Release & story order
Mystery Dungeon play order
Every Pokémon Mystery Dungeon game in US release order—from Red and Blue Rescue Team through Rescue Team DX—with story notes for each self-contained world and how the series differs from mainline Pokémon RPGs.
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Release order
When each Pokémon Mystery Dungeon game shipped in the US—Rescue Team pair (2005), Explorers (2008–2009), Gates to Infinity (2013), Super Mystery Dungeon (2015), and Rescue Team DX (2020).
- New to the series → Rescue Team DX (2020) or Super Mystery Dungeon (2015)
- Explorers → pick Sky or Time/Darkness—not all three for the story
- Mainline Pokémon → optional; no required order before or after these games
- Discontinued mobile versions → covered in the FAQ, not in the game list
Story order tips
Each Mystery Dungeon game tells its own story—Pokémon who talk and form rescue teams, not the human-trainer journeys in mainline Pokémon. Only the Explorers games (Time, Darkness, and Sky) share one plot.
- Rescue Team → original (2005) or Rescue Team DX remake—same plot
- Explorers → Time/Darkness are pairs; Sky is the fullest version
- Gates to Infinity and Super Mystery Dungeon → standalone adventures
- No shared hero or region with mainline Pokémon RPGs
Story order
Each Mystery Dungeon game tells its own story—Pokémon who talk and form rescue teams, not the human-trainer journeys in mainline Pokémon. Only the Explorers games (Time, Darkness, and Sky) share one plot.
- Rescue Team → original (2005) or Rescue Team DX remake—same plot
- Explorers → Time/Darkness are pairs; Sky is the fullest version
- Gates to Infinity and Super Mystery Dungeon → standalone adventures
- No shared hero or region with mainline Pokémon RPGs
Timeline
When each game was released. Click a game for platforms, dates, and where it fits in your playthrough.
Release order
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team / Blue Rescue Team
GBANDSRescue TeamRoguelikeSeries debut—play as a Pokémon recruit in a rescue team; Red on GBA, Blue on DS (US same day).
- Overview
- Chunsoft roguelike dungeon crawls with Pokémon as playable heroes—turn-based floors, hunger, and rescue-team jobs instead of Gym badges.
- In-game setting
- You wake as a Pokémon with amnesia, join a rescue team, and unravel why natural disasters threaten the world.
- Should you play it?
- Historic entry—Rescue Team DX (2020) is the modern replacement for play; the 2005 originals matter mainly for collectors and series history.
- Release date
- US launch: November 17, 2005 (Red Rescue Team on Game Boy Advance; Blue Rescue Team on Nintendo DS).
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time / Explorers of Darkness
NDSExplorersRoguelikeSecond entry in the series—Time and Darkness are version pairs, like mainline dual releases.
- Overview
- Guild rank progression, partner story, and deeper episodic post-game content on Nintendo DS.
- In-game setting
- Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness share one story with minor version-exclusive dungeons and Pokémon.
- Should you play it?
- Many fans skip to Explorers of Sky unless collecting every US box.
- Release date
- US launch: April 20, 2008 (Nintendo DS).
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky
NDSExplorersRoguelikeEnhanced Explorers—extra chapters, episodes, and quality-of-life over Time/Darkness.
- Overview
- Definitive DS Explorers package—added Special Episodes and expanded epilogue content.
- In-game setting
- Same core plot as Time/Darkness with more side stories; treat as the preferred Explorers play for story.
- Should you play it?
- Pick Sky OR Time/Darkness—not a sequel to them.
- Release date
- US launch: October 12, 2009 (Nintendo DS).
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity
3DSStandaloneRoguelike3DS entry—new cast and world; mixed fan reception vs Explorers.
- Overview
- First 3DS PMD with 3D hub spaces and downloadable extra dungeons.
- In-game setting
- New rescue-team story around Pokémon Paradise—standalone from Rescue Team and Explorers casts.
- Should you play it?
- Optional after Explorers or Super; not required for any other Mystery Dungeon plot.
- Release date
- US launch: March 24, 2013 (Nintendo 3DS).
Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon
3DSStandaloneRoguelikeLargest roster to date—every Pokémon from Red/Blue through XY era playable.
- Overview
- All-connection mechanic and hundreds of recruitable species on 3DS.
- In-game setting
- New hero and partner investigate disappearing Pokémon—separate world from earlier Mystery Dungeon games.
- Should you play it?
- Strong modern pick if you want one 3DS Mystery Dungeon before the Rescue Team DX remake.
- Release date
- US launch: November 20, 2015 (Nintendo 3DS).
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX
SwitchRemakeRescue TeamSwitch remake of Red/Blue Rescue Team—the best place to start for newcomers.
- Overview
- Illustration-style visuals, auto-mode, and quality-of-life for the 2005 Rescue Team plot on Nintendo Switch.
- In-game setting
- Same story as Red/Blue Rescue Team with added epilogue content and Mega Evolution cameos.
- Should you play it?
- Default recommendation for newcomers—replaces playing GBA/DS originals for story.
- Release date
- US launch: March 6, 2020 (Nintendo Switch).
FAQ
Release vs story paths, Explorers version picks, remake vs original Rescue Team, and boundaries vs mainline Pokémon.
Play order
Release order matches US launch history. For story, many players pick one world at a time: Rescue Team DX (2020) → Explorers of Sky (2009) → Super Mystery Dungeon (2015). Gates to Infinity is optional between Explorers and Super.
Story & canon
No. Mystery Dungeon uses talking Pokémon in separate worlds—Rescue Team, Explorers, Gates, and Super do not continue each other's characters except within the Explorers trio (Time, Darkness, and Sky). Mainline Pokémon RPGs follow human trainers in different regions.
Versions & remakes
Time and Darkness (2008) are version pairs with the same story. Sky (2009) is an enhanced retelling with extra episodes—not a sequel. Choose Sky for one complete Explorers play; skip Time/Darkness unless you collect versions.
Optional & related
More timelines
Other release-order and story-order guides on this site.
- Game series
Pokémon
Pokémon mainline RPGs in US release order (1998–2025) and regional story relationships—with remakes, Legends, and overlapping eras explained.
- Game series
Pokémon Spin-Offs
Pokémon spin-off games in US release order (1999–2021)—Snap, Stadium, Orre, Ranger, Conquest, Let's Go, and more, separate from mainline RPGs and Mystery Dungeon.
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Pokémon Anime
Pokémon TV anime in US watch order (1998–2025)—Ash's classic arcs through Journeys and the Horizons era, one row per story arc, not individual episodes.
- Media
Pokémon Films
Pokémon theatrical films in US watch order (1999–2021)—Mewtwo Strikes Back through Secrets of the Jungle, one row per movie, separate from TV arcs and games.
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Pokémon TCG Games
Pokémon Trading Card Game video games in US release order (1999–2024)—Game Boy Color, Play It!, TCG Online, TCG Live, and TCG Pocket, not physical card set lists.
- Consoles
Nintendo consoles
All Nintendo consoles in US release order (1985–2025)—NES through Switch 2, Game Boy, DS, and 3DS handheld lines, with history and launch dates.