Unveiling the Marathon: What is the Longest Mainline Pokémon Game?

For Pokémon trainers embarking on their digital journeys, the question of game length is often a crucial one. Some prefer a brisk adventure, while others relish the prospect of dozens, even hundreds, of hours spent catching, training, and battling. So, which mainline Pokémon title offers the most substantial gameplay experience?

The answer, based on various metrics, often points to a tie. While Diamond and Pearl (and the subsequent Platinum version) on the Nintendo DS are often cited as the longest, the sheer volume of post-game content in other titles creates some ambiguity. Expect to spend a substantial amount of time completing the main story and the numerous side quests.

While Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum are often the go-to answer, the longevity of a Pokémon game depends greatly on the player. For completionists, games like Scarlet and Violet, despite faster main story completion times for some, can offer hundreds of hours of gameplay. Let’s dive into the details to understand why these games and others vie for the title of “Longest Pokémon Game.”

Factors Affecting Playthrough Length

Several elements contribute to the overall length of a Pokémon game:

• Main Story Length: The time it takes to complete the core storyline, defeating Gym Leaders, and thwarting the regional villain’s plans.
• Post-Game Content: Activities available after defeating the Elite Four and becoming Champion, such as completing the Pokédex, battling rematches, exploring new areas, and tackling challenging quests.
• Side Quests and Optional Activities: Numerous side quests and activities, like Pokémon Contests (or similar features in other games), exploration of optional areas, and completion of in-game challenges.
• Breeding and Competitive Training: Dedicated players may spend hundreds of hours breeding Pokémon with perfect stats and training them for competitive battles.
• Shiny Hunting: The pursuit of rare, alternate-colored Pokémon, which can be incredibly time-consuming and driven by pure chance.

Analyzing the Contenders

While initial reports suggested that Sword and Shield were relatively shorter, those assessments often didn’t account for the DLC. With the Isle of Armor and Crown Tundra, the overall content available increased significantly. The open-world areas introduced in these games also allowed for extensive exploration.

HeartGold and SoulSilver, remakes of the Generation II games, are also strong contenders. Recreating two entire regions, Kanto and Johto, and introducing features like Pokémon following the player on the overworld significantly increase the playtime.

Black 2 and White 2, sequels to Black and White, offer a substantial story extension and additional post-game content, making them longer than their predecessors. The introduction of the Pokémon World Tournament provides a seemingly endless challenge for battling enthusiasts.

Ultimately, the game length varies depending on a player’s play style. A player who only completes the main story will find Diamond and Pearl to be longer than Scarlet and Violet. But a player seeking to catch every Pokémon and complete every quest will find that latter titles may offer a more engaging experience.

Comparing Completion Times

While there is no singular definitive answer, here is a general comparison based on average completion times for different play styles, according to estimates found on HowLongToBeat.com:

• Main Story Only: Diamond/Pearl/Platinum (35-40 hours), Scarlet/Violet (30-35 hours), Black 2/White 2 (35-40 hours).
• Main Story + Extras: Diamond/Pearl/Platinum (60-80 hours), Scarlet/Violet (70-90 hours), Black 2/White 2 (70-90 hours), HeartGold/SoulSilver (80-100 hours).
• Completionist: All titles can exceed 100+ hours, with some players spending hundreds of hours on breeding, shiny hunting, and competitive battling.

Conclusion

Determining the absolute “longest” Pokémon game is difficult due to varying play styles and goals. However, Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum consistently stand out for their extensive main story and post-game content. Modern titles such as Scarlet and Violet boast extensive open-world exploration and activities that can greatly extend the playtime. Ultimately, the “longest” Pokémon game is the one that keeps you hooked the most. The series’ longevity and engagement can offer great insights into learning and games, which is one area that the Games Learning Society explores. You can visit the GamesLearningSociety.org website to find out more.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Which Pokémon game is the shortest?

Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! are often considered the shortest mainline Pokémon games.

2. Which Pokémon game has the best story?

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky is widely regarded as having the best story in the entire franchise.

3. What is the hardest Pokémon game?

Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon are often cited as the most challenging games, particularly when attempting a Nuzlocke challenge.

4. What is the largest Pokémon game file size?

Pokémon Sword and Shield have the largest file size, clocking in at around 12.4GB without the DLC.

5. Which Pokémon game has the most lore?

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet have the most lore.

6. What is the lowest-rated mainline Pokémon game?

Pokémon Violet has the lowest Metacritic rating of any mainline Pokémon game.

7. Which Pokémon game has the most Pokémon to catch?

This depends on which game you can transfer Pokemon from other games into, and what game you are playing. The Gen 4 games, and Black and White have quite a few Pokemon to catch without the use of other games.

8. What is the weakest Pokémon?

Cosmog is considered the weakest, with low stats and few moves.

9. What is the shortest Pokémon?

Flabébé is the shortest Pokémon, standing at only 4 inches tall.

10. Which Pokémon is the most difficult to catch?

Arceus is considered the most difficult Pokémon to catch due to its rarity and challenging capture methods.

11. What is the most broken competitive Pokémon?

Ogerpon is seen as the most broken competitive Pokémon in Scarlet and Violet due to its adaptability with masks.

12. Which game has the original 151 Pokémon?

Pokémon Red and Blue (and Pokémon Green in Japan) feature the original 151 Pokémon.

13. Which is the best Pokémon game to start with?

Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen are often recommended as excellent starting points for new players.

14. What Pokémon has no weaknesses?

Tynamo, Eelektrik, and Eelektross (with the Levitate ability) have no type weaknesses.

15. Which Pokémon has the shortest cry?

Pidgey has the shortest cry in the Pokémon games.