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1) Pokémon Conquest
Released: 2012
Platform: Nintendo DS
If there’s anything that most Poéemon spin-offs have in common, it’s that Game Freak loves to combine Pokémon with things that it seems to have nothing to do with. Puzzle League, pinball, photography, card collecting, the list goes on, and yet, almost every time, developers find a way to make it work. No single Pokémon spin-off, however, is as successful as Game Freak and Tecmo Koei’s Pokémon Conquest. Though not billed as so in its Western title, Conquest is actually a mashup of Pokémon and Japanese game series Nobunaga’s Ambition. Nobunaga’s Ambition is a turn-based strategy series set in feudal Japan. Never before had such intrinsically different themes been meshed with Pokémon, but somehow the masterminds at Game Freak and Tecmo made it work. The turn-based action and modern world of Pokémon were replaced with Nobunaga’s setting and strategy play mechanics. In a clever twist, Conquest offers the chance to collect both Pokémon and warriors, with the idea being to pair one of each into a perfect combination.
Battles play out similarly to other RTS games like Advance Wars, but still maintain the signature element of Pokémon strengths and weaknesses, adding another layer of planning when forming a strategy. The story is entertaining, the animations crisp, and the world feels very cohesive in spite of the odd combination. The best Pokémon spin-off games show respect for the traditional RPG titles while simultaneously crafting a new experience. Conquest remains the most immersive and compelling offshoot to date, and sits proudly at number one.
Do you agree that Pokémon Conquest is the best spin-off? Are you chomping at the bit to declare that Pokémon Channel should have gotten the top spot? Let us know in the comments!
Excellent list! But Pinball at 9? I loved Pinball. *sniff*
Lol, I understand… these things are hard to organize!