Pokémon Red, Green & Blue vs. Pokémon Sword & Shield: Full Comparison

Pokemon Red, Green, & Blue and Pokemon Sword & Shield may have a few similarities outside of having pocket monsters, but that won’t stop us from comparing them. The Generation 1 and Generation 8 Pokemon games show just how far these games have come, for better or for worse. Here, we’ll discuss each game’s units sold, the Pokemon you can find in each game, unique features, and gym leaders.

Pokemon Red, Green, & Blue vs. Sword & Shield At A Glance

Red, Green, & Blue vs. Sword & Shield: Units Sold

Pokemon Sword & Shield are the second-highest-selling Pokemon games with a combined 25.92 million units sold as of June 2023. Unfortunately, that is still about six million fewer than the original titles. That’s right, the first games in the series are still the leaders when it comes to units sold. Red, Green, & Blue sold a whopping 31.38 million units. Chalk this one up for the OGs.

Total Available Pokemon

This may shock you, but Sword & Shield features way more Pokemon than the Gen 1 games. Famously, Pokemon Red, Blue, & Green include the original Kanto 151 Pokemon.

Kanto Pokedex

Meanwhile, the base Sword & Shield games bring a whopping 400 Pokemon in their Pokedex, with an additional 400 coming in the two DLCs, The Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra.

Galar Pokedex

Unique Features

As the Pokemon series evolved, it brought over many mechanics not seen in the original games and added some new ones as well. In Sword & Shield, players have access to many mechanics not found in the original games, including:

• Improved character customization
• TMs and TRs
• The Wild Area
• Curry
• The ability to play as a boy or a girl
• Online play
• Dynamaxing and Dynamax Raids
• Group EXP gains
• Co-op modes
• And more

Meanwhile, Red, Blue, & Green offer unique gamebreaking glitches and the most frustrating gameplay ever seen in the series. But admit it, you loved seeing Missingno and getting unlimited Rare Candies and Earthquake TMs all those years ago.

Gym Battles