Coming back after leaving during Generation VII

Generation VII removed HMs and weakened critical hits

Sun and Moon went on sale on 18 November 2016 and added 81 species, counting Meltan and Melmetal, for 809 in total. Alola replaced the gym circuit with island trials. HMs were removed, and Ride Pokémon called with the Ride Pager took over Surf, Fly and the rest. The critical hit rate dropped to 1 in 24, burn to one sixteenth of maximum HP, and paralysis to a 50 percent Speed cut. Z-Moves arrived as the once-per-battle mechanic, alongside 18 Alolan forms and Ultra Beasts. Hyper Training let a level 100 Pokémon treat chosen IVs as 31. Let's Go, Pikachu and Let's Go, Eevee (2018) brought Kanto to the Switch with Pokémon GO links.

Three changes since 2019 cut the Pokédex and loosened training

Sword and Shield in 2019 limited each game to a regional list, so a species outside it cannot be transferred in, and left Z-Moves and Mega Evolution out. They added Mints, which change a nature's stat effect, and the Ability Patch, which switches to the hidden ability, so a caught Pokémon can be reshaped instead of rebred. Scarlet and Violet in 2022 went open world, used Terastallization and moved breeding into picnics. Legends: Z-A in 2025 then brought Mega Evolution back in a real-time battle system. Z-Moves have not returned in the main series since Generation VII. The what-changed pages for VIII and IX cover the first two in detail.

Scarlet and Violet are the closest current game to Alola

Sun and Moon players who liked the trials over gyms will find Scarlet and Violet a mix: eight gyms remain, but the story runs along three paths, including Titan battles against large wild Pokémon that play like totem fights. Paldea is open, so the order is yours. The two-part expansion adds Kitakami and Blueberry Academy. If Mega Evolution kept you in Generation VII, Legends: Z-A (2025) has it again, in real time. Let's Go players who wanted more of that style have no direct sequel; Pokémon GO is the related app. Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon remain playable on any 3DS as used or previously downloaded copies.

Sun and Moon reach HOME through Bank, and Let's Go links directly

Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon still load and trade over local wireless. Their online features, including the Global Trade Station, Wonder Trade, Festival Plaza online and Battle Spot, ended with 3DS online play on 8 April 2024. Pokémon Bank still connects to them, and from Bank a Pokémon moves to HOME, one way, on the Premium plan and only until Bank closes on 25 February 2027. Let's Go connects to HOME from the Switch. A Let's Go Pokémon can be moved on to a newer game, but once it has visited one it cannot return to Let's Go. Pokémon GO sends Pokémon into Let's Go through the GO Park complex and into HOME, both one way.

Limit. A Let's Go Pokémon that visits a newer game through HOME cannot return to Let's Go, and a Bank Pokémon sent to HOME cannot return to the 3DS.

Plan the first week around one Switch game and Bank

Day one: choose Scarlet or Violet for the current turn-based game, Legends: Z-A for Mega Evolution, or an option from the which-game page. Day two and three: play and read the Generation VIII page, because Mints and the Ability Patch change how you train. Day four: open your Sun and Moon saves and list the Pokémon worth keeping. Day five: open Pokémon Bank on the 3DS and confirm it connects; if you played Let's Go, open HOME on the Switch and confirm it sees that save. Day six: move one Pokémon to HOME and check the new game supports its species. Day seven: draft a team with the first-team guide.