The spin-off that took a solid portion of the original fandom by storm, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon provides a much more relaxing experience than the main game, giving trainers a look at what seems to be the very friendly life of a Pokemon. From saving your Poke-pals to tactically moving around the battle board, the series gives players a new dynamic with the same classic characters they know and love. (Well, besides all the humans. But who needs them?)
From the soundtrack all the way down 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, players can recruit Pokemon more freely. That’s not to say that stats and typing are nonexistent — just that you’re gifted with greater lenience and can pick purely your favorites without that old familiar “but can Bidoof really beat the Elite Four?” regret.
7 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 Team
Most international will have never heard of the Adventure Team titles seeing as they never made it out of Japan. Although it was released in 2009, no English patch made it overseas until April 2020. Although the duo is for a home console, the Wii, it was relegated to WiiWare rather than a full release. What this means, for those of you who skipped Nintendo that era or weren’t even alive yet, is that Adventure Team’s a digital-only title made on the cheap in a time when “digital-only” was colloquially synonymous with “lackluster.”
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. Solid but unspectacular.
5 Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon
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 see them, catch them, and choose your favorite few. PSMD, as it’s often abbreviated, actively invites you to give each and every one of the catchable critters a combat whirl.
As is commonplace with the Mystery Dungeon games, Western reviewers were happier with the story and atmosphere and more critical toward 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 chock full of grinds, which is why it lands around the center of our list.
4 Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team & Red Rescue Team
The genesis of the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series, Blue Rescue Team & 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, with the developers clearly coming to grips with how to apply the decades-old Mystery Dungeon formula to the brand name.
Its charm stemmed from the smaller world, distancing itself from any quests to be the very best and bringing a comfier vibe. Enough heads were tilted to justify the creation of every other entry on the list, so we can forgive Rescue Team for sometimes feeling like it’s coming apart at its seams.
3 Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX
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 Game Boy Advance and Red Rescue Team for DS — Rescue Team DX bids farewell to the exclusive content found in each of those, offering it all on a prettified platter 15 years later.
And truly, the proverbial platter is prettified. Developer Spike Chunsoft eschewed any thoughts of a more realistic graphical aim in favor of a heavily animated treat that looks positively sublime in motion. We don’t dare argue with fans who prefer the original versions of this “series premiere” installment, but nor can we recommend newcomers track down GBA and DS copies when a single, unified remake exists on modern hardware.
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 into the game.
It’s now the responsibility of the player to keep both characters alive through their dungeon adventures. Losing the partner will have an equally big impact on the team and is something to avoid at all costs, furthering the collaborative flow of the series. The story is heartfelt, the fine pacing is appreciated, and the mechanics have been tweaked just right.
That said, maybe don’t play these. Not when this next one exists.
1 Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky
Launching two years later, Explorers of Sky is effectively the “Platinum” to Time and Darkness’ “Diamond & Pearl.” More dungeons, more cutscenes, more customization features, you know the drill. More, more, and more. All you’ve got to do is shell out all over again.
If you’re interested in checking out the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon games for the first time, go with Explorers of Sky. Truly, there’s no reason to choose otherwise. And enjoy the postgame episode! Darkrai is a righteous jerk.
For many fans, this is the peak. If Spike Chunsoft tries their luck again, and they very likely shall, the Explorers trilogy is the mark to beat.
NEXT: 10 Best Water Pokemon, Ranked
