The Most Difficult Pokémon Games to Complete

Completing Pokémon games can be a fun yet challenging endeavor, especially with the increasing complexity and depth of the series. While some games are more straightforward, others introduce unique mechanics, tougher challenges, or more complicated completion requirements. Here’s a look at some of the most difficult Pokémon games to fully complete, considering factors like obtaining all Pokémon, facing difficult opponents, and completing in-game challenges.

1. Pokémon Red/Blue/Yellow (Gen 1)

The original Pokémon games, while nostalgic and classic, can be incredibly difficult to complete. The challenge lies not just in the difficulty of battles but also in the lack of modern conveniences like quality-of-life updates, easier access to Pokémon, and updated mechanics. Here’s why:

• Limited Pokémon Accessibility: The original games only allow you to catch 151 Pokémon, but many require trades to complete the Pokédex. Some Pokémon are exclusive to either Red or Blue, and certain legendary Pokémon are hard to catch without the right conditions.
• Tough Elite Four: The Elite Four in these games can be a nightmare. With type imbalances, your strategy might fall short if you don’t carefully prepare and level up your team.
• Glitches and Bugs: These games were notorious for glitches and bugs that could hinder progress or even cause corruption if not handled properly.

2. Pokémon Gold/Silver/Crystal (Gen 2)

Gold and Silver introduced many new elements to the series, but they also raised the stakes for completion. The addition of two regions (Johto and Kanto) doubles the amount of content, but it also means more challenges.

• Extensive Pokédex: While the games introduce 100 new Pokémon, the challenge is in completing the entire Pokédex. You’ll need to catch all the Pokémon in Johto and Kanto, requiring you to trade with other players to obtain certain species.
• Lack of Modern Mechanics: These games lack many of the modern conveniences of later games, such as easy access to moves, held items, or a more balanced leveling curve.
• Johto and Kanto: The addition of two regions also means you’ll face an additional set of Gym Leaders and the infamous Red at the summit of Mt. Silver, who boasts one of the most difficult final battles in the entire series.

3. Pokémon Diamond/Pearl/Platinum (Gen 4)

Generation 4 brought new features to the series, but completing these games can still be a formidable challenge.

• Slow Progression: Diamond and Pearl are notorious for their slow pacing and long grind to level up Pokémon. It can take considerable time to get through certain sections of the game, especially the Victory Road area, which features many trainers and challenging wild Pokémon.
• Pokédex Completion: While Platinum makes it slightly easier by including the ability to catch Pokémon from past generations, completing the Pokédex still requires trading and transferring Pokémon from other games, including elusive and difficult-to-find species.
• Battle Frontier: Pokémon Platinum features the Battle Frontier, an endgame facility that includes several battle challenges that require precise strategy and team-building. The difficulty of completing the Battle Frontier can be a major hurdle.

4. Pokémon Black/White (Gen 5)

Generation 5 introduced a fresh experience with a completely new set of Pokémon and a strong narrative. While these games offer a unique Pokémon experience, completing them is no small feat.

• New Pokémon Only: Unlike previous generations, Black and White only feature new Pokémon until the post-game. This makes completing the Pokédex especially hard, as you must trade with other games to get older Pokémon.
• Challenging Battle System: The Unova region’s Elite Four and Champion Iris can be tough to beat, especially since many of the trainers in the game use strong and well-rounded teams.
• Story-Driven Difficulty: The story is more challenging as well, especially with the presence of Team Plasma, who are involved in several major events that add extra difficulty in the form of double battles and complex strategy.

5. Pokémon X/Y (Gen 6)

While Generation 6 introduced many features, such as Mega Evolutions and a new 3D visual experience, completing the game is still challenging for various reasons.

• Mega Evolutions and Strategy: The addition of Mega Evolutions adds a layer of complexity to battle strategies, requiring the player to carefully plan their team for each scenario, especially during the Elite Four and Champion battles.
• Pokédex Completion: While the Kalos region introduces a variety of new Pokémon, completing the Pokédex still requires a lot of effort, especially for certain rare and event-exclusive Pokémon.
• Legendary Pokémon: X/Y’s focus on powerful Legendary Pokémon like Xerneas and Yveltal means that capturing them is no small task, requiring knowledge of battle mechanics and patience.

6. Pokémon Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire (Gen 6 Remakes)

The remakes of Generation 3 are beloved by fans but can be difficult to fully complete due to the amount of content available, including additional Legendary Pokémon and post-game events.

• Legendary Hunting: The remakes offer a plethora of Legendary Pokémon, many of which are locked behind complicated requirements, like the Legendary Trio of Regi Pokémon, which require specific conditions to catch.
• Mega Evolutions and the Battle Maison: These features push you to develop a highly strategic team to maximize your chances of success. The Battle Maison, which offers tough battle challenges, is a grind for completionists looking for all the rewards.
• Post-Game: The post-game content in Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire is extensive, including the Battle Resort and the Delta Episode, which introduces a unique storyline and new Legendary Pokémon.

7. Pokémon Sun/Moon (Gen 7)

Sun and Moon offer a unique gameplay experience compared to previous titles. The games feature more narrative elements and fewer traditional Gym battles, but they still present considerable challenges for completionists.

• Alola Trials: Instead of the standard Gyms, Alola has Trials that test different aspects of a Pokémon Trainer’s skill. These Trials can be difficult due to the diversity of Pokémon and the challenges they present.
• Ultra Recon Squad and Ultra Beasts: One of the most challenging aspects of these games is capturing the Ultra Beasts, rare Pokémon that require patience, strategic planning, and a significant amount of in-game time to catch.
• Island Scan and Pokédex Completion: To complete the Pokédex, players need to use the Island Scan feature, which gives you access to Pokémon in certain areas on specific days. This mechanic, combined with the requirement to trade for certain Pokémon, makes full completion a time-consuming task.

8. Pokémon Sword/Shield (Gen 8)

While Pokémon Sword and Shield modernized the franchise with new mechanics like Dynamaxing, the game’s completionist challenges still offer a tough road.

• Gigantamax and Dynamax: To master the new mechanics, you’ll need to capture a wide variety of Dynamax and Gigantamax Pokémon, some of which are only available through limited-time events or specific conditions.
• Legendary Pokémon and the Isle of Armor: The introduction of DLC expansions in Sword and Shield means that players need to venture beyond the base game to capture certain Legendary Pokémon, adding extra content and complexity to completion.
• Shiny Hunting: With the rise in popularity of Shiny hunting, obtaining a shiny Pokémon in Sword and Shield has become a common challenge for completionists, requiring a considerable amount of time and patience.

9. Pokémon Scarlet/Violet (Gen 9)

As the latest entries in the franchise, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet introduce an open-world experience with a significant amount of content to explore, making completion incredibly difficult.

• Massive Open World: Completing the game involves exploring a massive open world with different environments. The sheer size and the number of areas to visit, Pokémon to catch, and trainers to battle can be overwhelming.
• Path of Legends and Starfall Street: Completing all the storylines and battles within these paths can be quite difficult, especially the tougher Titan battles and Star Team leaders.
• Pokédex and Paradox Pokémon: Completing the Pokédex is challenging not only because of the vast number of Pokémon but also due to the Paradox Pokémon, which require specific conditions to find and capture.

Conclusion

While each Pokémon game has its own unique challenges for completionists, the ones listed above are generally regarded as the most difficult due to their complex mechanics, long grind times, and challenging in-game tasks. Whether it’s hunting down Legendary Pokémon, battling through tough Elite Four members, or completing an extensive Pokédex, these games will test the limits of even the most dedicated Pokémon fans.