Generation
A generation, in terms of the Pokémon franchise, is a subset of the series that debuted or is set around the same time, focusing on the same region, and featuring the same Pokémon. Generations are most separated from one another through the games, which have different amounts of Pokémon, moves, and items programmed into them depending on the generation of release, and may not be compatible with one another depending on these mechanics.
Generational lines are typically ignored in other parts of the franchise, which continue from where the last generation left off and keep the story going (this is especially true of the anime), and may ignore older parts of the canon that explicitly declare to be true something that is later changed.
So far, there have been four generations, each introducing their own quirks into the franchise.
| Generation | Pokémon | Main games (Jp/US) | Battle games (Jp/US) | Other games (Jp/US) | Anime | Special manga | Other manga | TCG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | 151 | Pokémon Red and Green (1996) Pokémon Blue (1996) Pokémon Red and Blue (1998) Pokémon Yellow (1998/1999) |
Stadium 0 (1998) Stadium (1999/2000) Stadium 2 (2000/2001) |
| Generation | Main games | Battle games | Number of Pokémon | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese releases | English releases | Japanese releases | English releases | ||
| I | Red and Green (1996) Blue (1996) Yellow (1998) |
Red and Blue (1998) Yellow (1999) |
Stadium (1998) Stadium 2 (1999) |
Stadium (2000) | 151 |
| II | Gold and Silver (1999) Crystal (2000) |
Gold and Silver (2000) Crystal (2001) |
Stadium GS (2000) | Stadium 2 (2001) | 251 |
| III | Ruby and Sapphire (2002) FireRed and LeafGreen (2004) Emerald (2004) |
Ruby and Sapphire (2003) FireRed and LeafGreen (2004) Emerald (2005) |
Box (2003) Colosseum (2003) XD (2005) |
Colosseum (2004) Box (2004) XD (2005) |
386 |
| IV | Diamond and Pearl (2006) Platinum (2008) HeartGold and SoulSilver (2009) |
Diamond and Pearl (2007) Platinum (2009) |
Battle Revolution (2006) | Battle Revolution (2007) | 493 |
Generations I and II are compatible with each other, but they are incompatible with Generations III and IV. Similarly, Generations III and IV are compatible with each other, but as stated, not compatible with Generations I and II.
