From the first trio to the last, Starter Pokémon are among the most popular in the franchise. Your Starter will always be your special little pal, even as you gather more Pokémon throughout your journey. There are multiple unique Starter Pokémon for each generation of the franchise.
These Pokémon vary as the Pokémon games continue to expand throughout the series. Initially, these Pokémon are only a single type, but as more games emerge, the Pokémon Company expands them and gives them additional depth, making them far more helpful. There are some ups and downs throughout the franchise, but to many, Starter Pokémon are exceptionally special to every trainer. Here’s every Starter Pokémon and their respective games from first to ninth generation.
Generation One: Bulbasaur, Squirtle, Charmander
Pokémon Red & Pokémon Blue
- Release Date: Feb. 27, 1998
- Platform: Game Boy
Pokémon FireRed & Pokémon LeafGreen
- Release Date: Jan. 28, 2004
- Platform: Game Boy Advance
These are the first three Pokémon from the first game, Pokémon Red and Blue. Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and Charmander are the most popular Starter Pokémon ever created. Many of us agonized over which Starter to take with us on our first adventure through the Kanto region as a kid. These three have become a mainstay in the franchise, and are often featured in other Pokémon titles.
Generation 1: Pikachu
Pokémon Yellow
- Release Date: Sept. 12, 1998
- Platform: Game Boy
Some players might forget Pikachu was a Gen I Starter as well. Pikachu was the only Starter option in Pokémon Yellow, released after the original games of Red, Blue, and Green. Despite being only featured as a Starter Pokémon from Pokémon Yellow, Pikachu remains the flagship Pokémon featured throughout the Pokémon Company and is often associated with the Pokémon brand as a whole.
Generation 2: Chikorita, Totodile, Cyndaquil
Pokémon Gold & Pokémon Silver
- Release Date: Nov. 21, 1999
- Platform: Game Boy Color
Pokémon Crystal
- Release Date: Dec. 14, 2000
- Platform: Game Boy Color
Pokémon HeartGold & Pokémon SoulSilver
- Release Date: Sept. 12, 2009
- Platform: Nintendo DS
While the second trio of Pokémon Starters aren’t nearly as popular as the first, they’re still a wonderfully designed group of Pokémon. Many fans tended to gravitate towards Totodile or Cyndaquil due to their final evolutions, but each Starter is well-liked by a majority of the community. It’s an age-old debate for any Pokémon player to decide who they choose; unfortunately, Chikorita falls short in popularity.
Generation 3: Treecko, Mudkip, Torchic
Pokémon Ruby & Pokémon Sapphire
- Release Date: Nov. 21, 2002
- Platform: Game Boy Advance
Pokémon Omega Ruby & Pokémon Alpha Sapphire
- Release Date: Nov. 21, 2014
- Platform: Nintendo 3DS
Gen III of Pokémon is where things began to change for the franchise. The graphics improved, and the game finally saw an expanded Pokédex. The Hoenn region was also headlined by arguably the three strongest Starters in the franchise: Treecko, Mudkip, and Torchic.
All three Pokémon were viable by the end of their evolutions, making them a huge hit with fans. Torchic and Mudkip were considered the better Starters due to their overall move sets and final type combinations. Again, the Grass-type starter, Treecko, did fall short, but its overall design reigns as one of the more substantial Grass choices.
Generation 4: Turtwig, Piplup, Chimchar
Pokémon Diamond & Pokémon Pearl
- Release Date: Sept. 28, 2006
- Platform: Nintendo DS
Pokémon Platinum
- Release Date: Sept. 13, 2008
- Platform: Nintendo DS
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Pokémon Shining Pearl
- Release Date: Nov. 19, 2021
- Platform: Nintendo Switch
Gen IV and the region of Sinnoh is easily one of the most beloved by longtime fans of the Pokémon series. The region had a terrific group of new Pokémon, an exciting story, different weather elements on the map, and a great trio of Starters.
You really couldn’t go wrong with choosing Turtwig, Chimchar, or Piplup. All three are pretty adorable, which only made the choice more difficult. It was one of the rare generations where the Grass-type, Turtwig, wasn’t left behind by the other two and remains a popular choice in the Pokémon franchise.
Generation 5: Snivy, Oshawott, Tepig
Pokémon Black & Pokémon White
- Release Date: Sept. 18, 2010
- Platform: Nintendo DS
Pokémon Black 2 & Pokémon White 2
- Release Date: June 23, 2012
- Platform: Nintendo DS
This trio was not as popular as previous Pokémon games and generations. Because the Fire-type Pokémon had been a Fire and Fighting-type for the past two games, players were exhausted to discover that Tepig’s final evolution, Emboar, fell into the same category. To make matters worse, the overall designs of these three starters were not as beloved, and many fans of the Pokémon series prefer to forget Pokémon Black and White and their sequels, Pokémon Black 2 and White 2.
Generation 6: Chespin, Froakie, Fennekin
Pokémon X & Pokémon Y
- Release Date: Oct. 13, 2013
- Platform: Nintendo 3DS
After the debates from Pokémon Gen V, we have heated discussions from Pokémon Gen VI as we make our way to Pokémon X and Y on the Nintendo 3DS. Surprisingly, the Grass-type, Chespin, is not the main focus of the debate, but is typically ignored by players who want to add the Water-type, Froakie, to their team. Froakie’s final evolution, Greninja, is widely beloved by Pokémon fans and one many wanted to add their team as a Water and Dark-type.
However, the main focus of the ire was the design of the Fire-type Starter Pokémon Fennekin’s final form, Delphox. It’s a Fire and Psychic-type, with the typing seen as a middling choice, but the overall design of a standing fox is the reason for the debate. It’s widely criticized, unfortunately.
Generation 7: Rowlet, Popplio, Litten
Pokémon Sun & Pokémon Moon
- Release Date: Nov. 18, 2016
- Platform: Nintendo 3DS
Pokémon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon
- Release Date: Nov. 17, 2017
- Platform: Nintendo 3DS
When we reach Gen VII of the Pokémon franchise in Pokémon Sun and Moon, we welcome Rowlet, Popplio, and Litten to the growing family. Players do not widely dislike any of these choices, but have chosen favorites between the three. The designs were considered a solid development for the Pokémon franchise, but the company still couldn’t hit the same admiration as the initial three Pokémon generations.
Generation 7: Pikachu and Eevee
Pokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu! & Pokémon: Let’s Go Eevee!
- Release Date: Nov. 16, 2018
- Platform: Nintendo Switch
A forgotten era of Gen VII, the Pokémon Let’s Go games were released before Sword and Shield, which kicked off Gen VIII. These games weren’t a massive hit with a broader audience, but they introduced a new way of playing. Eevee debuted as a Starter, while Pikachu returned for a second go-round. For anyone with a child who had never played the first game, this was a great way to introduce the franchise to a younger audience.
Generation 8: Grookey, Sobble, Scorbunny
Pokémon Sword & Pokémon Shield
- Release Date: Nov. 15, 2019
- Platform: Nintendo Switch
Gen VIII in the Pokémon franchise introduces Grookey, Sobble, and Scorbunny as the three Starter Pokémon to the Pokémon Sword and Shield games. These three were a pleasant sight for most fans, and many were excited to add them to their teams.
Fans believed the Pokémon Company featured advanced creativity in designing these three Starter Pokémon for the Galar region. As for each of the Starters’ final evolution typings, the developers decided to play it safe and not give any Pokémon a secondary typing. The opinion on this decision changes based on who you ask, but the Starters from Gen VIII were undoubtedly a step in the right design direction.
Generation 8: Rowlet, Oshawott, Cyndaquil
Pokémon Legends: Arceus
- Release Date: Jan. 28, 2022
- Platform: Nintendo Switch
Pokémon: Legends Arceus was the first significant departure from the classic gameplay loop fans had come to know. The open-world game featured a new way to catch and battle Pokémon and saw players take on missions. The Starters for the game were a mix of different generations, with Cyndaquil, Oshawott, and Rowlet making an appearance.
Generation 9: Sprigatito, Quaxly, Fuecoco
Pokémon Scarlet & Pokémon Violet
- Release Date: Nov. 18, 2022
- Platform: Nintendo Switch
Finally, we have the most recent generation of Pokémon Starters as we enter the Paldea region. When they were first revealed, most fans fell for Sprigatito, the Grass-type cat Pokémon, given its adorable design.
However, the Fire-type Fuecoco and Water-type Quaxly also have their fans. Whichever one of the three you choose, you’ve got a great buddy to battle, travel, and eat sandwiches with while exploring the open world of the Paldea region. The final forms for these Pokémon are widely admired, especially Fuecoco’s Skeledirge, which sees the Fire-type starter as a creature on all four legs, and it’s a Fire and Ghost-type.
Generation 9: ?
Pokémon Legends: Z-A
- Release Date: TBA 2025
- Platform: Nintendo Switch
Pokémon Legends: Z-A is the next upcoming Pokémon game, but it’s still part of Gen IX. While the Starters for this Generation haven’t been officially confirmed, nor the game’s release date, there’s plenty of speculation about what they could be.
Generation 10: ?
- Pokémon ? & Pokémon ?
- Release Date: TBA
- Platform: TBA
With the release of new hardware on the horizon, a new generation of Pokémon is also expected to make its debut sometime soon. Considering there appears to be a new game released every three years, we expect the next generation of Pokémon to be teased in 2024 and released sometime in 2025.
