Check out these differences between the two Pokemon games!
Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Pokemon Shining Pearl will be released on Nintendo Switch on November 19, 2021. These games are updated remakes of the original Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl video games, which were released on Nintendo DS in 2006.
Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Pokemon Shining Pearl will take players to the Sinnoh region of the Pokemon universe, where they’ll be able to capture Pokemon, battle against other Pokemon trainers, compete in Gym battles, participate in Pokemon Contests, and more. While both games will feature the same core gameplay, there are a few noteworthy differences between the two games.
If you’re having trouble deciding which of these two games to pick up (or which to play first), here are some of the differences between the two games! (Please keep in mind that there are some gameplay spoilers here.)
We’ll make sure to update this space if additional differences between the two games are revealed, so keep checking back!
Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Pokemon Shining Pearl each have a different “featured” Legendary Pokemon, which appears in the game and on the outside of each game box. Specifically, Dialga is available to encounter in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond while Palka is available in Pokemon Shining Pearl.
Dialga is a Steel- and Dragon-type Pokemon, while Palkia is a Water- and Dragon-type pocket monster.
In addition to having a different “featured” Legendary Pokemon, Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Pokemon Shining Pearl each feature a variety of exclusive pocket monsters that aren’t available to encounter in the other game.
According to Serebii.net, Pokemon like Cranidos and Stunky (and their evolutions) are only available to encounter in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond, while pocket monsters like Shieldon and Glameow (and their evolutions) are only available in Pokemon Shining Pearl. You can view the full list of version-exclusive Pokemon on Serebii.net’s website.
According to CNET, Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Pokemon Shining Pearl will allow players to find a fossil that can be turned into a specific Pokemon. According to CNET, Pokemon Brilliant Diamond players will receive the Skull Fossil (which turns into Cranidos), while Pokemon Shining Pearl players will receive the Armor Fossil (which turns into Shieldon).
Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Pokemon Shining Pearl will feature a new area for players to visit after they’ve entered the games’ Hall of Fame (that is, after they’ve defeated the Pokemon champion). This area is called Ramanas Park, and it will allow players to encounter Legendary Pokemon.
A series of Legendary Pokemon will be exclusive to each game. Specifically, Raikou, Entei, Suicine, and Ho-Oh will only appear in Ramanas Park in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond, while Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres, and Lugia will be available to encounter in Ramanas Park in Pokemon Shining Pearl. You can learn more about the Ramanas Park feature in our previous coverage.
So, which game should you pick up or play first? Ultimately, there is no “right” or “wrong” answer here, so we recommend choosing the game that has more of the Pokemon you want to collect most (or first). Have fun!
To learn more about Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Pokemon Shining Pearl, check out our previous coverage.
Brandy Berthelson has been writing about video games and technology since 2006, with her work appearing on sites including AOL Games, Digital Spy, and Adweek. When she’s not gaming, Brandy enjoys crafting, baking, and traveling with her husband.
