Game cartridge

A game cartridge, also simply referred to as a cartridge or cart, is a device in which many licenses to Pokémon games have been distributed. As of the Nintendo Switch 2, three different types of game cards exist: ROM cartridges (officially known as "Game Paks" or "game cards", depending on the system), Game-Key Cards, and Virtual Game Cards.

Types of game cartridges

ROM cartridge

A ROM cartridge is the most ubiquitous type of game card that most Pokémon games have been distributed throughout history. They generally contain all the game data, however since the release of the Nintendo 3DS, it has been possible for game developers to issue patches to games which occasionally require additional downloads onto the console's physical memory.

Throughout the Pokémon game series, all of the core series games have been stored on ROM cartridges, with many variances between them. Many side games have also been on cartridge but some have been for the GameCube and Wii (on discs, not cartridges). The ROM cartridges for the Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, and Nintendo 64 are officially called Game Paks, while Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2 ROM cartridges are officially called game cards (sometimes formatted as "Game Card").

Game-Key Card

A Game-Key Card is a physical medium introduced alongside the Nintendo Switch 2 that looks identical to a regular game card. However, Game-Key Cards are distinguished with a Key icon in the top right of the card. Unlike regular Game Cards, they do not contain any game data and rather just hold a game activation key. When a Game-Key Card is inserted for the first time on a console, users are required to download the game to either the System Memory or a MicroSD Express card, once it is installed, the game will then behave like a standard Game Card game. While it may be installed like a digital game, the Game-Key Card is required to be inserted into the console after the game has been downloaded to enable the user to play the title. While Game-Key Cards can have benefits as games downloaded on a console's System Memory or an MicroSD Express card benefiting from faster load times compared to a Game Card, the introduction of Game-Key Cards has been controversial because they have completely replaced traditional ROM cartridges for the said titles and require the user to ensure they have the space to run the game as well as an internet connection to download the game, with some users arguing that making them download the Game Card's contents gives them the sense of a lack of ownership.

Pokémon Pokopia was the first Pokémon game to use a Game-Key Card. It was also the first Nintendo-published game announced to use this type of Game Card.

Virtual Game Card

A Virtual Game Card is the only type of Game Card which does not exist as a physical medium, and rather represents a digital license. It is possible to lend Virtual Game Cards for periods of up to 14 days, however this functionality requires both the receiver and the sender of the Game Card to be in the same Nintendo Account Family Group. Virtual Game Cards also allow for seamless license switching between consoles that share the same Nintendo Account. Unlike physical or Game-Key Cards, it is not possible to sell or trade Virtual Game Cards away to other players, as they are permanently tied to the Nintendo Account that purchased it.

Specifications

Nintendo 64: 4.5 × 3 inches. (Measured from top of arch)
Game Boy: 2.125 × 2.5 inches.
Game Boy Color: 2.125 × 2.5 inches.
Game Boy Advance: 2.125 × 1.375 inches.
Nintendo DS: 1.25 × 1.375 inches.
Nintendo 3DS: 1.25 × 1.375 inches. (Not counting anti-DS knob on side)
Nintendo Switch: 1.25 × 0.8125 inches.
Nintendo Switch 2: 1.25 × 0.8125 inches.

Core series

All core series games are contained on cartridges.

Generation I

All Generation I core series games were released on Game Boy cartridges. The Western version of Pokémon Yellow was released on a Game Boy cartridge, but is enhanced when played on a Game Boy Color.

Generation II

Pokémon Gold and Silver were released on Game Boy cartridges, but are enhanced when played on a Game Boy Color; they were marketed as Game Boy Color games that are backwards compatible with the Game Boy.

Pokémon Crystal was released on a Game Boy Color cartridge.

Generation III

All Generation III core series games were released on Game Boy Advance cartridges.

Generation IV

All Generation IV core series games were released on Nintendo DS cartridges.

Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum were released on the dark gray-colored NTR-005 cartridges. Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver were released on the black-colored NTR-031 DS cartridges, which are for games that use Infrared connections, such as connecting to the Pokéwalker.

Generation V

All Generation V core series games were released on Nintendo DS cartridges, specifically the black-colored NTR-031 DS cartridges, due to being able to connect to each other through infrared. These games are also DSi-enhanced, bearing special DSi exclusive features such as video chat and region locking. Such features are also compatible on the Nintendo 3DS. Because of these features, these games all have a serial number that starts with TWL instead of NTR.

Generation VI

All Generation VI core series games were released on Nintendo 3DS cartridges.

Generation VII

Pokémon Sun and Moon, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon were released on Nintendo 3DS cartridges.

Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! were released on Nintendo Switch cartridges.

Generation VIII

All Generation VIII core series games were released on Nintendo Switch cartridges.

Pokémon Sword and Shield were also later released with their Expansion Pass included on the cartridge.

Generation IX

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet were released on Nintendo Switch cartridges.

While Scarlet and Violet also had releases with The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero, early revisions only contained version 2.0.1, meaning only The Teal Mask was playable without updating. Players with these revisions can update to version 3.0.0 or later, and will get access to The Indigo Disk for free.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A was released on both a Nintendo Switch cartridge and a Nintendo Switch 2 cartridge.

Non-handheld

Nintendo 64

The Nintendo 64 cartridge was seen in the Pokémon Stadium series, Hey You, Pikachu!, Super Smash Bros., Pokémon Snap, and Pokémon Puzzle League.

Irregular cartridges

Pokémon Pinball

Pokémon Pinball had a special Game Boy Color cartridge for a vibration feature.

Pokémon mini

The Pokémon mini was a special game system specifically for Pokémon. It had its own cartridges.

Gallery

Game Boy and Game Boy Color

Pokémon Red cartridge
Pokémon Blue cartridge
Pokémon Yellow cartridge
Pokémon Pinball cartridge without the battery cover
Pokémon Trading Card Game cartridge
Pokémon Card GB2: Here Comes Team GR! cartridge
Pokémon Gold cartridge
Pokémon Silver cartridge
Pokémon Crystal cartridge

Nintendo 64

Pokémon Snap cartridge
Pokémon Stadium cartridge
Pokémon Puzzle League cartridge
Pokémon Stadium 2 cartridge

Pokémon mini

Pokémon Party mini cartridge

Game Boy Advance

Pokémon Ruby cartridge
Pokémon Sapphire cartridge
Pokémon Pinball: Ruby and Sapphire cartridge
Pokémon FireRed cartridge
Pokémon LeafGreen cartridge
Pokémon Emerald cartridge
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team cartridge

Nintendo DS

Pokémon Dash cartridge
Pokémon Trozei cartridge
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team cartridge
Pokémon Ranger cartridge
Pokémon Diamond cartridge
Pokémon Pearl cartridge
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time cartridge
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness cartridge
Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia cartridge
Pokémon Platinum cartridge
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky cartridge
Pokémon HeartGold cartridge
Pokémon SoulSilver cartridge
Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs cartridge
Pokémon Black cartridge
Pokémon White cartridge
Pokémon Conquest cartridge
Pokémon Black 2 cartridge
Pokémon White 2 cartridge

Nintendo 3DS

Pokémon Rumble Blast cartridge
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity cartridge
Pokémon X cartridge
Pokémon Y cartridge
Pokémon Art Academy cartridge
Pokémon Omega Ruby cartridge
Pokémon Alpha Sapphire cartridge
Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon cartridge
Pokémon Sun cartridge
Pokémon Moon cartridge
Pokémon Ultra Sun cartridge
Pokémon Ultra Moon cartridge
Detective Pikachu cartridge

Nintendo Switch

This section is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.
Reason: Shield + Expansion Pass, Scarlet/Violet + The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero, Detective Pikachu Returns