35% Of People Agree This Pokemon Generation Has The Best Starters
Gotta catch 'em all? Maybe not! 34.63% of SVG survey participants agreed that one Pokémon generation has the best starters, outshining other contending generations. 618 US-based gamers weighed in on which Pokémon generation, from 1 through 6, has the best starters. So, who won?
Gen 1 soared with nearly 35% of the vote. Perhaps it's the timeless originality of starters like Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and Charmander. They've been fan favorites since day 1 and still are today, more than two decades later. Basically, these cuties are some powerful Pokémon.
Or perhaps it's something else. The remaining results seem to indicate a dip in quality as generations progress. And since Pokémon from previous generations have gone on to appear in later games, players may simply know them better, giving them a clear advantage.
The second most popular starters are Treecko, Torchic, and Mudkip from Gen 3, which received 18.93% of the vote. Following closely behind with 15.21% of the vote are Chikorita, Cyndaquil, and Totodile from Gen 2. It seems like nostalgia may be a driving force for fans, given how beloved the first three Pokémon games remain today.
Least popular starters
Out of the 7 choices in the survey (Generations 1 through 6 and an "Other" option), a few starters definitely lagged behind the rest. Turtwig, Chimchar, and Piplup only got 11.33% of the vote, despite their undeniable cuteness. The "Other" category also received 11.33%, and most gamers cited not knowing enough about Pokémon as their reason for making this call.
One participant who selected "Other" wrote in "Gen 7." Another mentioned playing Gen 1's Pokémon Yellow (which featured Pikachu as its starter), while one player mentioned Pokémon Go (which incorporates multiple generations). Though Gen 7 was not a selectable option, Litten and Rowlett were ranked as the first- and third-place top starters, respectively, back when SVG ranked the Pokémon starters through Gen 7. Also, while Galar starters from Pokémon Sword and Shield weren't an option, Gen 8's Grookey, Scorbunny, and Sobble deserve an honorable mention — they surely have some fans.
Bringing up the rear, Gen 5's Snivy, Tepig, and Oshawott got 4.37% of the vote, while Chespin, Fennekin, and Froakie received the least amount of votes: 4.21%. Though popularity isn't everything, these results are likely to spark debate amongst Pokémon fans.