Topic: What's a good entry level Pokemon game for a complete noob?

I just recieved a new Switch controller as a gift and it's got Pikachu on it. I've actually never played through any of the games. I thought maybe i should try one on switch since i got a Pikachu controller. Are any of those a good starting point or should i go for something more retro like a GB, GBA or DS game?

It depends what you want out of a Pokémon game. I’ve played all except Gen 1, Gen 9, and the GBA entries because I never had a gba. If you want an easier adventure with newer mechanics and more Pokémon, I’d recommend the newer entries. The best entry point would probably be Sword/Shield, the switch entries. The game helps you out a lot without directly holding your hand. You have 8 gym leaders to beat as usual, and this game specifically has a massive open area for catching Pokémon called the Wild Area, introduced early on. You go into these dens and fight massive “gigantamax” versions of Pokémon with three other people, either NPCs or friends. These Pokémon are higher leveled and are worth the reward for beating and catching. These will help you throughout the game as they are strong and easily defeat trainers and gym leaders. Sword and Shield is an easy and accessible entry point, I have both versions and they are pretty decent games. I would recommend Let’s Go Pikachu and Let’s Go Eevee, but I’m afraid those game might be a bit too easy. Sword and Shield is a nice middle ground, but Eevee and Pikachu are really really easy. You might not get too much satisfaction from beating the gym leaders and the champion in that game, as al are quite easy. But in the end, the choice is yours. The older entries are a bit trickier but are very good, some of the best.

Literally any of them, Pokémon gains are always designed with the idea that it’s somebody’s first in mind (to the point where it can become detrimental to more experienced players).
If you like open world games and don’t mind awful frame rates, go with Scarlet/Violet.
Sword and Shield are more traditional entries, and whilst infamous for its controversies, a new player should not be as bothered by them.
The DS games are the current fan favourites, but if you want to play them on legitimate hardware, it can become really expensive.
The 3DS games are my personal favourites, but that’s not really a popular opinion in the wider fanbase.
The GB and GBA games all have more accessible remakes on newer hardware.

I say whatever is more feasible for you. I'd start with maybe Sword/Shield. The DS, GBA, & GB ones tend to be rather expensive nowadays. The only ones that might be hard to recommend is the Diamond/Pearl remakes, Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl.

The beginning Pokémon Red or Blue.

I'd argue that Red and Blue are too dated and glitchy to start with nowadays. In my opinion, I'd say either Sword/Shield if you want a Switch game, Black/White on DS if you'd prefer something a bit older, or FireRed/LeafGreen on GBA if you want to experience the Gen 1 games.

Since a newb doesn't have nostalgia for older games, I would start with a recent game. I think you're more likely to like a newer game than an older game.

Pokémon Legends with Pokémon home the end.

What about that Let's go Pikachu game? How's that one?

I think any of the modern ones that art D&P because that one will kick your butt.

@Truegamer79 The Let’s Go games are OK, but the gameplay is quite simplified compared to the other games.

If you're wanting to play on Switch then your options are limited given NSO doesn't have Pokemon. Honestly if I was to pick a game to start with on Switch I'd say the Diamond/Pearl remakes. Solid entries, decent remasters and also more traditional style Pokemon games without any of the random modern gimmicks

Sword/Shield would be a close second although as a first game I think Gigantamax kinda takes it away from the pure form of the game. Which I think is probably preferable for a first experience with the series

Let's Go Pikachu/Eevee are remakes of the very first games, but they may be a little underwhelming by modern standards as they often stick too close to the originals, to a fault. It's a good starting point if you want to take it easy and familiarise yourself with the basics, but they are far from essential.

Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl's production values are also laughable, but there's a lot of content relative to the other games, and the difficulty does spike a bit as the game progresses if you're after a challenge.

Overall, I think Sword/Shield is perhaps the best overall entry point available on Switch, but it's hard for me to even imagine being new to the Pokémon series as I've been an avid fan for over 20 years now. If you're interested in a physical copy, I would recommend grabbing the revised copy with the DLC content preloaded on the cartridge as the two expansions are quite good.

I think Legends Arceus is the best Pokémon game on Switch by far, and if you end up enjoying one of the main series games, then I would urge you to grab this, but I wouldn't recommend making it your first Pokémon game as it's much more rewarding if you are at least somewhat familiar with the series first, and it can also be brutally difficult in parts.

As a long-time fan, I found Scarlet/Violet to be rather boring, poorly designed, underwhelming, and to say nothing of its middling performance and bugs throughout. Legend Arceus was the better realisation of the "open world" concept.

Well if the option is there I can't recommend the ds games enough.
My recommendations for the DS would be:

• Heartgold/Soulsilver
• Platinum
• Black/white Black/white 2

All of these still hold up very well, especially in comparison to the Switch pokemon games.

Though if you're still insistent on playing a Switch pokemon game then Pokemon Arceus would probably be the safest bet, Scarlet and Violet would also be a pick if it didn't run and look like garbage.
At this point in time it's just better to recommend Pokemon alternatives instead of the series in the modern era, here are some of my favorites Switch wise at least:

• Shin Megami Tensei V - The first monster collector and a darker take on the formula, instead of catching monsters, or in this case demons, you negotiate with them to join your party in the form of chat options, sometimes they will ask for money, items, hp, mp etc.
  The combat is much more refined than pokemon in my opinion, theres a lot of depth with your demon customization in the form of fusing demons together to form new ones and the option to customize their skills too, you also fight alongside your demons in battles which is also a plus.
  Just beware framerate issues, though not nearly as bad as Scarlet and Violet it's still something thats important to point out.
• Monster Hunter Stories 2 - A more simple take on the formula but also much more polished than Arceus, you can also compare the two and see that the latter takes a lot of aspects from Stories 2, ex: the open world, aesthetic, mounting your monsters and exploring the terrain with them to progress through the story etc.
  Story wise it's nothing spectacular but it's entertaining shounen esque plot that does it's job.
  As for the combat it follows a rock, paper, scissors, format, every monster has a certain pattern it attacks with and you'll learn this quick, you also fight alongside your monster (it's called a monstie in game). You can use different weapons from the mainline series each with their own set of skills, not to mention you and your monstie share the same health so thats another thing to keep in mind.
  It's also worth nothing that this game also suffers from framerate issues, but thankfully they are also not nearly as bad as scarlet and violet the majority of the game at least.
  In a couple of villages it's not good, but thats the only thing that keeps from me recommending it fully.