Pokémon Pearl is a role-playing game that Game Freak built and Nintendo released for the Nintendo DS. It came out in Japan in 2006 and reached North America and Europe in 2007, forming one half of the fourth-generation Pokémon pair alongside Pokémon Diamond. The game takes place in the Sinnoh region, a large area that draws inspiration from Japan's Hokkaido island, featuring mountains, lakes, caves, and towns to discover. Players control a young trainer who sets out to catch and battle Pokémon while working to stop the villainous Team Galactic from reshaping the universe. Pearl's signature Legendary Pokémon is Palkia, a Water and Dragon-type deity of space, which sets it apart from its Diamond counterpart. The game introduced 107 new Pokémon to the series, bringing the total Pokédex count to 493. With its blend of exploration, turn-based battles, and deep creature collection, Pokémon Pearl stands as one of the best-selling titles on the Nintendo DS platform.
Updated: Jun 22, 2026
Screenshots

128 MB · NDS ROMs
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Specifications
| Platform | NDS ROMs |
|---|---|
| Genre | RPG |
| File Size | 128 MB |
| Release Year | 2006 |
| Developer | Game Freak |
| Updated | Jun 22, 2026 |
Overview
Pokémon Pearl is a role-playing game that Game Freak built and Nintendo released for the Nintendo DS. It came out in Japan in 2006 and reached North America and Europe in 2007, forming one half of the fourth-generation Pokémon pair alongside Pokémon Diamond. The game takes place in the Sinnoh region, a large area that draws inspiration from Japan's Hokkaido island, featuring mountains, lakes, caves, and towns to discover. Players control a young trainer who sets out to catch and battle Pokémon while working to stop the villainous Team Galactic from reshaping the universe. Pearl's signature Legendary Pokémon is Palkia, a Water and Dragon-type deity of space, which sets it apart from its Diamond counterpart. The game introduced 107 new Pokémon to the series, bringing the total Pokédex count to 493. With its blend of exploration, turn-based battles, and deep creature collection, Pokémon Pearl stands as one of the best-selling titles on the Nintendo DS platform.
Pokémon Pearl offers both a single-player story mode and a wealth of post-game content that keeps players busy long after beating the Elite Four and Champion. The Grand Underground gives players a massive cave network to explore using the DS touch screen, where they can dig for fossils and rare items and set up Secret Bases. Pokémon Contests add a performance layer to the game, where players dress up their Pokémon and perform in appeal rounds, with judges scoring them on move combinations and conditions. For multiplayer, the game supports local wireless play through the Union Room for battles and trades, and online play through the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. The Global Trade Station, a new feature for this generation, allows players to post and request Pokémon from trainers across the world. The Trophy Garden and the Fight Area extend gameplay well beyond the main story. Pokémon Pearl brings together exploration, competition, and collection into a well-crafted package that rewards both casual players and dedicated fans.