Side series

The subject of this article has no official name.
The name currently in use is a fan designator; see below for more information.

The side series is a fan designation of Pokémon games that either share marked gameplay similarities with the core series games or heavily rely on direct interaction and connectivity with them.

Overview

Side series games generally serve as extensions of the core series, often allowing players to transfer caught Pokémon to and from certain core series games or obtain other significant rewards or bonuses by connecting with them. While some spin-off games may offer smaller rewards related to connecting with core series games, such as items that allow certain Pokémon to be obtained in the core games, they lack the gameplay similarities and/or interconnectivity that are distinct to the side series.

An example of a side series game is Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, a role-playing game released for the Nintendo GameCube. In addition to the game having similar gameplay to the core series games, it is able to trade Pokémon directly with core series games on the Game Boy Advance (Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, and Pokémon Emerald).

Note that while Pokémon GO is a closely related game to the core series, with Pokémon from it able to be transferred to the core series and connectivity between it and certain core series games allowing certain rewards, Pokémon, and forms to be obtained, it is a largely independent experience with significantly different gameplay and does not rely on connection with the core games to be played. For these reasons, Pokémon GO is not considered a side series title.

Connectivity

Side series games allow players to transfer their Pokémon and items to and from the core series or receive Pokémon and items to bring back to core series games:

Pokémon Stadium: Allows players to transfer their Pokémon from the Generation I core series games to battle in 3D.
Pokémon Stadium 2: Allows players to transfer their Pokémon from the Generation I and Generation II core series games to battle in 3D.
Pokémon Box Ruby & Sapphire: Allows players to store their Pokémon from the Generation III core series games.
Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness: Can trade Pokémon with the Generation III core series games.
Pokémon Battle Revolution: Allows players to transfer their Pokémon from the Generation IV core series games to battle in 3D.
My Pokémon Ranch: Allows players to store their Pokémon from Pokémon Diamond and Pearl (and from Pokémon Platinum in Japan).
Pokéwalker: Allows players to store their Pokémon from Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver to gain experience by walking. Additionally, Pokémon caught in the Pokéwalker can be transferred to Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver.
Pokémon Dream World: Allows players to send Pokémon caught in this game to the Generation V core series games.
Pokémon Dream Radar: Allows players to send Pokémon caught in this game to Pokémon Black 2 and White 2.
Poké Transporter: Allows players to transfer their Pokémon from the Generation V games, and the Generation I and II games on Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console, to Pokémon Bank.
Pokémon Bank: Allows players to store their Pokémon from Generation VI and Generation VII core series games.
Pokémon HOME: Allows players to store their Pokémon from core series Nintendo Switch games, and can also receive transferred Pokémon from Pokémon Bank and Pokémon GO.
Pokémon Champions: Allows players to battle with Pokémon from Pokémon HOME. However, Pokémon obtained in this game cannot be deposited in HOME.

List of side series games

Gen	Game	Platform	Release Date
I	ポケモンスタジアム Pokémon Stadium		August 1, 1998 Japan
	Pokémon Stadium		April 30, 1999* Japan
			February 29, 2000 North America
			March 23, 2000 Australia
			April 7, 2000 Europe
		+ Expansion Pack	2023 Worldwide
II	Pokémon Stadium 2		December 14, 2000* Japan
			March 26, 2001 North America
			2001 Australia
			October 10, 2001 Europe
		+ Expansion Pack	2023 Worldwide
III	Pokémon Box Ruby & Sapphire		May 30, 2003 Japan
			July 11, 2004 North America
			July 16, 2004 Australia
			May 14, 2004 Europe
	Pokémon Colosseum		November 21, 2003 Japan
			March 22, 2004 North America
			June 24, 2004 Australia
			May 14, 2004 Europe
		+ Expansion Pack	TBA
	Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness		August 4, 2005 Japan
			October 3, 2005 North America
			November 10, 2005 Australia
			November 18, 2005 Europe
		+ Expansion Pack	TBA
IV	Pokémon Battle Revolution		December 14, 2006 Japan
			June 25, 2007 North America
			November 22, 2007 Australia
			December 7, 2007 Europe
			July 12, 2008 Taiwan
	My Pokémon Ranch		March 25, 2008 Japan
			June 9, 2008 North America
			July 4, 2008 Australia & Europe
	Pokéwalker	Self-contained	September 12, 2009 Japan
			March 14, 2010 North America
			March 25, 2010 Australia
			July 4, 2008 April 2, 2010* Europe
			February 4, 2010 South Korea
V	Pokémon Dream World	Web Permanent Shutdown January 14, 2014 Worldwide	Initial launch September 18, 2010 Second launch October 13, 2010 Japan
	Pokémon Dream World	Web Permanent Shutdown January 14, 2014 Worldwide	April 13, 2011 Worldwide
	Pokémon Dream Radar		June 23, 2012 Japan
			October 7, 2012 North America
			October 11, 2012 Australia
			October 12, 2012 Europe
			November 8, 2012 South Korea
VI	Pokémon Bank & Poké Transporter		Initial launch December 25, 2013 Second launch January 22, 2014 Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, & Hong Kong
VII			February 4, 2014 Europe, Australia, & New Zealand
VII			February 5, 2014 The Americas
VII	Pokémon HOME		February 12, 2020 Worldwide
VIII
IX
IX	Pokémon Champions		2026 Worldwide