow) on it.
You can’t blame me, it does appear to be a Tamagotchi!
When I found how nice the Pokémon Mini video games have been, I instantly appeared into our personal articles to discover a greatest record for some sport suggestions.
I used to be fairly shocked to see we had not created a listing for Pokémon Mini video games, contemplating how a lot the group loves all issues Pokémon.
Fear not, we didn’t miss the Pokémon Mini completely, we coated it in our e-book A Handheld History.
I raised my hand and requested for the chance to check ALL Pokémon Mini sport titles and create my rankings.
Lucky for all of us, we dwell in the most effective time for moveable gaming and we are able to emulate the Pokémon Mini on a lot of the Best Handhelds Under $100.
(Also, the Pokémon Mini is the primary console I’ve emulated that takes benefit of the rumble on my RG351V. I didn’t even understand it had that!)
I’ve 31 video games complete for testing functions, in order that’s a reasonably first rate pool for a greatest record.
So let’s do that… must be a ton of enjoyable!
Here’s the most effective Pokemon Mini video games:
7. Pokémon Puzzle Collection (2001)
Pokémon Puzzle Collection is a group of sliding puzzle video games.
Game play is easy, but addictive… as we’d count on for a miniature moveable gaming console.
There’s 80 puzzles in complete, 20 of that are unlocked via sport play.
So this sport provides you a ton of content material to work with.
Perfect for lengthy practice rides round Tokyo or a calming weekend within the park.
There was even a comply with up in 2002, Pokémon Puzzle Collection vol. 2, that got here full of 96 puzzles!
So if this sort of sport play is your jam, right here’s an ideal rabbit gap to throw your self into.
6. Pokémon Party mini (2001)
Luckily, this one got here in English, so I had no issues discovering my approach across the menu.
And every mini-game comes with a handy “how to play” display screen.
Most video games are performed with a single button press on the proper time.
Easy sufficient, and it’s these sorts of tremendous simplistic video games that make for a good time killer.
Ricochet Dribble specifically was the cutest and most fulfilling mini-game within the assortment.
If you’re a fan of the Mario Party / Game & Watch / Warioware fashion mini-game assortment… Pokémon Party mini is an ideal slot in your ROMs folder.
Absolutely among the finest Pokémon Mini video games.
5. Pichu Bros. mini (2002)
Pichu Bros. mini was a bit irritating at first, as this is without doubt one of the Japan solely releases.
So I did what all of us do in that state of affairs… I simply pressed the A button till a sport started.
I began with a extremely cute trying skateboard sport starring what gave the impression to be Pikachu’s youthful siblings. (The Pichus debuted in Pokémon Gold and Silver and are the pre-evolved model of Pikachu).
It took me just a few tries to even work out what was occurring, however I endured due to simply how cute the graphic fashion was (the frequent theme of all Pokémon Mini video games).
Once I found out that the one management was with the left set off, it was easy crusing (or skating) from there!
And that’s not the one mini-game featured on this cute title. There’s a parachuting sport, some bizarre flying(?) sport, a fruit amassing(?) sport, a whack-a-mole sort sport…
Honestly, it was all form of unusual and complicated. Haha. But it’s easy mini-games at it’s most interesting, and reminds us of stuff just like the Game & Watch and the earlier talked about Pokémon Party mini.
If you solely ever attempt the skateboarding sport, it’s all well worth the funding of your time.
4. Pokémon Zany Cards (2001)
Pokémon Zany Cards is maybe one of the vital distinctive video games on this record.
It is a dialogue heavy sport, which makes it fairly completely different than the opposite video games for the Pokémon Mini.
And the sport play itself is kind of rule heavy and has a steep studying curve.
For those that wanna make investments extra time in a sport on the Pokémon Mini, this sport completely is one that gives a tougher expertise and plenty of reward for taking the time to determine all of it out.
One might certainly spend many hours perfecting their expertise in Pokémon Zany Cards. And have a good time doing it.
It doesn’t harm that it additionally is a beautiful trying sport. Pixel perfection.
3. Pokémon Pinball mini (2001)
If you’ve performed among the wonderful pinball video games of the previous, resembling Kirby’s Pinball Land or the unique Pokémon Pinball… that is gonna be proper up your alley.
But this isn’t your normal dual-flipper fashion pinball… it’s an appropriately minimized model of pinball that incorporates a plunger fashion motion.
Like a mole coming out of the bottom to thrust a PokéBall across the board. Some kind of reverse whack-a-mole.
That’s twice we’ve talked about whack-a-mole on this article. That’s two instances greater than any earlier article. Haha.
Seriously although.. you realize what pinball video games are all about. This one is that, however in a cute miniature type. And we completely like it.
Needless to say, nice music, nice graphics, enjoyable sport play, and rumble response!
2. Pokémon Tetris (2002)
I’m an enormous fan of Tetris, particularly Tetris DX. And if you’re a connoisseur of all the Tetris ports like me, you realize all of them play fairly completely different.
That is why I favor the unique Game Boy Tetris and Tetris DX over some other port I’ve performed, as a result of they’ve the most effective really feel to them.
Hearing that there was a Tetris sport for the Pokémon Mini was what had me trying into the console within the first place.
Pokémon Tetris, additionally generally known as Pokémon Shock Tetris, was a incredible port created for the Pokémon Mini console.
And it additionally occurs to be one of many ports that has a reasonably good really feel to it! Everything feels silky easy and appears actually nice.
With the added mechanic of catching Pokémon by clearing 4 traces directly, it provides a enjoyable special approach to a well-recognized sport.
I’d rank this among the many greatest Tetris ports on the market, and simply among the finest Pokemon Mini video games I’ve performed.
But there’s just one that had me actually saying “SO COOL!” out lout whereas my woman tried to sleep.
1. Pokémon Race mini (2002)
In what needs to be my favourite of the Pokémon Mini sport titles, and the one that basically caught my consideration probably the most….
Pokémon Race mini is, properly, a sport the place you race… as Pikachu.
What significantly impressed me right here was the unbelievable graphics and sport play mechanics.
You are racing via platforming fashion ranges, which looks as if an unusual race format.
And little particulars like every runner kicking up mud as they run, swimming, using verticality, and wall leaping.
It all feels fairly superior for such a simplistic sport.
But actually… that’s form of abstract of every part in regards to the Pokémon Mini that shocked me.
It’s all so easy, but so lovely in its retro perfection, and the video games play very well for a way fundamental they’re.
That’s form of the indicators of an ideal sport, for my part. Looks good. Fun. Effortless. Keeps you coming again. And that’s precisely what the Pokémon Mini is.
Pokémon Race mini is a masterpiece in pixel artwork, and the sport play is clear, easy, and extremely fulfilling.
And for that motive, I’m giving Pokémon Race the primary spot in our record of the most effective Pokémon Mini video games.
Homebrew Games
There appears to be a small neighborhood of homebrew builders who’re attempting new issues on the customarily forgotten Pokémon Mini console.
There are easy titles like Cortex, PokeSnake, and SOKOmini that give one thing on par with the official releases.
But it’s video games like Pokémon Psychic Seeds that present what is feasible on the console, and maybe would even take a primary spot have been it an official launch.
If you’re constructing your ROM assortment to play some new video games, add that to the record.
Japan Exclusives
There are some video games for the Pokémon Mini that have been solely launched in Japan, and simply usually are not fairly playable for somebody who doesn’t learn Japanese.
In reality, out of the ten official releases, solely 4 have been launched in North America and 5 in Europe.
There have been unofficial English translations for a few of these video games.
So when you’ve got a little bit of know-how… you’ll be able to patch your ROM recordsdata to provide you totally translated variations of unbelievable video games like Togepi no Daibouken (Togepi’s Great Adventure) or Pokémon Sodateyasan Mini (Pokémon Breeder mini).
Without the technical know-how… you’ll be locked out of these on account of language obstacles.
I used to be capable of patch my copy of Togepi’s Great Adventure and it’s an insanely cool sport.
The sport play is kinda like Marble Madness and Super Monkey Ball, with a little bit of The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening fashion lore thrown in for good measure.
It additionally has among the greatest music for the Pokémon Mini console.
I extremely advocate this one for those who can handle to endure the Japanese language or wanna work out methods to patch the sport.
Anthony has been a online game lover ever since he can keep in mind. He turned a fulltime nomad in 2018, dwelling all through most of Asia. He targeted his ardour in retro gaming and commenced making a sport for the Game Boy Color whereas dwelling in Nara, Japan throughout the 2020 pandemic. He is now in Chiang Mai, Thailand, the place he spends most of his time gaming, occurring lengthy walks and assembly as many stray canine as attainable.
