In order to celebrate the widespread success of Pokémon Go and renewed interest in the series, I figured I would rank all the Pokémon generations from worst to best.

6. Pokémon Generation 6 (X, Y, Omega Ruby, and Alpha Sapphire)

The most recent generation of Pokémon titles takes the cake for worst in the series. Is it particularly horrendous in any way? No, not really...in fact, it adds numerous innovations to the series that fans had wanted. Stable, reliable online play (okay, as good as Nintendo gets with this stuff: "functioning"), a way to reliably control Pokémon EVs (competitive stuff), trainer customization (you can wear dopey hat X or Y. Ahahaha...), and full 3D graphics are all pluses in many people's eyes. So why does it take the lowest spot? Simple - it lacks any of the charm that previous titles have!

(Yeah... those trainer eyes suck my soul out too. It isn't just you.)

Trainer customization is shallow, the story isn't exactly gripping (we're coming out of Gen 5, folks), the old sprite graphics were much more appealing, the Kalos Pokédex is the smallest one yet, and the music was utterly forgettable. Listen to every track leading up to Gen 6..."Oh! What's that I hear? That's the sound of a mediocre Pokémon game!" It seems like those flashy graphics are compensating for something, huh? (Yeah, we don't talk about the remakes. They took Gen 3 and sucked the life out of it.)

(Just like Team Flare - all "style" over substance)

5. Pokémon Generation 5 (Black, White, Black 2, White 2)

What an odd coincidence! Number 5 is Gen 5! Most of this game is pretty good. The story tries to call the morals of Pokémon training and battling into question (as much as a kiddie Pokémon game can do) and is generally considered to be the best in the series. The interesting fusion of sprite characters and 3D environments from Gen 4 has been perfected here. Battle speed is on point, the game boasts a large Pokédex, and the world is interesting and varied! What's not to like? A lot, actually. For starters, the Pokémon design is garbage. No, literally, take a look:

("How are you today, Garbodor?" "Kill... Me...")

The Unova region is probably the least open-ended in all of Pokémon, and the C Gear feature is virtually useless. Animations during battle make sprites look unpolished and gross. Many Pokémon are not memorable or useful in battle. The music is a little more generic than previous generations. To be honest, everything wrong with Gen 5 has to do with its aesthetic. It's a game with the aesthetic of a garbage bag...

4. Pokémon Generation 1 (Red, Blue, Green, Yellow)

Here we are, the games that started it all: Gen 1. Where to begin? The original 151 Pokémon are pretty much ALL iconic, the music is awesome, the Kanto region is still one of the best, the gym battles were memorable, Team Rocket is cool, and the gameplay lays the foundation for one of gaming's most popular series. What keeps this game at number 4, then? Remember how I said that these games lay the foundation for the rest of the series? Yeah...that's all they did. Gen 1 is notoriously unbalanced and luck-based (shoutout to psychic types), and the graphics are just ugly. Some of the original Pokémon sprites are so bad they're infamous.

(Enough said.)

Later Pokémon games would improve the formula drastically and nerf those damn psychic types.

3. Pokémon Generation 2 (Silver, Gold, Crystal)

Okay, I love Gen 2. It's actually my favorite generation. Why number 3, then? Well...it was done better later down the line. Generation 2 had memorable music, improved graphics, a huge new Pokédex, a day-night cycle, better battle mechanics, new types...it was everything a sequel should have been and then some. Not only did we get the Johto region, but we also were able to go back to the Kanto region! New challenges awaited back in Kanto, and it felt fresh. This is the only Pokémon game to include two regions instead of one!

(My childhood doesn't look like much, does it?)

Team Rocket was back and as dastardly as ever (slowpoke tales... yum). Like I said - best Pokémon games, done better later.

2. Pokémon Generation 3 (Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Leafgreen, and Firered)

My first Pokémon game and first game ever, Gen 3 is completely awesome. The GBA produced some of the most memorable tunes and sprites ever, the story is intriguing (to me as a little kid), and the remakes...oh god, the remakes (prepare to have me completely ignore Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald and focus on the remakes instead). They were perfect! Everything was perfectly perfect! There is a long post-game, it does justice to the original Gen 1, Bulbasaur for life, Gen 3 is integrated well, the music makes me tear up with nostalgia, battles are great, you can still name your rival "expletive," and...I guess Groudon was cool.

("Wait, that's all you're gonna say about the ACTUAL Gen 3 games? Fanboy...")

1. Pokémon Generation 4 (Pearl, Diamond, Platinum, Heartgold, Soulsilver)

Welcome to the pinnacle of Pokémon: Gen 4. Where to begin? The Sinnoh region feels like a real place. It isn't linear, it isn't boring - it is just right. The legendary Pokémon are cool for the most part, and so is the Pokédex. Battling and trading is easier than ever before with the new DS technology. The music and art are a cross between old and new Pokemon, and it just works. Team Galactic seems legitimately threatening, and the cities are unique. Pearl, Diamond, and Platinum weren't what defined this generation, though. Once again, it was the remakes. Take everything I said about Gen 2, mix it with what I said about Gen 4 and voila: perfection. Even LAVENDER TOWN was improved! The only complaint I have? Battles are slow. REAL slow. Two old men trying to relive their glory days in a wrestling match slow.

("Go Pikachu! Wait, you aren't Pikachu!" "Yes, I am. I'm GEN 4 PIKACHU.")

There you have it, Pokémon games from worst to best. What do you guys think? Am I wrong? Would you have placed any of these in different spots? Let me know in the comments!