Sometimes our kids develop interests different from our own and if that interest is Pokémon, then I’m the autistic adult for you! I’ve loved Pokémon ever since I was a kid. I played the original Red and Blue games on a Nintendo Gameboy (not even the “color” one!) and have been a fan ever since. They say autistic people tend to maintain some of their child-like interests and I know that to be true about myself and others. Pokémon is definitely one of them.
So if you’re looking for a guide on which games to get, which movies to watch, or which TV shows to enjoy, allow me to provide you that list in order that I think would provide the most enjoyment. This is not an exhaustive list as I’m only going to mention games released for the Nintendo Switch and some of the newer movies and TV shows.
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[TV Series] Pokémon: Indigo League
Okay, so this is the only exception to my “newer movies and TV shows” comment from above. Currently available on Netflix, the Indigo League is the original first season of the Pokémon animated TV series that aired in the late 1990’s. This show tells the story of how Ash Ketchum and Pikachu’s relationship begins and evolves from “I don’t like you, I don’t want to be with you, this who situation sucks” to being besties.
Ash travels the Kanto region with Misty and Brock. I don’t blame you for skipping it for Brock has incredibly inappropriate behavior simping over every female character in the show.
[Movie] Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!
If you want to skip the OG TV series, then this movie is good enough. It was released in 2017 and summarizes Ash’s adventures in Kanto sans Misty and Brock. As a movie adaptation, fans of the original show might not enjoy it as much since certain events happen differently or not at all but if your kid is learning about Pokémon for the first time, this backstory is plenty.
[TV Series] Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon
This show is based on the Nintendo 3DS games Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon. Ash continues his journey by taking a trip to the tropical Alola Region (Hawai’i, basically). I loved the game and its story and the TV show does a fine job with its adaptation
[TV Series] Pokémon Journeys: The Series
My child and I love this newer series. These follow the adventures of Ash Ketchum and Goh, with the first episode showing Pikachu’s origin story and how it ended up with Ash!
Throughout this series, Ash and Goh visit various regions, so the more movies, shows, and games you’ve played, the more you’ll recognize the area, Pokémon, and characters. The first episode builds on Pikachu’s backstory before Ash, something fans have always wanted to know.
Spoiler Alert
For example, there are episodes where Ash visits the Kanto region to reunite with Misty and Brock, or when they go to Alola and introduces Goh to the students he worked alongside with in the Pokémon Sun & Moon show.
[Movie] Mewtwo Strikes Back: Evolution
Released in 2019, this is a CGI remake of The First Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back that was originally released in America in 1999. This shows the origin story of Mewtwo, one of the first legendary Pokémon and is featured in other movies, shows, and games quite often.
Spoiler Alert
So, Ash straight up dies in this movie and is resurrected by the tears of crying Pokémon. It likely won’t be obvious to young kids as the hero runs between the fighting Mew and Mewtwo and is zapped by their colliding powers, is delicately floated to the ground, and turned to stone. My 3-year-old watches it with undivided attention, understands that everyone is sad because “Ash is dead” (without really fully knowing what “dead” means) and then is happy when he comes back.
Mewtwo also erases the memories of everyone there so knowing that he died and came back is cannon that is never discussed every again makes the adult in me feel weird. Like, that’s some important medical history!
Yes, I still cry during the scene.
[Game] Pokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu or Let’s Go Eevee
The Pokémon Let’s Go video game for the Nintendo Switch is the first game I’d recommend! This is reminiscent of the original Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow games (also known as “generation 1” or “gen 1”). After having watched the TV show or movie, the player may recognize the areas within the game since it also takes place in the Kanto region starting in Ash’s hometown of Pallet town.
Spoiler Alert
Mewtwo appears at the end of this game and can be added to the player’s team. If they’ve already watched the movie featuring Mewtwo’s origin, this may make that moment extra special.
[Game] Pokémon Shining Pearl or Brilliant Diamond
Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum are the 4th gen series that takes the traditional Pokémon gaming experience (win 8 gym badges, defeat the elite 4, become Champion) to the Sinnoh region. It maintains the day-night cycle from the 3rd gen games while also adding morning, afternoon, and evening times to make finding Pokémon even more exciting.
Pokémon Shining Pearl and Brilliant Diamond are remakes for the Nintendo Switch and is one of the most popular Pokémon games ever made.
[Game] Pokémon Sword or Shield
A fun new game that takes place in the Galar region (an aesthetic that resembles the UK), it introduces new game mechanics like the “Wild Area” where, for the first time in a main-story game, you’re not a fixed camera viewing from above. Instead, you are running around a 3D area and looking for visible Pokémon!
What’s also unique is that in these areas, the Pokémon levels vary. In most games, all Pokémon in an area have a similar power level, meaning you can go to a place in a game and know that you can walk safely in the grass because your Pokémon are 10 levels higher than any Pokémon in that area. In the Wild Area, that’s not necessarily the case. It’s more mixed, adding excitement to every encounter.
[Movie] Giratina & the Sky Warrior
An interesting movie that introduces the legendary Pokémon known as Giratina. Trust me that you’ll want to watch it in this order or read some of the spoiler alerts to understand why.
[TV Series] Pokémon Master Journeys: The Series
This directly follows Pokémon Journeys: The Series, picking up exactly where it left off. In our house, we absolutely love Ash and Goh and my child requests this particular season by “the one where they do the butt dance!” referring to the ending theme song.
Pokémon Journeys and Pokémon Master Journeys are currently available on American Netflix while the third and final season, Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series, is yet to be released here.
Spoiler Alert
I just watched an episode in Master Journeys where he meets a familiar face, Iris, whom I had no idea existed because I never watched the movies Black—Victini and Reshiram, White—Victini and Zekrom, Kyurem vs. the Sword of Justice, or Genesect and the Legend Awakened. Those came out while I was in high school and I was pretending I didn’t like Pokémon at the time…
However, you can still enjoy the show without having watched those movies.
[Movie] Arceus and the Jewel of Life
A lovely movie featuring Arceus and some lore around that legendary Pokémon. I highly recommend watching it before playing the Pokémon Legends: Arceus game since the background knowledge here will make the game more exciting.
Spoiler Alert
In this movie, the legendary Pokémon Dialga and Palkia come to defend the world, so having knowledge of them from Shining Pearl and Brilliant Diamond will add that understanding.
Giratina also joins the fray so having watched Giratina & the Sky Warrior first will help understand why Giratina hates Palkia and Dialga at the beginning of the movie.
The movie also explains some of Arceus’ powers and the “plates” it uses, which are featured in the Pokémon Legends: Arceus game but not really explained, hence it being useful to watch before playing that game.
[Game] Pokémon Legends: Arceus
This game revamped Pokémon games in many ways. It completely diverged from the traditional win-8-badges-defeat-elite-4-become-champion routine by having an actual story. It’s also the first open-world game, similar to the Wild Areas introduced in Pokémon Sword and Shield, but not limited to just an area.
This game takes place in the Sinnoh region before the Pokédex was invented, so you’re role is essentially to contribute to first ever index of Pokémon! Think of it as a prequel story to [Shining] Pearl and [Brilliant] Diamond.
Spoiler Alert
This game features legendary Pokémon from Pokémon Shining Pearl and Brilliant Diamond, so I recommend playing that game first should you want to make those “reveals” more exciting.
Some of the characters in this game revere Arceus like a god and there is a religious feel to the game in that respect. However, it is not necessarily an origin story of Arceus or the legendary Pokémon so to make their reveals more impactful and exciting I recommend watching the Giratina & The Sky Warrior and Arceus and the Jewel of Life movies first.
