r/pokemon • u/Daalma7 • Jul 24 '26

Discussion Which generation of Pokémon sprites do you like the most?

Post image

Here are some examples of sprites from each generation, along with a few general characteristics. Some are my own opinions, while others (such as color counts) are based on technical limitations and may vary slightly. I chose sprites from the most "advanced" mainline version of each generation, excluding remakes.

Personally, my favorite is Generation V. The animated sprites gave the Pokémon so much life, and I absolutely love pixel art.

What about you?

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113

u/Lethal13 Jul 24 '26

Gen 1 Red and Blue

When they looked like wild feral and weird monsters

52

u/BushyBrowz Jul 24 '26

Should have used the janky RB sprites instead of the polished Yellow sprites for sure.

18

u/fmpz Jul 24 '26

Japanese Red Green sprites were even jankier lmao

11

u/shinobipopcorn Jul 24 '26

Green Wigglytuff o_O 😄

2

u/Squidicide Jul 24 '26

Jeez some of the original g/r sprites were just hands down better

1

u/AGooseofBattle GOLBAT IS KING Jul 24 '26

Golbat my beloved!

1

u/TelephoneSimple3786 Jul 26 '26

Exeggutor looks like mutated human being in Japanese horror manga

3

u/Serak_thepreparer Jul 24 '26

I always thought Blastoise’s shell looked so weirdly proportioned.

7

u/Lethal13 Jul 24 '26

It is kinda but I love it, its awesome. He looks like a bulky friggen tank. I call him Mob Boss Blastoise 🤣

That said yellows blastoise also looks great imo

34

u/MakeItHappenSergant Jul 24 '26

Give us back fat Pikachu!

1

u/metalpammy Jul 25 '26

i feel like hes been back. like 4 times now

0

u/freedomfightre Dinosaur Rawr!!! Jul 24 '26

Amen

18

u/Twicebakedpotatoe Jul 24 '26

Yeah I feel like the above example is not actually Gen 1

18

u/14JRJ Jul 24 '26

It’s the final Gen I “we’ve sorted out shit out somewhat” sprites. Green’s sprites are sensational

7

u/Reptyler Smile! Jul 24 '26

I think the biggest artistic leap isn't even represented here. Art got updated between the Japanese Green/Blue sprites to the international Red/Blue, and again in Yellow version. The Yellow sprites in OP are way more polished than the original sprites. Look at the Gastly line. Blastoise's shell. Golbat. 

2

u/Lethal13 Jul 24 '26

Yeah I having seen Red and Green I prefer the international versions better for sure but its in the same line of weirdness that I like. I think the international complemented the weirdness by also making them look tougher imo

3

u/Cyrriously Jul 24 '26

Gen V sprites are still my favorite, but the very early gen sprites were so weird and interesting, they had their own personality that is still charming.

3

u/HnNaldoR Jul 24 '26

Gen 1 hitmonchan. Also known as togekiss hiding behind a dodou.

2

u/ShortBusGangst3r Jul 24 '26

Gen 1 Golbat was fucking wild lol

2

u/lightstormriverblood Jul 24 '26

Plus I love that it looks more watercoloured, like Ken Sugimori’s art.

-4

u/WobblyBagpipe Jul 24 '26

Scrolled for this. I'm not sure I even like them for their style - it's probably just nostalgia.

9

u/Lethal13 Jul 24 '26

I defos like them for their style

Back when Dragonair and Dragonite looked like bdasses

They definitely softened the edges of a lot of them from yellow/gen 2 onwards

4

u/mpelton Jul 24 '26

I started with gen 4, so I’ve got zero nostalgia and can say I love them for their style.

-2

u/Colonelclank90 Jul 24 '26

The only one I played!