Pokémon Diamond and Pearl/Platinum

Generation IV is where Pokémon’s world began to really take shape. Sure, Ruby and Sapphire introduce the gods of the earth, sea, and sky, but Diamond and Pearl starts to answer questions of where this world came from. The Sinnoh region is the origin point of the Pokémon universe, and the concepts it introduces make the world feel more vast and unknowable than it had at the time. These ideas are expanded upon in Platinum, which establishes further truths about how the Pokémon world came to be. Diamond and Pearl are the mythology sickos’ Pokémon games, but from a gameplay standpoint, they also offer some of the series’ most infamous challenges. Cynthia’s theme still sends chills up the spine of everyone who hears it as they recount what it was like to face her iconic team and Garchomp ace. Whether you’re here to learn more about the Pokémon world or tackle some of the most challenging fights the series has to offer, Diamond and Pearl are mainstays in the Pokémon canon.