This article is about the overworld menu. For the title screen menu, see Main menu.
The menu (Japanese: メニューmenu) is the main interface in all of the core seriesPokémon games that allows the player to access the game's basic features and aspects of their save file, with the entries differing throughout the various games. It is accessed by pressing the START button of the Game Boy-line handheld in Generations I to III and by pressing the X button of the Nintendo DS-family or Nintendo 3DS-family handheld in Generation IV and later. In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, the menu is always open on the touchscreen.
Starting in Generation VI, an entry's position may be swapped using the stylus. In Generation VII, the menu is expanded to two pages, with several new accessible functions.
In general, entries are only added to the menu when the player obtains them, such as the Pokédex. Games that have entries for the Bag, Trainer Card, Save, Options, and Exit have them available from the beginning.
Two exceptions exist:
In Generation I, the Pokémon menu entry is available even before the player obtains their starter Pokémon, but will do nothing when selected until then.
Prior to HeartGold and SoulSilver, the menu displays in a single vertical column; in HeartGold and SoulSilver, the menu displays in two columns (of four and three).
This entry is absent in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, being replaced by a graphical X button that displays above the menu (rather than as one of its entries) and can be tapped on to close it. As all games allow the menu to be closed by pressing the START, X, or B buttons, this function was somewhat redundant.
This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: What exactly goes in Treasures; if the Underground Trainer Card option differs in any way, however slight, from the overworld version
The party entry is simply called "Pokémon" in the menu itself, but the Ready button shows its full name "Pokémon List". Now appears first in the menu, before Pokédex.
The menu still displays in three rows of two, but was significantly expanded and now takes up two pages, accessed by scrolling right from the first page.
In Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, a few items were moved or changed. Save now appears as its own item to the bottom right of the menu (unaffected by page changes), and can be accessed from the menu with the Y button.
The menu displays with one entry in the top row and five entries in the bottom row.
Options are now accessed with the Y button from the menu; this instruction is displayed by the game in the footer at the bottom right of the screen. There is no longer a Trainer Card entry in the menu.
Entry
Notes
Play with (Nickname)
Displays the nickname of the player's Partner Pokémon, though in all caps to match the formatting of the rest of the menu.
The menu displays with two rows of five entries. The player can now swap the order of entries with the Y button; the default order is shown here. The player can also automatically select Town Map with the + button or Save with the R button.
The menu displays with two rows of four entries. The Y, +, and R buttons have the same functionality as in Sword and Shield. Save is no longer a menu entry, but displays outside the menu, below it and to the right.
Outside a dungeon the menu displays the current location, the team's rank, rank pointsRB, points to next rankTDSGtI, the day's V-Wave type, Poké, and Gold Bars.
Inside a dungeon the menu displays entire team's names and HP, the leader's Belly, Poké, weather, and play time.
Pressing X in a dungeon at the menu opens up the move list.
Red Rescue Team, Blue Rescue Team, Explorers of Time, Darkness, and Sky
Shows the jobs accepted for the current dungeon. If there is no mission for the dungeon, a message saying "Just go!"RB/"Go as far as possible"TDS will be displayed instead.
Recruitment search
Shows a list of all the Pokémon that can be recruited in the floor.
Changes to Companion Mode where the player controls a team member instead of the leader and can not go to Post Town. Changes to <player> Mode in Companion Mode.
Local Wirelessoutside a dungeon
Allows the player to connect with other players and play through dungeon together.
Materialsoutside a dungeon
Opens up Gurdurr's Menu where the player can check their material needed to build things in Pokémon Paradise.
Saveoutside a dungeon
Saves the game.
Noteinside a dungeon
Opens up the Job List for the current dungeon.
Movesinside a dungeon
Opens up the moves list.
Change the Leaderinside a dungeon
Changes the leader to the Pokémon next in line, this does not count as a turn, outside of the grid the button is grey and can't be clicked.
Look Aroundinside a dungeon
Allows the player to see around the room without moving. Can only be done in a room, outside of the grid the button is grey and can't be clicked.
Underfootinside a dungeon
Checks the tile the leader stands on, outside of the grid the button is grey and can't be clicked.
Quick Saveinside a dungeon
Quick Saves the game and takes the player to the Main Menu.
Others
Opens up another tablist.
Inside Others
Options
Opens up the options.
SpotPass Settings
Allows the player to switch on and off SpotPass.
Pokémon who can appearinside a dungeon
Shows a list of Pokémon who can appear and be befriended.
V-Wave
Shows the day's V-Wave type and effects.
Message Log
Opens up the Message Log.
Dungeon Statusinside a dungeon
Opens up a list of floor-wide condition that are present on the floor.
Dungeon Hints
Shows hints on the subjects of exploring a dungeon.
How to Play
Shows hints on several subjects.
To the Entranceoutside a dungeon
Takes the player to the entrance of the area their currently in.
Opens up two signs of how to get around in towns and dungeons.
Switch the leader
Allows the player to change leader
Type Icon Guide
Opens up a sign which displays what different icons mean.
Options
Opens up the options
Message Log
Opens up the Messag Log.
Dungeon Status
Opens up a list of floor-wide condition that are present on the floor.
How to Play
Opens up several hints on how to play the game
Adventure Hints
Opens up several hints on how to act in dungeons
Give Up
The player gives up, counting as a defeat.
Resume from the Save Data
Resumes the game from the last time it was saved
Pokémon Ranger series
Entry
Notes
Styler
Opens up the Styler Status screen displaying Styler Level, Experience points, Experience points needed for next Styler Level, Energy, Line length, Power, Charge Speed, Charge Level, all Defense Statuses, and a Power-up Data List. Only available in Shadows of Almia.
Status
Opens up the status screen displaying the player's name, Styler Level, Styler Energy, Styler Power, Charge Level, and experience points needed to the next level. Only available in Guardian Signs.
Release
Allows the player to release captured Pokémon.
Modification
Allows the player to spend Ranger Points on modifying the styler's stats. Only available in Guardian Signs.
Sign List
Opens up a list of Guardian Signs. Only available in Guardian Signs.
Quests
Opens up a list of all the available, accepted, and completed quests. Only available in Shadows of Almia and Guardian Signs.
Shows the current Mission and allows the player to restart it in Pokémon Ranger, named Mission. Opens up a map with all the Missions pointed out in Shadows of Almia and Guardian Signs.
Map
Opens up the map.
Options
Opens up the options. Not present in Guardian Signs.
Closes the menu in Pokémon Ranger. In Shadows of Almia and Guardian Signs there's a button at the top right with an arrow on it that closes the menu.
Pokémon Rumble series
Pokémon Rumble Blast
Setting
Notes
Resume
Closes the menu.
Return to Town
Takes the player to the latest town they've been to. Only available inside a level.
Save and Quit
Allows the player to save and quit the game.
Pokémon Rumble World
In Pokémon Rumble World there are two menus; one that is on the touch screen with four buttons with must pressed with the stylus, the second is opened pressing start.
Setting
Notes
The Touch Screen menu
Profile
Allows the player to check their Player Info, view a list of claimed and unclaimed titles as well as change their title, and change Mii Settings.
Adventurers
Opens up a list of all the visitors.
Pokémon
Allows the player to check their Pokémon and say good-bye to them.
Visitors
Allows the player to greet visitors that have arrived either via StreetPass or SpotPass or call five random visitors once a day via the internet.
The menu opened pressing start
Manual
Opens up the manual of the game
L+R Take Photos
Takes a photo of the top screen
Character Roles
Allows the player to assign visitors the roles of characters in-game.
Passwords
Allows the player to enter passwords and unlock things.
This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, Cable Club (FRLG if different from normal menu), and EFRLG Union Room menus. Any other alternate menus (did the Wi-Fi Plaza have its own menu?)
Red, Blue, and Yellow
Gold, Silver, and Crystal
Ruby and Sapphire
Emerald
FireRed and LeafGreen
Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum
HeartGold and SoulSilver
Black and White
Black 2
White 2
X and Y
Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
Sun and Moon (page 1)
Sun and Moon (page 2)
Colosseum
XD
Variants
Red, Blue, and Yellow (Cable Club)
Gold, Silver, and Crystal (Bug-Catching Contest)
Gold, Silver, and Crystal (Cable Club)
Ruby and Sapphire (Cable Club)
Ruby and Sapphire (Safari Zone)
Emerald (Safari Zone)
FireRed and LeafGreen (Safari Zone)
Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum (Great Marsh)
Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum (Union Room)
Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum (The Underground)
Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum (Battle Tower)
HeartGold and SoulSilver (Safari Zone)
HeartGold and SoulSilver (Bug-Catching Contest)
HeartGold and SoulSilver (Union Room)
HeartGold and SoulSilver (Battle Tower)
Black 2 (Black Tower/White Treehollow)
White 2 (Black Tower/White Treehollow)
Trivia
The menu in a dark cave
In the Generation I games, the menu is affected by the darkness of caves (meaning that Flash has not yet been used). This was corrected in the Game Boy Color mode of the Generation II games; in Game Boy and Super Game Boy modes, it behaves like in Generation I and Flash will not make it lighter due to the darkness being dependent on the time-based palette defined in the maps of caves, which are set to use the nighttime palette.
In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team when choosing Moves on the menu a red square appears on the tile the leader stands on. However, the red square does not disappear when closing the window but does so when closing the menu or opening and closing the Toolbox.
In Generation I, if the player holds A while saving, the menu won't disappear until the player releases A.