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The '''side series''' of [[Pokémon games]] is a fan designation of games that either share marked gameplay similarities or heavily rely on direct interaction and connectivity with the [[core series]] games.

==Overview==
Side series games serve as extensions of the core series, often allowing players to transfer [[caught Pokémon]] to and from their corresponding core series titles or obtain other significant rewards or bonuses, enhancing connectivity and continuity between different game entries. While some {{spin-off games}} occasionally offer limited rewards, including items that allow the ability to obtain certain Pokémon in the core games, they lack the gameplay similarities and interconnectivity that are distinct to the side series. 

A notable example of a side series game is {{g|XD: Gale of Darkness}}, a role-playing game released for the [[Nintendo GameCube]]. While Gale of Darkness is not the only representative of side series games, it serves as an illustration of the connectivity feature. In this game, players have the option to transfer Pokémon they have caught and nurtured in the [[Orre]] region directly to {{game|Ruby and Sapphire|s}} games on the [[Game Boy Advance]] console.

This integration between side series and core series games presents a unique opportunity for players to seamlessly continue their Pokémon adventures across different game environments. By bridging the gap between these game types, players can maintain a consistent Pokémon collection and progress their gameplay experiences. Such connectivity reinforces the interconnected nature of the Pokémon gaming universe and offers a deeper level of engagement for players seeking an expanded Pokémon journey.

Note that while [[Pokémon GO]] is a closely related game to the core series, it is largely an independent experience with its own gameplay and data that does not rely on connection with the main games to be enjoyed. Connectivity between Pokémon GO and certain core series games does allow the ability to obtain certain rewards, Pokémon, and [[form]]s, and Pokémon from Pokémon GO can be transferred to the core series; however, Pokémon cannot be transferred from the core series and stored within Pokémon GO. For these reasons, Pokémon GO is not considered a side series title.

===Connectivity===
Each of the side series games allow players to transfer their {{OBP|Pokémon|species}} and items to and from the [[core series]] or receive Pokémon and items to bring back to core series games:
* '''[[Pokémon Stadium]]''': Allows players to transfer their Pokémon from the [[Generation I]] core series games to battle in 3D.
* '''[[Pokémon Stadium 2]]''': Allows players to transfer their Pokémon from the Generation I and [[Generation II]] core series games to battle in 3D.
* '''[[Pokémon Box Ruby & Sapphire]]''': Allows players to store their Pokémon from the [[Generation III]] core series games.
* '''[[Pokémon Colosseum]]''' and '''[[Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness]]''': Can trade Pokémon with the Generation III core series games.
* '''[[Pokémon Battle Revolution]]''': Allows players to transfer their Pokémon from the [[Generation IV]] core series games to battle in 3D.
* '''[[My Pokémon Ranch]]''': Allows players to store their Pokémon from {{game|Diamond and Pearl|s}} (and from {{game|Platinum}} in Japan).
* '''[[Pokéwalker]]''': Allows players to store their Pokémon from {{game|HeartGold and SoulSilver|s}} to gain experience by walking. Additionally, Pokémon caught in the Pokéwalker can be transferred to Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver.
* '''[[Pokémon Dream World]]''': Allows players to send Pokémon caught in this game to the [[Generation V]] core series games.
* '''[[Pokémon Dream Radar]]''': Allows players to send Pokémon caught in this game to {{B2W2}}.
* '''[[Poké Transporter]]''': Allows players to transfer their Pokémon from the Generation V games, and the Generation I and II games on [[Nintendo 3DS]] [[Virtual Console]], to Pokémon Bank.
* '''[[Pokémon Bank]]''': Allows players to store their Pokémon from [[Generation VI]] and [[Generation VII]] core series games.
* '''[[Pokémon HOME]]''': Allows players to store their Pokémon from core series [[Nintendo Switch]] games, and can also receive transferred Pokémon from Pokémon Bank and {{g|GO}}.

==List of side series games==
{| class="roundy" width="740px" style="text-align:center; border:3px solid #{{black color}};"
|- style="background:#{{Black color dark}}; color:#FFF;"
! style="{{roundytl|6px}}" width=30px | Gen 
! width=450px | Game 
! width=110px | Platform 
! width=150px style="{{roundytr|6px}}" | Release Date
|- style="background:#{{Kanto color light}};"
! rowspan="6" style="background:#{{Kanto color dark}}; text-color:FFF;" | {{color2|FFF|Generation I|I}}
| {{color2|000|Pokémon Stadium (Japanese)|<big>'''ポケモンスタジアム'''</big> <br/><small>''Pokémon Stadium''</small>}} <br />
[[File:Stadium 1 JP boxart.png|200px|link=Pokémon Stadium (Japanese)]]
| style="padding:5px;" | <div class="roundy" style="background:#FFF; padding:5px;">[[File:Nintendo 64 Logo.png|85px|Nintendo 64|link=Nintendo 64]]</div>
| August 1, 1998<br><small>Japan</small>
|- style="background:#{{Kanto color light}};"
| rowspan="5" | <big>'''{{color2|000|Pokémon Stadium|Pokémon Stadium}}'''</big> <br />
[[File:Stadium EN boxart.jpg|300px|link=Pokémon Stadium]]
| rowspan="4" style="padding:5px;" | <div class="roundy" style="background:#FFF; padding:5px;">[[File:Nintendo 64 Logo.png|85px|Nintendo 64|link=Nintendo 64]]</div>
| April 30, 1999{{tt|*|Released as ポケモンスタジアム２ (Pokémon Stadium 2)}} <br /><small>Japan</small>
|- style="background:#{{Kanto color light}};"
| February 29, 2000 <br /><small>North American</small>
|- style="background:#{{Kanto color light}};"
| March 23, 2000 <br /><small>Australia</small>
|- style="background:#{{Kanto color light}};"
| April 7, 2000 <br /><small>Europe</small>
|- style="background:#{{kanto color light}};"
| style="padding:5px; line-height:0.5;" | <div style="{{roundytop}}; background:#e60012; padding:5px">[[File:Nintendo Switch Online.png|90px|Nintendo Switch Online|link=Nintendo Switch Online]]</div><div style="{{roundybottom}}; background: #b7000c; padding:5px;"><small>{{color2|FFF|Nintendo Switch Online|{{tt|+ Expansion Pack|Unlike the original N64 release, the Switch edition has no connectivity with other main series games, nor Pokémon HOME.}}}}</small></div><br />
| 2023 <br /><small>Worldwide</small>
|- style="background:#{{Johto color light}};"
! rowspan="5" style="background:#{{Johto color dark}}; text-color:FFF;" | {{color2|FFF|Generation II|II}}
| rowspan="5" | <big>'''{{color2|000|Pokémon Stadium 2}}'''</big> <br />
[[File:Stadium 2 EN boxart.jpg|300px|link=Pokémon Stadium 2]]
| rowspan="4" style="padding:5px;" | <div class="roundy" style="background:#FFF; padding:5px;">[[File:Nintendo 64 Logo.png|85px|Nintendo 64|link=Nintendo 64]]</div>
| December 14, 2000{{tt|*|Released as ポケモンスタジアム 金銀 ''Pokémon Stadium Gold & Silver''}} <br /><small>Japan</small>
|- style="background:#{{Johto color light}};"
| March 26, 2001 <br /><small>North American</small>
|- style="background:#{{Johto color light}};"
| 2001 <br /><small>Australia</small>
|- style="background:#{{Johto color light}};"
| October 10, 2001 <br /><small>Europe</small>
|- style="background:#{{Johto color light}};"
| style="padding:5px; line-height:0.5;" | <div style="{{roundytop}}; background:#e60012; padding:5px">[[File:Nintendo Switch Online.png|90px|Nintendo Switch Online|link=Nintendo Switch Online]]</div><div style="{{roundybottom}}; background: #b7000c; padding:5px;"><small>{{color2|FFF|Nintendo Switch Online|{{tt|+ Expansion Pack|Unlike the original N64 release, the Switch edition has no connectivity with other main series games, nor Pokémon HOME.}}}}</small></div><br />
| 2023 <br /><small>Worldwide</small>
|- style="background:#{{Hoenn color light}};"
! rowspan="12" style="background:#{{Hoenn color dark}}; text-color:FFF;" | {{color2|FFF|Generation III|III}}
| rowspan="4" | <big>'''{{color2|000|Pokémon Box Ruby & Sapphire}}'''</big> <br />
[[File:Box RS EN boxart.png|200px|link=Pokémon Box Ruby & Sapphire]]
| rowspan="4" style="padding:3px;" | <div class="roundy" style="background:#fff; padding:5px;">[[File:Nintendo GameCube Logo.png|90px|link=Nintendo GameCube]]</div>
| May 30, 2003 <br /><small>Japan</small>
|- style="background:#{{Hoenn color light}};"
| July 11, 2004 <br /><small>North American</small>
|- style="background:#{{Hoenn color light}};"
| July 16, 2004 <br /><small>Australia</small>
|- style="background:#{{Hoenn color light}};"
| May 14, 2004 <br /><small>Europe</small>
|- style="background:#{{Hoenn color light}};"
| rowspan="4" | <big>'''{{color2|000|Pokémon Colosseum}}'''</big> <br />
[[File:Colosseum EN boxart.png|200px|link=Pokémon Colosseum]]
| rowspan="4" style="padding:3px;" | <div class="roundy" style="background:#fff; padding:5px;">[[File:Nintendo GameCube Logo.png|90px|link=Nintendo GameCube]]</div>
| November 21, 2003 <br /><small>Japan</small>
|- style="background:#{{Hoenn color light}};"
| March 22, 2004 <br /><small>North American</small>
|- style="background:#{{Hoenn color light}};"
| June 24, 2004 <br /><small>Australia</small>
|- style="background:#{{Hoenn color light}};"
| May 14, 2004 <br /><small>Europe</small>
|- style="background:#{{Hoenn color light}};"
| rowspan="4" | <big>'''{{color2|000|Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness}}'''</big> <br />
[[File:XD EN boxart.jpg|200px|link=Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness]]
| rowspan="4" style="padding:3px;" | <div class="roundy" style="background:#fff; padding:5px;">[[File:Nintendo GameCube Logo.png|90px|link=Nintendo GameCube]]</div>
| August 4, 2005 <br /><small>Japan</small>
|- style="background:#{{Hoenn color light}};"
| October 3, 2005 <br /><small>North American</small>
|- style="background:#{{Hoenn color light}};"
| November 10, 2005 <br /><small>Australia</small>
|- style="background:#{{Hoenn color light}};"
| November 18, 2005 <br /><small>Europe</small>
|- style="background:#{{sinnoh color light}};"
! rowspan="13" style="background:#{{Sinnoh color dark}}; text-color:FFF;" | {{color2|FFF|Generation IV|IV}}
| rowspan="5" | <big>'''{{color2|000|Pokémon Battle Revolution}}'''</big> <br />
[[File:Battle Revolution EN boxart.jpg|200px|link=Pokémon Battle Revolution]]
| rowspan="5" style="padding:3px;" | <div class="roundy" style="background:#FFF; padding:5px;">[[File:Wii Logo.png|90px|Wii|link=Wii]]</div>
| December 14, 2006 <br /><small>Japan</small>
|- style="background:#{{sinnoh color light}};"
| June 25, 2007 <br /><small>North America</small>
|- style="background:#{{sinnoh color light}};"
| November 22, 2007 <br /><small>Australia</small>
|- style="background:#{{sinnoh color light}};"
| December 7, 2007 <br /><small>Europe</small>
|- style="background:#{{sinnoh color light}};"
| July 12, 2008 <br /><small>Taiwan</small>
|- style="background:#{{sinnoh color light}};"
| rowspan="3" | <big>'''{{color2|000|My Pokémon Ranch}}'''</big> <br />
[[File:MPR-EN logo.png|200px|link=My Pokémon Ranch]]
| rowspan="3" style="padding:3px;" | <div class="roundy" style="background:#FFF; padding:5px;">[[File:WiiWare.png|90px|Wii|link=Wii]]</div>
| March 25, 2008<br><small>Japan</small>
|- style="background:#{{sinnoh color light}};"
| June 9, 2008 <br /><small>North America</small>
|- style="background:#{{sinnoh color light}};"
| July 4, 2008 <br /><small>Australia & Europe</small>
|- style="background:#{{unova color light}}"

|- style="background:#{{sinnoh color light}};"
| rowspan="5" | <big>'''{{color2|000|Pokéwalker}}'''</big> <br />
[[File:Pokewalker.png|200px|link=Pokéwalker]]
| rowspan="5" style="padding:3px;" | <div class="roundy" style="background:#FFF; padding:5px;">'''Self-contained'''</div>
| September 12, 2009<br><small>Japan</small>
|- style="background:#{{sinnoh color light}};"
| March 14, 2010 <br /><small>North America</small>
|- style="background:#{{sinnoh color light}};"
| March 25, 2010 <br /><small>Australia</small>
|- style="background:#{{sinnoh color light}}"
| July 4, 2008 <br>April 2, 2010{{tt|*|Benelux}} <br /><small>Europe</small>
|- style="background:#{{sinnoh color light}}"
| February 4, 2010 <br /><small>South Korea</small>
|- style="background:#{{unova color light}}"

! rowspan="7" style="background:#{{unova color dark}}" | {{color2|FFF|Generation V|V}}
|  rowspan="2" |<big>'''{{color2|000|Pokémon Dream World}}'''</big> <br />
[[File:Pokémon Dream World logo.png|200px|link=Pokémon Dream World]]
|  rowspan="2" style="color:#{{link color}}; padding:3px;" | <div class="roundy" style="background:#FFF; padding:5px;"><big>'''{{tt|Web|Browser based online game accessed through the Pokémon Global Link website}}'''</big></div><br><small>'''Permanent Shutdown'''</small> <br />January 14, 2014 <br /><small>Worldwide</small>
| style="line-height:1; padding:5px;" | <small>'''Initial launch'''</small> <br />September 18, 2010 <br />
<small>'''Second launch'''</small> <br />October 13, 2010 <br />
<small>Japan</small>
|- style="background:#{{unova color light}}"
|  April 13, 2011 <br /><small>Worldwide</small>
|- style="background:#{{unova color light}}"
| rowspan="5" | <big>'''{{color2|000|Pokémon Dream Radar}}'''</big> <br />
[[File:Pokémon Dream Radar logo EN.png|200px|link=Pokémon Dream Radar]]
| rowspan="5" style="padding:3px;" | <div class="roundy" style="background:#FFF; padding:5px;">[[File:Nintendo 3DS Logo.png|90px|Nintendo 3DS|link=Nintendo 3DS]]<br />[[File:Nintendo eShop logo.png|90px|Nintendo eShop|link=Nintendo 3DS]]</div>
| June 23, 2012<br><small>Japan</small>
|- style="background:#{{unova color light}}"
| October 7, 2012 <br /><small>North America</small>
|- style="background:#{{unova color light}}"
| October 11, 2012 <br /><small>Australia</small>
|- style="background:#{{unova color light}}"
| October 12, 2012 <br /><small>Europe</small>
|- style="background:#{{unova color light}}"
| November 8, 2012 <br /><small>South Korea</small>
|- style="background:#{{kalos color light}}"
! style="background:#{{kalos color dark}}" | {{color2|FFF|Generation VI|VI}}
| rowspan="3" | <big>'''{{color2|000|Pokémon Bank}} & {{color2|000|Poké Transporter}}'''</big> <br />
[[File:Pokémon Bank logo.png|200px|link=Pokémon Bank]] <br />
[[File:Poké Transporter logo.png|200px|link=Poké Transporter]]
| rowspan="3" style="padding:3px;" | <div class="roundy" style="background:#FFF; padding:5px;">[[File:Nintendo 3DS Logo.png|90px|Nintendo 3DS|link=Nintendo 3DS]]<br />[[File:Nintendo eShop logo.png|90px|Nintendo eShop|link=Nintendo 3DS]]</div>
| style="line-height:1; padding:5px;" | <small>'''Initial launch'''</small> <br />December 25, 2013 <br />
<small>'''Second launch'''</small> <br />January 22, 2014 <br />
<small>Japan, South Korea, <br />Taiwan, & Hong Kong</small>
|- style="background:#{{kalos color light}}"
! rowspan="2" style="background:#{{Alola color dark}}" | {{color2|FFF|Generation VII|{{tt|VII|Only compatible with Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon}}}}
| style="line-height:1; padding:5px;" | February 4, 2014 <br />
<small>Europe, Australia, <br />& New Zealand</small>
|- style="background:#{{kalos color light}}"
| February 5, 2014 <br /><small>The Americas</small>
|- style="background:#{{galar color light}}" 
! style="background:#{{Alola color dark}}" | {{color2|FFF|Generation VII|{{tt|VII|Only compatible with Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!}}}}
| rowspan="3" | <big>'''{{color2|000|Pokémon HOME}}'''</big> <br/>
[[File:Pokémon HOME logo.png|200px|link=Pokémon HOME]]
| rowspan="3" style="padding:8px; line-height:0.5;" | <div style="{{roundytop}}; background:#e60012; padding:5px">[[File:Nintendo Switch Logo.png|90px|link=Nintendo Switch]]</div><div style="{{roundybottom}}; background:#fff; padding:2px 5px 5px;">[[File:Nintendo eShop logo.png|90px|link=Nintendo Switch]]</div><br />
<div class="roundy" style="background:#FFF; padding:5px;">[[File:iOS Logo.png|40px|iOS|link=wp:iOS]]</div><br />
<div class="roundy" style="background:#FFF; padding:5px;">[[File:Android logo.png|90px|Android|link=wp:Android (operating system)]]</div>
| rowspan="3" style="{{roundybr|6px}};" | February 12, 2020<br><small>{{tt|Worldwide|February 11, 2020 in North America due to timezone differences}}</small>
|- style="background:#{{galar color light}}"
! rowspan="1" style="background:#{{galar color dark}}" | {{color2|FFF|Generation VIII|VIII}}
|- style="background:#{{galar color light}}"
! rowspan="1" style="{{roundybl|6px}}; background:#{{paldea color dark}}" | {{color2|FFF|Generation IX|IX}}
|}

==See also==
{{side series}}<br>
{{DoubleProjectTag|Sidegames|Fandom|side games in relation to the fandom.}}

[[Category:Game series]]
[[Category:Lists]]