The Nuzlocke challenge is easily the most popular way to play Pokémon games when you’ve already beaten the game normally. Generally speaking, the Nuzlocke challenge is designed to get you to use Pokémon you wouldn’t normally by restricting you to the first Pokémon you catch in each area and including a permadeath system if any Pokémon ever faints.
These rules can make Pokémon games more challenging and engaging. Here are arguably the best Pokémon games to do a Nuzlocke challenge with that increase the difficulty reasonably while still keeping things fun.
Updated July 20th, 2020 by Hayley Mullen: Not only have new Pokémon games been released in the past year, but fans are always finding the best ways to celebrate their classic favorites. A Nuzlocke run is a perfect way to recapture nostalgia and bring a new level of difficulty to the games, especially for more experienced and/or adult players. As new rules and challenges are introduced and accepted into the community, it's good to take a look at which games are currently popular for Nuzlocke players.
15 Pokémon X & Y
Pokémon X & Y are good entry games for the Nuzlocke challenge as they’re on the easier side. The EXP Share is relatively easy to obtain and allows you to beef up your weaker Pokémon by using your stronger, safer ones.
While the gyms shouldn’t pose too much of a threat, there are a few trainers that can give you a run for your money if you’re not careful. It’s a great way to learn the ropes of Nuzlocke without getting overwhelmed.
14 Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire
Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire are reasonably easy, but players can see a slight bump in difficulty across the board. It’s a little more tricky to obtain a diverse team, meaning you'll be left with less than ideal Pokémon in certain battles.
The games' convenient EXP Share item means that grinding those Pokémon shouldn’t be too much of an issue. If Pokémon X & Y was the tutorial for Nuzlocke, then Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire could be seen as the easy mode.
13 Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen
Given it’s a remaster of the original Generation I games (coupled with some updates and tweaks), Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen can be great Pokémon games to run a Nuzlocke challenge with. The variety of Pokémon may pose a problem, but TMs can smooth out any holes in coverage and allow you to get really creative with team setups.
This is the first game that you can really start to approach fights tactically and with a strategy that makes it feel like it matters. Plus, the improved graphics and sprites make it a joy to look at during your run.
12 Pokémon Red & Blue
The classic Pokémon Red & Blue games can be great fun to run a Nuzlock challenge with as most players are intimately familiar with the world. Knowing what bosses are coming and where to find the plethora of gift and trade Pokémon can give you a solid and effective team.
Even if you aren’t familiar with the game, it has a balance of challenging fights both in and out of the gyms. It isn’t hard by any means, but you’ll lose a Pokémon or two to critical hits if you aren’t cautious. The Elite Four can also be a threat if you haven’t been leveling properly and you likely won’t obtain the EXP All to help you out.
11 Pokémon Yellow
Pokémon Yellow is predictably very similar to the Red & Blue games with the notable exception of Pikachu. This makes the early parts of the game more challenging as you can’t ensure you’ll have an effective Pokémon against the first boss.
That being said you are gifted all three starters from Pokémon Red & Blue giving you a balanced team of strong fighters going forward. Many fans have noticed this is probably how Red felt on his path to becoming a legendary trainer, making this Nuzlocke challenge an unintentional roleplay run.
10 Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire
Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire can be seen as the normal mode of Nuzlocke runs. You start out with a bit of breathing room to build a decent team and level up without too much trouble, but after the third gym or so the jump in difficulty is noticeable.
The challenge is far from unfair, but the main battles can be tough, and you may find yourself grinding a fair amount to prevent losing Pokémon needlessly. If you find yourself hating the requirements of the Nuzlocke challenge on this game, then stick to the easier games or try something else because it only gets harder.
9 Pokémon Crystal
Pokémon Crystal is a unique game in its own right, never receiving a direct remake but having aspects of its story and gameplay worked into HeartGold and SoulSilver. Several YouTubers and streamers have broadcasted their Pokémon Crystal Nuzlocke attempts online such as GameXplain, with varying results. Crystal's unique selection of catchable Pokémon and its Suicune arc offer a Nuzlocke challenge like no other.
8 Pokémon Sword & Shield
If you want to throw the Nuzlocke challenge on its head, playing Pokémon Sword & Shield can provide incredibly subversive experiences. Immediately following its release in late 2019, players were discussing the game's mechanics and environments in relation to a Nuzlocke challenge.
As the rules say, only the first Pokémon encountered in a new area can be caught, but the Wild Area makes this more complicated. Not only is the Wild Area divided into many subsections, but Pokémon now appear on the overworld map, conflicting with the "first encounter" rule. Players dedicated to Nuzlocke challenges have found solutions and created custom rules for the Switch games, showing their dedication to the craft.
7 Pokémon Diamond & Pearl
Many fans feel that Pokémon Diamond & Pearl were built with the Nuzlocke challenge in mind. You can acquire a decent number of Pokémon to build a few teams, there’s a steady progression in difficulty that you don’t need to grind endlessly for and you get a decent challenge.
The main obstacle to watch out for is Cynthia, as she can pose a major threat if you aren’t prepared. This is an excellent final battle to test your strategy, and unless you do some serious grinding, you should expect to lose at least half your team. A sad but necessary sacrifice to become the Pokémon champ.
6 Pokémon Emerald
Pokémon Emerald offers changes from Ruby & Sapphire that can both increase or decrease difficulty, depending on the player's desired difficulty level. As Hoenn is the originating region of the Nuzlocke challenge, Emerald is quite a fitting title for players wanting the true intended experience. Battling both Team Magma and Team Aqua can push an unprepared or unbalanced team to their limits, while Champion Wallace is admittedly less threatening than Steven Stone. For a real challenge, leave Rayquaza off the team.
5 Pokémon Sun and Moon
Pokémon Sun and Moon bring changes to the Pokémon formula that experienced Nuzlocke players may appreciate. Island Kahunas replace gym leaders and Totems Pokémon can spell a disastrous and infinite battle due to the SOS battle feature.
Players will have to deal with not only regular trainers and Island Kahunas, but also Team Skull and the Aether Foundation, meaning more potential forthings going up in flames.
4 Pokémon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon
If you’re playing this with the EXP Share you’ll have a much better time. If you do a Nuzlocke without it, then expect a brutal uphill battle, argued by many to be the hardest game to Nuzlocke with.
Your biggest challenge comes from the Totems and the battles in the early game as you’ll have a limited variety of Pokémon and grinding can be annoying. But once you get past this phase it becomes a bit easier and wormhole diving can be a high risk, high reward activity as some fans consider each journey a new area which means a new potentially powerful Pokémon added to the roster.
3 Pokémon Black & White 2
Pokémon Black & White 2 are good Pokémon games if you’re looking for a sincere challenge and think you can cope with losing a few Pokémon along the way. The Unova region is uniquely structured, and there aren’t very many areas to catch Pokémon which means your overall roster is much more limited. Some fans like this added challenge, but others hate the lack of options.
Depending on how you play, you’ll either be doing a lot of grinding or losing your comrades in battle, which is very dangerous given the limited number of Pokémon at your disposal.
2 Pokémon Platinum
For those who want a fierce challenge, Pokémon Platinum is considered by many to be the most difficult Nuzlocke challenge in the series. Platinum ups the threat of Gym leaders by preparing them for type disadvantages, having more counters than ever before. Many of the movesets used by trainers in this game are purposeful and strategic, making it almost impossible to let your guard down and underestimate any opponent. Battling Cyrus in the Distortion world is a brutal fight to survive, and Champion Cynthia is still the ultimate game-ending threat to Sinnoh Nuzlockers everywhere.
1 Pokémon HeartGold & SoulSilver
Far and away the best games to do a Nuzlocke challenge on according to fans are Pokémon HeartGold & SoulSilver. The story has a balanced difficulty that ramps up slowly enough your team can keep up without too much difficulty and a huge world means a variety of Pokémon to use.
But if beating the Elite Four was too easy, then you can always hop on a boat and go to Kanto where not only can you snag more Pokémon, but the difficulty jumps as well. Perhaps the greatest feeling in a Pokémon game is beating Red with your hodgepodge team of randomly obtained and expertly trained Pokémon.