Pokémon Sword & Shield vs. Pokémon Gold & Silver: Full Comparison

Sword/Shield and Gold/Silver were some of the most important games in the Pokemon franchise. Not only that, but they rank right behind the original Red/Blue/Green as some of the most successful titles released. But how do they compare to one another? And how do they expand on the Pokemon formula while being unique experiences? This article will answer all those questions so you’ll know which game is right for you.

Games

Sword/Shield was the first mainline Pokemon game on the Nintendo Switch (that wasn’t a remake). For the first time, fans could see the potential and future of the franchise as it was on a portable device but could handle advanced graphics and settings. 

The game, released in 2019, sold over 25 million copies worldwide, making it the second best-selling Pokemon game. While this may surprise some, the success of the Switch and a return to the formula in the series meant Sword/Shield was destined to be a hit.

As far as successful sequels go, Gold/Silver lived up to the hype and expectations of fans. The games, released in 2000 (North America), sold over 23 million copies worldwide. It is the third best-selling Pokemon game in the series, right behind Sword/Shield and Red/Blue/Green.

This also makes them the best-selling game on the Game Boy Color, with over 18 million more copies sold than Pokemon Pinball, the second best-selling game on the GBC.

Regions

Sword/Shield are set in the Galar region, an area based on the United Kingdom. The UK represents “strength” and “greatness,” which are the themes of the titles. The region is a long island with multiple environments, such as countryside towns, modern cities, and frigid mountains. Its location is near the Kalos region from Pokemon X/Y.   

The games also feature DLCs, adding new areas like The Isle of Armor and Crown Tundra. The Isle of Armor is a large island with tropical weather and some extreme terrain. The same goes for the Crown Tundra, as the icy climate can cause blizzards and hail. While not the largest region in the franchise, it’s one of the most diverse and expansive.

The second region created and introduced into the Pokemon series was Johto. The area is a neighbor to Kanto, the previous region in Red/Blue/Green. Johto is more rural and has more water than Kanto. It is one of the smallest regions in the franchise but offers a unique mechanic.

Due to its location, players can travel to Kanto post-game and battle Trainers while exploring the region. The changes and alterations in some areas help create the feeling of a growing and dynamic world.

Features 

Sword/Shield were the first games in the series to receive DLC, a feature that has become standard now. After feedback from Let’s Go, Pikachu/Eevee, the first Pokemon game on the Switch, the games sought to return to a more traditional style that fans were used to. However, like most titles, they added innovations and new mechanics to give them their charm.

• New Forms: Dynamax and Gigantamax forms were added. Using a Dynamax Band, Dynamax allows Pokemon from Galar to become larger and stronger with Max Moves. Gigantamax is similar but changes the Pokemon’s appearance while making them stronger.  
• Max Raid Battles: Up to four players can work together to challenge a Dynamax Pokemon. The feature works locally and on Nintendo Switch Online.
• Wild Pokemon: An all-new wild area features roaming Pokemon and random encounters in the tall grass. These areas connect towns and give the best of both worlds when wanting to battle wild Pokemon.  
• Battle Stadium: Battle Stadium is an online mode that allows Trainers to battle one another. There is also a ranked mode for more serious players. 
• A Pokemon Camp was added, allowing players to interact with their Pokemon and visit friends.

After the wildly successful release of Pokemon Red/Blue/Green, the second Generation of Pokemon games had much to live up to. They expanded on the core concepts and were some of the first games in color. Moving forward, many features and mechanics included in Gold/Silver became staples in the series. 

• They introduced Apricorns, which are more specialized Poke Balls. Trainers must find them throughout the region and then transform them from plants into balls.
•  Items stored in the Bag now have their own category and location. 
• They created a time system that created certain timed events. For example, they implemented things like Pokemon appearing at certain times or specific events taking place on different days or weeks.
• Shiny Pokemon appear for the first time.
• Trainers could now Breed (Egg Groups).
• Pokerus, or Pokemon with viruses, could be encountered. They were rarer than Shiny Pokemon, with rates of 1 in 20,000. 
• Steel and Dark-Type Pokemon were added to the type list. 
• Players could travel to the Kanto region to battle Trainers. 

Gym Battles

Both games feature eight Gym Leader battles but differ in the Elite Four. In Gold/Silver, players will battle the Elite Four as usual until they reach the Pokemon Champion. The Gym Leaders specialize in different Types from the ones in Red/Blue/Green. These Types include Flying, Bug, Normal, Ghost, Fighting, Steel, Ice, and Dragon. 

In Sword/Shield, players will not battle the Elite Four; instead, they will compete in a tournament-style match-up to battle the Champion. The winner of the tournament gets the chance to compete for their title.

While both end-game battles test the player’s strength and might, Sword/Shield is much easier. Sword/Shield makes it easy to over-level due to having Exp. Share that cannot be turned off. The mechanic will make your entire Pokemon team around the same level, which can easily win you the tournament. 

Pokemon

Gold/Silver introduced 100 new Pokemon that the original games didn’t include. This expanded the Pokedex from 151 to 251. Sword/Shield features 400 Pokemon plus many more if you get the DLC, bringing the total to over 600. 

Gold/Silver Pokemon

Sword/Shield Pokemon