Key Takeaways
- Pokemon Mystery Dungeon games offer a relaxing and unique experience with classic creatures and no humans.
- Gates to Infinity underwhelmed critics with magnified perspectives and tedious gameplay.
- Explorers of Sky is the standout title, offering refined mechanics, emotional storytelling, and overall perfection.
The spin-off that took the fandom by storm, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon provides a much more relaxing experience than the main games by giving trainers a chance to see the world through the eyes of a Pokemon. From saving your Poke-pals to tactically moving around the battle board, the series provides a new dynamic with the same classic characters you know and love. Well, besides all of the humans. But who needs them?
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From the soundtrack to the scenery, Mystery Dungeon puts a lot more emphasis on the ambiance than the main titles. Instead of building up a strategic, combat-capable team, you can recruit Pokemon more freely. While each entry in the spin-off series has something to offer, some are much better than others.
Updated on September 27th, 2024, by Kyle Chamaillard: The Mystery Dungeon games are often regarded as some of the best Pokemon spin-offs. We've decided to update this list to include even more information about each title in the series.
7 Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Gates To Infinity
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Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity
One of the less favored versions of Mystery Dungeon, Gates to Infinity manages to make it all a little worse with perspectives that are too magnified and take away from the experience. Criticized as a "watered-down" installment with banal stretches of vast dialogue that range from passable to poor, Gates to Infinity is also notorious for locking away most of its best features behind dozens of hours of play.
Fans of the genre might still like it, albeit a little less than its predecessors. Even the much-requested added difficulty amounts to a poorly implemented rollercoaster ride, shooting from slow standard fare to radical spikes that leave the player puzzled.
6 Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Adventure Squad
Most international fans will have never heard of the Adventure Squad titles, seeing as they never made it out of Japan. Although it was launched in 2009, no English patch made it overseas until April 2020. Plus, the games were made for a home console, the Wii, but they were relegated to WiiWare rather than a full release. This means that Adventure Squad was made on the cheap, and ended up as a lackluster experience.
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The formula doesn't deviate enough from Mystery Dungeon's conventional approach to justify the hoops of finding a fan patch, nor is the cast especially endearing. The games are also nowhere near the other entries' level in terms of story and characters. Adventure Squad is not officially obtainable, and the hassle of finding a copy is unfortunately not worth it.
5 Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon
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Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon
- OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Rating:69/100 Critics Recommend:23%
- Franchise
- Pokemon
- Platform(s)
- 3DS
- Released
- September 17, 2015
- Developer(s)
- Spike Chunsoft
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Engine
- Spike Chunsoft
- ESRB
- e
- Metascore
- 59
The biggest of the Mystery Dungeon series, Super Mystery Dungeon contains 720 Pokemon. Mind you, this isn't a 720 Pokemon Pokedex. You don't simply encounter them, catch them, and choose your favorite few to build a team. PSMD, as it's often abbreviated, actively invites you to give each and every one of the catchable critters a combat whirl.
Fans were happy with the story and atmosphere but were more critical of the gameplay loop. Super Mystery Dungeon, unfortunately, takes the cake for the most tediously repetitive overall presentation. There truly isn't much here that doesn't quickly wear out its welcome. It's a grind even within a series that's infamous for sending you back to previous areas to level up, which is why it's perceived as a mixed bag. Despite all that, the game captures the essence of the series and gives us some memorable and heartfelt characters.
4 Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team & Red Rescue Team
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team Franchise Pokemon Pokemon Platform(s) Nintendo Game Boy Advance Nintendo DS Released 2006-09-18 2006-09-18 Developer(s) Spike Chunsoft Spike Chunsoft Publisher(s) The Pokemon Company, Nintendo The Pokemon Company, Nintendo Genre(s) Roguelike Roguelike ESRB E For Everyone Due To Mild Cartoon Violence E For Everyone How Long To Beat 20 Hours 20 Hours Metascore 67 62 System Nintendo Nintendo
The genesis of the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon series, Blue Rescue Team and Red Rescue Team laid the groundwork for what would prove to be one of Pokemon's more popular spin-off sensations. It's a bit rocky though, with the developers clearly coming to grips with how to apply the decades-old Mystery Dungeon formula to the brand name.
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Its charm stems from the smaller world, distancing itself from any quests to be the very best and bringing a comfier, warmer vibe. These games caught enough attention to justify the creation of their sequels, so we can forgive Rescue Team for sometimes feeling like it's coming apart at its seams. While it shows its age nowadays, it's a classic without a doubt. The story is incredibly engaging, and the may leave you with a tear or two by the time you roll the credits.
3 Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX
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4.5/5
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX
- OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Rating:69/100 Critics Recommend:39%
- Franchise
- Pokemon Mystery Dungeon
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch
- Released
- March 6, 2020
- Developer(s)
- Spike Chunsoft
- Publisher
- Nintendo, The Pokémon Company, Nintendo of America Inc.
- Engine
- Unity
- ESRB
- e
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX is the first console-bound entry that actually looks the part. An enhanced remake of the games that started it all, Blue Rescue Team for the DS and Red Rescue Team for the Game Boy Advance, Rescue Team DX bids farewell to the exclusive content found in each of those, offering it all on a pretty platter 15 years later.
And truly, the proverbial platter is pretty. Developer Spike Chunsoft eschewed any thoughts of a more realistic graphical aim in favor of a heavily animated, watercolor treat that looks sublime in motion. We don't dare argue with fans who prefer the original versions of this classic game, but it's hard to recommend them to newcomers when a single, unified remake exists on modern hardware that also plays and looks great.
2 Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers Of Time & Explorers Of Darkness
Both Time and Darkness flow through the same vein, the only difference being the Pokemon selection. Once players have completed the personality test and been placed in their own body, a partner Pokemon will soon enter the narrative — and enter they did.
It's now your responsibility to help both characters through their dungeon adventures. What makes these games incredible is the story and characters without a doubt. You will likely find yourself crying your eyes out during certain scenes. The mechanics have also been refined since the original titles, so the games do not feel clunky at all. However, there is a better version of these games...
1 Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers Of Sky
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Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky
Launching two years later, Explorers of Sky is essentially the special edition of Time and Darkness similar to other games like Pokemon Yellow and Pokemon Crystal. More dungeons, more cutscenes, more customization features, you know the drill. Not only is Explorers of Sky more of everything, but it is also better in every aspect, refining an already well-made game further into perfection.
If you're interested in checking out the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon games for the first time, go with Explorers of Sky. Truly, there's little reason to choose otherwise. For many fans, this is the peak. If Spike Chunsoft tries its luck again with another remake like Rescue Team DX, the Explorers trilogy is the mark to beat. If you're lucky enough to find a copy for a reasonable price, prepare for an emotional rollercoaster with tight and rewarding gameplay.
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