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Game Compatibility

Currently, only Nintendo Switch Pokémon games and Pokémon HOME have the ability for online access. Thus it is only through these game versions or platforms that the Pokémon genned here in Pokéfella can be received at:

  • Gen 9: Pokémon Scarlet, Violet (SV)
  • Gen 8: Pokémon Legends Arceus (PLA)
  • Gen 8: Pokémon Brilliant Diamond, Shining Pearl (BDSP)
  • Gen 8: Pokémon Sword, Pokémon Shield (SwSh)
  • Gen 7: Pokémon Let's Go, Pikachu!, Pokémon Let's Go, Eevee! (LGPE)
  • Pokémon HOME

The Pokémon games have no backward compatibility. The basic logic is that a Pokémon originally caught, bred, or received as an event Pokémon in a specific generation cannot be received at any past, non-same generation game version. For example, a Pokémon originally coming from Gen 9 games (Scarlet, Violet) cannot be received in any Gen 8 (Sword, Shield) game versions.

Conversely, any Pokémon released in older game versions can be received in any later version, as long as the Pokémon is coded to be available in the receiving game version. 

It is, therefore, necessary to remember which game version is older, and which ones are newer.

The following table summarizes this compatibility topic.

Game Version
 Release Date 		Remarks
Pokémon Let's Go, Pikachu!, Let's Go, Eevee! (LGPE) November 16, 2018 Can receive Pokémon originally caught, bred, or distributed as event Pokémon in Let's Go games only; can also receive Pokémon from Pokémon GO, as long as the Pokémon are coded available in LGPE: Dex #1 to #151 (including Alolan versions, but not Galarian versions) plus Meltan and Melmetal
Pokémon Sword, Shield (SwSh) November 15, 2019 Can receive Pokémon originally caught, bred, or distributed as event Pokémon in Sword and Shield and past game versions, as long as the Pokémon is coded available in Gen 8 games (not all 900+ Pokémon are present in SwSh)
Pokémon HOME February 12, 2020 Pokémon HOME is essentially a repository of Pokémon. It can receive any legal Pokémon from any version.
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond, Shining Pearl (BDSP) November 19, 2021 Can receive Pokémon originally caught, bred, or distributed as event Pokémon in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl and past game versions, as long as the Pokémon is coded available in the BDSP games (only 493 Pokémon available)
Pokémon Legends Arceus (PLA) January 28, 2022 Can receive Pokémon originally caught, bred, or distributed as event Pokémon Legends Arceus and past game versions, as long as the Pokémon is coded available in the PLA game
Pokémon Scarlet, Violet (SV) November 18, 2022 Can receive Pokémon originally caught, bred, or distributed as event Pokémon in Scarlet and Violet and past game versions as long as the Pokémon is coded available in Gen 9 games (not all 1000+ Pokémon are present in SV)