Pokémon Ranger series

Logo of the first game

The Pokémon Ranger series (Japanese: ポケモンレンジャー Pokémon Ranger) is a series of action adventure spin-off games developed by Creatures for the Nintendo DS. The series comprises a total of three different games, and has been expanded into several manga and several animated specials.

History

The first game in the series, Pokémon Ranger, was released in 2006. As the last game released during Generation III, it primarily features Pokémon available in that generation, but like the other Ranger games, it can communicate with the Generation IV core series games to transfer over the Manaphy Egg. The movie Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea was released a few months later to promote the game. The manga Pokémon Ranger the Comic: Double Mission, set in the canon of Pokémon Adventures, was also based on the game. In addition, a Pokémon Ranger was featured in the sixty-second chapter of the Pokémon Ruby-Sapphire manga.

Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia is the second game in the Pokémon Ranger series, and was released in 2008. The game primarily features Pokémon from Generation IV. A two-part animated special consisting of Pokémon Ranger and the Kidnapped Riolu! Part 1 and Part 2 featuring the game's male protagonist aired near the game's release as part of the animated series. Pokémon Ranger: The Comic – Shadows of Almia is a manga adaptation based upon the game.

Released in 2010, Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs is the third and final game in the series. A two-part animated special was aired to promote the game. An episode featuring the game's male protagonist titled Pokémon Ranger: Heatran Rescue! aired as part of the main series.

Gameplay

In all three games, the player, a Pokémon Ranger under the command of the Ranger Union, uses a Capture Styler to befriend Pokémon and use them to help capture other Pokémon or clear obstacles. The player goes on Ranger Missions, tasks assigned to them from a Ranger Base or the Ranger Union itself, encountering people who abuse Pokémon along the way. Eventually, the player confronts the villainous team and foils their plans.

List of games

Gen.	Image	Title	Japanese title	Platform	Release date
Gen.	Image	Title	Japanese title	Platform	Japan	North America	Europe	Australia	Taiwan
III		Pokémon Ranger	ポケモンレンジャー Pokémon Ranger	Nintendo DS	March 23, 2006	October 30, 2006	April 13, 2007	December 7, 2006	March 23, 2006
III		Pokémon Ranger	ポケモンレンジャー Pokémon Ranger	Wii U Virtual Console	April 13, 2016	July 21, 2016	February 25, 2016	February 26, 2016	—
IV		Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia	ポケモンレンジャーバトナージ Pokémon Ranger Vatonage	Nintendo DS	March 20, 2008	November 10, 2008	November 21, 2008	November 13, 2008	March 20, 2008
IV		Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia	ポケモンレンジャーバトナージ Pokémon Ranger Vatonage	Wii U Virtual Console	July 27, 2016	August 4, 2016	June 9, 2016	June 9, 2016	—
IV		Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs	ポケモンレンジャー光の軌跡 Pokémon Ranger: Traces of Light	Nintendo DS	March 6, 2010	October 4, 2010	November 5, 2010	November 25, 2010	March 6, 2010
IV		Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs	ポケモンレンジャー光の軌跡 Pokémon Ranger: Traces of Light	Wii U Virtual Console	August 3, 2016	August 18, 2016	June 9, 2016	June 9, 2016	—

List of animated adaptations

Movie

Movie	English cover	English title	English release	American distributor	Japanese title	Japanese release	Japanese distributor
9		Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea	March 23, 2007	VIZ Media / Warner Bros.	ポケモンレンジャーと蒼海の王子マナフィ Pokémon Ranger and the Prince of the Sea: Manaphy The Pokémon Ranger and the Prince of the Sea	July 15, 2006	Toho
9		Summary: When the egg of a legendary Pokémon, Manaphy, with ties to an ancient water-based civilization, falls into the hands of a pirate, a Pokémon Ranger entrusts the egg to Ash and his friends—specifically May. May must keep the egg safe until it hatches, and afterward, make sure Manaphy does not fall into the hands of the Phantom, lest Samiya be lost to the seafloor and Manaphy lose its home.

Episodes

Code	English title	Japanese title	US broadcast	Japan broadcast	Time between
AG155	The Green Guardian	ポケモンレンジャー登場！セレビィ救出作戦！ Pokémon Ranger Appears! Celebi Rescue Mission!	October 7, 2006	December 8, 2005	303 days
AG171	Pokémon Ranger - Deoxys' Crisis! (Part 1)	ポケモンレンジャー！デオキシス・クライシス！！(前編) Pokémon Ranger! Deoxys Crisis!! (Part 1)	October 28, 2006	April 13, 2006	198 days
AG172	Pokémon Ranger - Deoxys' Crisis! (Part 2)	ポケモンレンジャー！デオキシス・クライシス！！(後編) Pokémon Ranger! Deoxys Crisis!! (Part 2)	October 28, 2006	April 13, 2006	198 days
DP071	Pokémon Ranger and the Kidnapped Riolu! (Part 1)	ポケモンレンジャー！波導のリオル！！（前編） Pokémon Ranger! The Wave-Guiding Riolu!! (Part 1)	November 1, 2008	March 20, 2008	226 days
DP072	Pokémon Ranger and the Kidnapped Riolu! (Part 2)	ポケモンレンジャー！波導のリオル！！（後編） Pokémon Ranger! The Wave-Guiding Riolu!! (Part 2)	November 8, 2008	March 20, 2008	233 days
*	Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs (Part 1)	ポケモンレンジャー　光の軌跡＜前編＞ Pokémon Ranger: Traces of Light (Part 1)	November 10, 2010	February 28, 2010	255 days
*	Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs (Part 2)	ポケモンレンジャー　光の軌跡＜後編＞ Pokémon Ranger: Traces of Light (Part 2)	November 10, 2010	March 7, 2010	248 days
DP169	Pokémon Ranger: Heatran Rescue!	ポケモンレンジャー！ヒードラン救出作戦！！ Pokémon Ranger! Heatran Rescue Mission!!	October 16, 2010	March 18, 2010	212 days

List of manga adaptations

English title	Japanese title	Volumes	Chapters	Summary
Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea	ポケモンレンジャーと蒼海の王子マナフィ Pokémon Ranger and the Prince of the Sea: Manaphy	1	4	An adaptation of the ninth Pokémon movie, Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea.
	ポケモンレンジャーと蒼海の王子マナフィ Pokémon Ranger and the Prince of the Sea: Manaphy (short manga)			A short adaptation of the ninth Pokémon movie, Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea.
	ポケモンバトル:ピカチュウのわくわく大ぼうけん Pokémon Battle: Pikachu's Big Exciting Adventure	0		An adaptation of Pokémon the Series. One chapter is an adaptation of The Green Guardian.
Pokémon Ruby-Sapphire	ポケットモンスターR・S(ルビーサファイア) Pocket Monster R S (Ruby and Sapphire)	6	63 2 special chapters	A shōnen gag manga featuring the adventures of an inept Trainer and his rude Clefairy on their journeys throughout the Pokémon world. One of its chapters, Let's Go After The Pokémon Ranger!, features a Pokémon Ranger with a Capture Styler.
Pokémon Ranger the Comic: Double Mission	W ミッションストーリポケモンレンジャー the Comic W Mission Story: Pokémon Ranger - the Comic	0	5	An adaptation of Pokémon Ranger available online to members of the Pokémon Daisuki Club.
Pokémon Ranger: The Comic – Shadows of Almia	ダークライミッションストーリポケモンレンジャーバトナージ Darkrai Mission Story: Pokémon Ranger Vatonage - the Comic	0	4	An adaptation of Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia available online to members of the Pokémon Daisuki Club.
	出動！！ポケモンレンジャー Mobilize!! Pokémon Ranger	0	13	An adaptation of Pokémon Ranger's storyline.
	ポケモンレンジャー－Ｔｈｅ　１ｓｔ　ミッション－ Pokémon Ranger -The 1st Mission-	0	1	An adaptation of Pokémon Ranger's storyline.
	ポケモンレンジャー“キャプチャ”マスターへの道 Pokémon Ranger: The Road to a "Capture" Master	0		An adaptation of Pokémon Ranger's storyline.
	ポケモンレンジャーバトナージ～トップレンジャーへの道～ Pokémon Ranger Vatonage: The Road to Top Ranger	0		An adaptation of Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia's storyline.
	ポケモンレンジャーバトナジ:まんがでミッションクリア Pokémon Ranger Vatonage: Mission Clear	0		An adaptation of Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia's storyline.
	ポケモンレンジャーオブリビアの勇者 Pokémon Ranger: Hero of Oblivia	0		An adaptation of Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs's storyline.

Discontinuation

No further games in the series have been released after the release of Pokémon Black and White and the start of Generation V. However, location data and Wonder Card data for the Ranger games exist in the code of the Generation V games, which may mean that a Ranger game could still have been released in Generation V. This placeholder data does not exist in the Generation VI games.

Trivia

None of the Pokémon Ranger games have been released in South Korea.
- However, Pokémon Ranger games from other regions can still communicate with Korean Generation IV core series games.
- In the core series games, the met location that displays as Pokémon Ranger in other regions is displayed in Korean games as 다른 지방 dareun jibang.