Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: Which Game is Better?

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: Which game is better? Pokemon fans have asked a similar question ever since the debut of Pokemon Red and Blue. As Pokemon titles release in pairs, players always ask which game is "better", or which game they should buy instead of the other. The problem with that is the fact that it's a subjective question in itself, even though there are qualifiers that could help push a player to choose one game over the other. But with that in mind, it can still be difficult to decide which one is worth buying for an individual player.

If you're looking to determine which game you want between Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet, we can help you figure that out. Read on for more insights into the two games' differences as well as which one might be right for you—"better", in your eyes, compared to the other. Though in the end, you'll probably want to end up buying both, because we know the Pokemon tagline: gotta catch 'em all!

Which Game is Better: Pokemon Scarlet or Pokemon Violet?

This is a question that can't be answered definitively. Just like you can't say which is "better" between apples and oranges (hence the saying), you can't pronounce one game better than the other since they're technically the same game. However, there is a suite of differences that do make one game more palatable to some players than others. Those are important to keep in mind when you make a purchasing decision.

The biggest differences between versions are, of course, exclusive Pokemon. You can't get every single Pokemon available in one game without trading with other players. We've covered the Scarlet and Violet exclusive Pokemon lists in the past, but the most important one to know, of course, is which Legendary Pokemon you can get per game. Those who buy Pokemon Scarlet will get Koraidon, whereas those who buy Pokemon Violet will get Miraidon. These are the same Pokemon that can be seen on each game's box art and are essentially what will act as your main mode of transportation throughout the game.

Beyond exclusive Pokemon that you can't capture in both versions, you'll want to decide which school you want to attend. Pokemon Scarlet players will attend Naranja Academy, while Pokemon Violet players will attend Uva Academy. This will affect some of the color schemes you'll see throughout your game but ultimately won't mean too much throughout your Pokemon journey.

These are the two main differences between games, which you can see illustrates the whole "subjective" debate. It really comes down to personal preference about which game you believe is "better" because there is no real answer to this question. For instance, if you like Koraidon over Miraidon, then you might find that Pokemon Scarlet is best for you, and vice versa. This is an informed decision you'll have to do some research on before you make your first purchase. But for what it's worth, we completed our first Pokemon journey in Pokemon Scarlet.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are available now exclusively on Nintendo Switch.