Pokémon Sun & Moon

Sun & Moon took Pokémon on holiday to Alola, a Hawaii-inspired archipelago, and used the trip to question everything: gyms became island trials, HMs became rideable Pokémon, and Kanto classics came back with Alolan twists — an ice Vulpix, a surfing Raichu, a Marowak wreathed in ghost fire. It's the warmest, most characterful world Game Freak ever built for a handheld.

The good stuff

Island trials and Totem battles instead of gyms — the formula shake-up the series needed. Alolan regional variants: the best idea modern Pokémon ever had, born here. A story with an actual heart — Lillie, Gladion and Lusamine carry the back half. Z-Moves: once-per-battle nukes with gloriously over-the-top animations.

Your first few moves

1. Trials aren't gyms — each captain's trial has a gimmick before the Totem fight. Scout the area first.
2. Totem Pokémon call allies. Bring status moves and take out the partner fast.
3. Festival Plaza and Poké Pelago quietly generate rare items and training while you're offline — set them up early.

Before you jump in

Facts first: this is a Nintendo 3DS game (2016) — the 3DS eShop has closed, so today it's a cartridge hunt, and Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon are the expanded versions if you find those instead. The opening hours are cutscene-heavy and the hand-holding is real. What waits past it is the best-rated Pokémon of its era: 87 from critics, 7.5 from players on Metacritic.