Pokémon X / Y

When the generation of Pokémon X and Y came out in October 2013, it meant more for the brand than just another pair of versions on a green meadow. It was the first main entry in the series that took place fully in 3D, and the first that came out worldwide practically simultaneously. With this, Game Freak definitively tipped the legendary pocket monsters from pixel squares into a polygonal world, without losing any of the soul for which people have been catching, training and trading for over two decades.

The story takes you to the Kalos region, clearly inspired by France and with a silhouette resembling Paris in the form of the radiant Lumiose City. Mechanically, the sixth generation brought fundamental novelties. A completely new type, Fairy, debuted here, which rewrote the age-old balance of battles and finally gave a meaningful counterweight to dragons. An even bigger wave, however, came with Mega Evolutions: a temporary, battle transformation of select Pokémon, which gave old favorites like Charizard or Mewtwo a new look and strategic depth.

Game Freak at the same time significantly opened up training. The Super Training and Pokémon-Amie features allowed even less die-hard players to fine-tune stats and build a relationship with their buddies through petting and minigames on the touch screen. The Player Search System online environment running constantly in the lower screen made trades and battles with people from all over the world a matter of a few touches.

In terms of development, it was an enormous leap. The transition to 3D meant a complete remaking of the models, animations and the way the camera moves through the world. The game started on a trio of new starter Pokémon and right from the beginning also offered one from the classic first generation, which was a clear bridge between nostalgia and a new era.

Commercially, it was an absolute success. Pokémon X and Y became one of the fastest-selling titles on the 3DS and rank among the most successful entries in the series ever, with sales over sixteen million copies. For many players, they remain the moment when Pokémon became a truly modern game.

Why play it: It is an elegant entry gateway into modern Pokémon, where a 3D world, the Fairy type and Mega Evolutions meet for the first time. Ideal for nostalgics as well as newcomers.