Pokemon Stadium debuted as the first 3D game in the series, and came with a variety of Pokemon-themed minigames that built upon popular party games like Mario Party. Despite never getting their own full-fledged game, these minigames have still reached levels of infamy among Pokemon fans.
From complex memory tests to precise rhythm sequences, Pokemon Stadium's minigames will have you coming back for more. Whether you love these goofy, arcade-style ideas or are just too stubborn to give up until you perfect them, there are plenty of reasons to try these bite-sized events.
10 Rock Harden — Pokemon Stadium
Rock Harden capitalizes on the time-tested Pokemon tradition of keeping it simple for maximum fun. This game is all about timing and rhythm as boulders are launched from a distance. You and your competitors use Harden with the right timing to shatter the boulders before they crush you.
The key here is getting a sense of the time between seeing the boulder and the boulders landing, as once you find your own way to keep track, you'll be acing this minigame every time. Don't be afraid to use a little extra energy to keep your hard outer shell if you've lost track of the boulders — getting hit by a boulder costs you way more energy than Harden.
9 Eager Eevee — Pokemon Stadium 2
One of the best parts of any journey through Kanto is getting to play with Eevee, and this minigame lets the beloved Normal-type icon show off its surprising speed. Eager Eevee is a reaction-speed test framed around a modified version of musical chairs. Aipom presides over a covering in the center that hides a piece of fruit; the quickest Eevee to tap the A button and grab the fruit, wins.
Try to avoid false starts in this one, as the reaction timer is fairly precise for an N64 game — so even a hundredth of a second will be enough to separate the winner from the rest of the pack. Enjoy testing your reflexes against your friends, or if you're looking for a super-human opponent, then you can always set the computer to the hardest difficulty.
8 Gutsy Golbat — Pokemon Stadium 2
This minigame has a lot going on. You and three other Golbats will be flying around the screen, trying to bump into each other to gain hearts — all while avoiding a minefield of Magnemite. You'll have to keep tapping A to stay aloft as you steer your Golbat around the screen. Keep in mind that you'll also need to gain enough speed to hit opponents hard enough for them to lose a heart.
While you're avoiding your friends and other obstacles, keep an eye out for any floating hearts, as you'll want to grab them first to win. The Golbats are rather slippery, so try not to get too distracted by the mayhem transpiring around you — you'll need as much focus as possible to grab a win in this free-for-all.
7 Streaming Stampede — Pokemon Stadium 2
Modern Mario Party players will recognize the format of this classic count-'em-all minigame, and hopefully, it's bringing back good feelings. However, you should know that this minigame is no exaggeration, as there will quite literally be a stampede of Pokemon bumbling across your screen for each round.
If your eyes are quick enough to keep up with the frenetic pace of these stampeding Pokemon, then you're in luck! Most rounds will throw some curveballs your way, in the form of extra Pokemon that look extremely similar to the target Pokemon, or some friends that run side-by-side, making it difficult to keep track of them.
6 Run, Rattata, Run! — Pokemon Stadium
Many '90s gamers will be feeling the nostalgia of this classic Pokemon Stadium racing minigame. Any Pokemon Master worth their salt will be champing at the bit to show off their Rattata's — or thumb's — speed and agility. Only the top one percent of Rattata will have what it takes to win.
Timing will be key here, as you'll want to be gaining speed as you come up on each jump. Take care not to miss your jumps, though, as once you break your timing and have to readjust to the positions of the barriers, it will be an uphill battle to rediscover the perfect rhythm of dashing and leaping.
5 Ekans' Hoop Hurl — Pokemon Stadium
As if the N64's controller design wasn't puzzling enough, this minigame will have you second-guessing everything you know about how to hold a controller. Ekans' Hoop Hurl actually requires you to grip the two leftmost handles on the N64 controller, as you toss your Ekans' rings at the elusive Diglett.
On top of being one of the few N64 games to require a double-left grip, Ekans' Hoop Hurl is also one of the more skill-focused games. You will need a careful balance of aiming and power as you try to land each Ekans on the golden Diglett for big points.
4 Barrier Ball — Pokemon Stadium 2
Pokemon's creative answer to the iconic Pong is actually a fun, frantic take on the classic game, and will have you and your friends shouting and laughing by the end. Each player controls a Mr. Mime, as you start with a single Pokeball ricocheting between the four barricades.
As the contest goes on, more Pokeballs will be introduced and the bounces spiral out of control, bringing the game to a boil as you struggle to knock the most balls past the opposing Mimes. There are no breaks in the action, so keep your head up — every point scored will accelerate the pace of this marvelously executed mashup of Pokemon and Pong.
3 Delibird's Delivery — Pokemon Stadium 2
If you like collect-a-thons then wait no longer; Delibird's Delivery lets you play Santa Claus, gathering gifts in your sack and carrying them over to the top conveyor belt to be distributed. This gift-giving Pokemon will put you in the holiday spirit as you grab Gameboys and other goodies to outscore the other birds.
Picking up the same items multiple times in a row will increase your score, but be aware that you can only hold up to five gifts at one time. Be quick about your selections and don't worry about trying to fill up your bag to capacity each time; you should aim for a single gift type and grab as many as you see to rack up the score.
2 Rampage Rollout — Pokemon Stadium 2
Rampage Rollout will have fans of Mario Kart drifting for joy. This simplified racing minigame offers all the charm and antics that endear Mario Kart to so many. While you won't be collecting coins or jettisoning green shells at other Donphan, you will be kicking up dust clouds to keep your fellow racers on their hooves.
Saving your dust clouds for the right moments will be a big part of victory. You can only deploy up to three per lap, depending on your position. If you can catch someone about to pass you in a cloud, it could completely derail their race and put you miles ahead — but be aware that the same clouds may be coming for you on your next lap.
1 Sushi-Go-Round — Pokemon Stadium
If you've played this one before, then the noise of sheer agony that Lickitung makes after eating Wasabi is surely echoing in your head. Sushi-Go-Round is all about picky eaters. You'll want to grab as many of the same sushi types as possible, to chain combos and gain massive point bonuses.
This game is equal parts silly, challenging, and hunger-inducing. You steer Lickitung towards various pieces of sushi and sashimi, trying to eat 'em all before your fellow diners steal your meal. It's nearly impossible not to enjoy Sushi-Go-Round as Lickitung runs in circles, smoke pouring from its ears after you accidentally swallow a container of Wasabi instead of the Tuna you were aiming for.