Few gifts land as reliably as a new Pokémon game, and few series offer as much variety. The current line-up on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 covers open-world adventures, a city-wide exploration story, a cosy building game and a dedicated battle title. Buying a Pokémon game code means the game downloads straight to the console, with no box to lose and no waiting for delivery, which matters when it is a birthday or a last-minute present.
Rather than ranking the games, this guide groups them by the kind of player they suit best, so you can match the right one to the right person.
For Players Who Love to Explore
Pokémon Legends: Z-A
Set in Lumiose City, Legends: Z-A follows an urban redevelopment plan to turn the city into a place where Pokémon and people truly live side by side. You start by choosing Chikorita, Tepig or Totodile as your partner, then explore the streets and visit Wild Zones, habitats where wild Pokémon roam. Catching them is hands-on: you aim and throw a Poké Ball yourself or take them on with your team. It runs on both Switch and Switch 2, so it suits families with either console.
Pokémon Scarlet
Scarlet takes you to the Paldea region, a sprawling open world of lakes, towering peaks, wastelands and mountain ranges. You move freely between three main stories and challenge Gyms in any order you like. Up to three friends can join you in the same world, which makes it one of the best Pokémon games for siblings or friends who want to play together.
Pokémon Violet
Violet shares the same Paldea adventure and co-op features as Scarlet but has its own version-exclusive Pokémon and a different legendary. Many families buy both so two players can trade the Pokémon that only appear in the other version, which is part of the fun of the series.
For Players Who Like to Build
Not every fan wants battles and Gyms. For younger players or anyone who enjoys a slower pace, this Switch 2 Pokémon game takes the series somewhere new.
Pokémon Pokopia
In Pokopia you play as a Ditto and shape an empty land into a home for many different Pokémon. Days are spent collecting berries, rocks and wood, building furniture, tilling fields to grow vegetables and creating homes for the Pokémon you meet. It is a relaxed, creative game that suits players who enjoy life-sim and building games as much as traditional adventures.
For Players Who Live for Battles
Pokémon Champions + Starter Pack
Pokémon Champions is a battle-focused game built around everything fans love about Pokémon battles: types, Abilities and moves, with room for new and experienced Trainers to try varied strategies. This edition bundles the main game with a Starter Pack of in-game bonuses that make it easier to obtain and train Pokémon, so new players can build a wider range of teams from the start.
Which One to Start With
For someone new to the series, Scarlet or Violet is the easiest starting point: the open world lets players go at their own pace, and playing alongside friends keeps it social. Older fans who enjoyed earlier adventures often prefer Legends: Z-A, which puts a fresh spin on catching and exploring in a single, detailed city. Younger children, or anyone who finds battles stressful, tend to love the calm creativity of Pokopia, while competitive players who already know their type match-ups will get the most out of Champions from day one.
Gifting a Pokémon Game Digitally
- Check the console: Pokopia is a Switch 2 game, while the others run on the original Switch as well.
- Check the region: make sure the Nintendo game code matches the eShop region of the account it will be redeemed on.
- Think about pairs: Scarlet and Violet make a natural set for two siblings who want to trade.
- Send it by email: a code can be printed in a card or forwarded on the day, which is ideal for family living far away.
The Bottom Line
Pick Legends: Z-A or Scarlet and Violet for explorers, Pokopia for builders and Champions for anyone who just wants to battle. Each one downloads straight to the console, so the only thing left to decide is which Pokémon fan you are buying for.
Every game in this guide is available as a digital code from Startselect. For more gaming gift ideas and family guides, visit BlogsBuddy again soon.