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Generations 101

What the generations mean

Throughout this site you'll see phrases like "Gen IV games" or "Generation III". A generation is simply a numbered era of Pokemon games that released together and share the same data and connectivity. Each generation is set in one or more regions - a region is the in-game world, like Kanto or Sinnoh. So "Gen IV" and "Sinnoh" are related but not the same thing: Gen IV is the era, Sinnoh is its main region.

Region cheat sheet
Kanto Gen I (also FireRed/LeafGreen & Let's Go)
Johto Gen II (also HeartGold/SoulSilver)
Hoenn Gen III (also Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire)
Sinnoh Gen IV (also Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl)
Unova Gen V
Kalos Gen VI
Alola Gen VII
Galar Gen VIII (Sword/Shield)
Hisui Gen VIII (Legends: Arceus - ancient Sinnoh)
Paldea Gen IX (Scarlet/Violet)
I

Generation I

1996-1999
Kanto · Game Boy

Where it all began: the original 151 Pokemon, traded over a Link Cable.

Games in this generation
RBY VC RBY
II

Generation II

1999-2001
Johto & Kanto · Game Boy Color

Added held items and breeding, and could still trade back to Gen I.

Games in this generation
GSC VC GSC
III

Generation III

2002-2005
Hoenn & Kanto · Game Boy Advance

A clean hardware reset - the start of the modern, connectable lineage.

Games in this generation
RSE FRLG
IV

Generation IV

2006-2009
Sinnoh & Johto · Nintendo DS

The dual-screen DS era, with Pal Park pulling the GBA games forward.

Games in this generation
DPPt HGSS
V

Generation V

2010-2012
Unova · Nintendo DS

The last DS generation, and the on-ramp into Pokemon Bank.

Games in this generation
BW B2W2
VI

Generation VI

2013-2014
Kalos & Hoenn · Nintendo 3DS

The jump to 3D models, launched alongside Pokemon Bank.

Games in this generation
XY ORAS
VII

Generation VII

2016-2018
Alola & Kanto · Nintendo 3DS & Switch

Regional forms and Z-Moves; Let's Go bridged GO and the Switch.

Games in this generation
SM USUM LGPE
VIII

Generation VIII

2019-2022
Galar & Sinnoh & Hisui · Nintendo Switch

The Switch era and the launch of Pokemon HOME.

Games in this generation
SwSh BDSP PLA
IX

Generation IX

2022-present
Paldea · Nintendo Switch

The current open-world generation, fully connected to HOME.

Games in this generation
SV