Sword and Shield, Scarlet and violet, these ones are the evolution of the main line games. It's expected to play one of these first.
But you asked for fun, so there's Arceus and Let's go eeve and pikachu. These are new experiences. Let's go pikachu and eevee are a reboot of the first generation games but with the mechanics of pokemon Go when catching pokemon. Arceus is a game where the trainer also fights the wild pokemon alongside it's own pokemon.
Younger kids, I do think that if they are 6 or less years old, maybe you can play let's go pikachu or eevee with he or she being the second player, and you will need to farm money in the game to buy pokeballs because they will throw a lot of them. Remember to attach the stripe of joycon in their arms otherwise joycons will fly too.
Sorry, forgot this one. I do have it, but didn't played yet. Maybe could be good for young kids if this game just let them enjoy it's content without having to make some qualifications in order to advance.
One that I played but didn't mentioned was the rescue team dx. Never had played dungeon crawlers before, but game is ok. The thing is that OP wants easier games, so I think rescue team isn't easy.
Snaps best feature is it slowly opens maps up as you unlock tools, almost like an on rails metroidvania. Surprisingly has a decent amount of puzzles. One of those games that’s great for beginners but still offers something to more advanced players.
I gotta disagree partly and say that the original Pokémon Snap is great for beginners, but the pacing of the sequel on Switch is so slow and tedious
Edit: Swotch to Switch
Agreed. I generally try to 100% my games but I only completed the story and unlocked all level 3 courses. After that I knew the slow pacing and repetitive nature were too much to endure. Fun experience, but I think every other Pokémon game will provide higher levels of enjoyment and a longer playtime.
If you're a fan of the "old school linear" Pokemon games then I would suggest you start with Sword/Shield or Scalet/Violet. Like someone else has already stated, Legends Arceus is a mixture of open worldness with the traditional pokémon style to create a totally new experience. The Lets Go titles are reboot traditional pokemon games but mix in the catching mechanics of Pokemon Go. So you can't really go wrong with any pick, but my opinion would be start with Sword/Shield.
Ohh, I've been thinking about playing Pokemon for basically the first time. I've been playing Pokemon Go a lot on the phone. I love open world games, so Legends Arceus is what I should choose?
Imo yes! Its sooo much more open world and adventure than the other games and introduces many mechanics that makes the open world and adventuring aspect way more fun.
Scarlet/Violet. Storyline is awesome, character models for NPCs walking in the cities suck, paradox mons are cool, DLCs are worth giving a play and most importantly, the base game climax is just over the top exciting.
I started out with scarlet, than sword and now arceus. If you want to play them all I should start with sword and after that scarlet and arceus somewhere in between or as second game
For a younger kid, I would absolutely start with Snap. No pressure, just fun learning about and taking pictures of the Pokemon. Then I’d do Scarlet/Violet.
Pikachu/Eevee is a great nod to the original Red/Blue. Still different enough to feel new, though.
Scarlet/violet are the latest generation, but you'll hear mixed opinions about it. You won't be blown away by the game, but it is incredibly fun.
Legends is a whole other beast; much more adventure and feeling like you're actually a trainer. Not much in common with the games, though having the knowledge helps.
Personally I'd say see if you can get your hands on a rom copy of the original, just so you can see where Pokémon started. After that, each gen up to 4 (D/P) added something game changing. (GSC - Special stat split, RSE - Abilities, DPPt - Stat system rework). If you were to play gens 1-4 in their original state you could gain a very deep understanding of how far it's come. If you want to jump in and have a hell of a good time, probably Black/White would be a good start. If you're dead set on one of the games you mentioned? Only SV has the standard formula, bit they're all good in their own ways.
Sword and shield was my first and favorite so far! I really enjoyed making curry and playing with anon strangers online.
Oh also I enjoyed starting with silly monkey boi grookey!
I suggest getting a Miyoo mini plus and playing all the classic pokemon games on a single device. You can even play ds pokemon games you rarely have to use the touch screen and the best part the device is only like 70$ I love my little pokemon machine (playing through silver rn🤙🏽)
If you want a traditional pokemon experience brilliant diamond and shinning pearls are what you want. If you want something different I can't recommend arceus enough I'm like 20-25 hours in now and I'm loving it
Honestly go for the ds era games, platinum, soulsilver, black and black 2
The switch games aren't good, butif it needs to be the switch, meh just go for the latest gen scarlet
legends arceus is the only one that I’ve actually enjoyed, except for brilliant diamond. Arceus brings so many new mechanics and so much to discover that it’s super fun in my opinion. I bought Scarlet, but after playing Arceus, it was ruined since Arceus was just so much better for me.
Depending on the person. Most people I'd suggest Gen 3 - FireRed or LeafGreen. See why people loved those games, then Gen 4 HeartGold or SoulSilver. From there Gen 5, 6, etc.
Sword and Shield, Scarlet and violet, these ones are the evolution of the main line games. It's expected to play one of these first. But you asked for fun, so there's Arceus and Let's go eeve and pikachu. These are new experiences. Let's go pikachu and eevee are a reboot of the first generation games but with the mechanics of pokemon Go when catching pokemon. Arceus is a game where the trainer also fights the wild pokemon alongside it's own pokemon. Younger kids, I do think that if they are 6 or less years old, maybe you can play let's go pikachu or eevee with he or she being the second player, and you will need to farm money in the game to buy pokeballs because they will throw a lot of them. Remember to attach the stripe of joycon in their arms otherwise joycons will fly too.
Snap is amazing too. Atleast imo. I would kill to replay either for the first time again.
Sorry, forgot this one. I do have it, but didn't played yet. Maybe could be good for young kids if this game just let them enjoy it's content without having to make some qualifications in order to advance. One that I played but didn't mentioned was the rescue team dx. Never had played dungeon crawlers before, but game is ok. The thing is that OP wants easier games, so I think rescue team isn't easy.
Snaps best feature is it slowly opens maps up as you unlock tools, almost like an on rails metroidvania. Surprisingly has a decent amount of puzzles. One of those games that’s great for beginners but still offers something to more advanced players.
I gotta disagree partly and say that the original Pokémon Snap is great for beginners, but the pacing of the sequel on Switch is so slow and tedious Edit: Swotch to Switch
Agreed. I generally try to 100% my games but I only completed the story and unlocked all level 3 courses. After that I knew the slow pacing and repetitive nature were too much to endure. Fun experience, but I think every other Pokémon game will provide higher levels of enjoyment and a longer playtime.
If you're a fan of the "old school linear" Pokemon games then I would suggest you start with Sword/Shield or Scalet/Violet. Like someone else has already stated, Legends Arceus is a mixture of open worldness with the traditional pokémon style to create a totally new experience. The Lets Go titles are reboot traditional pokemon games but mix in the catching mechanics of Pokemon Go. So you can't really go wrong with any pick, but my opinion would be start with Sword/Shield.
Ohh, I've been thinking about playing Pokemon for basically the first time. I've been playing Pokemon Go a lot on the phone. I love open world games, so Legends Arceus is what I should choose?
Imo yes! Its sooo much more open world and adventure than the other games and introduces many mechanics that makes the open world and adventuring aspect way more fun.
Legends
Scarlet/Violet. Storyline is awesome, character models for NPCs walking in the cities suck, paradox mons are cool, DLCs are worth giving a play and most importantly, the base game climax is just over the top exciting.
I started out with scarlet, than sword and now arceus. If you want to play them all I should start with sword and after that scarlet and arceus somewhere in between or as second game
I started with Scarlet and liked it, so then I got Violet and Arceus
Pikachu is a good introduction, after that, just play whatever is the newest, they're all the same
Pokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition 
For a younger kid, I would absolutely start with Snap. No pressure, just fun learning about and taking pictures of the Pokemon. Then I’d do Scarlet/Violet.
Pikachu/Eevee is a great nod to the original Red/Blue. Still different enough to feel new, though. Scarlet/violet are the latest generation, but you'll hear mixed opinions about it. You won't be blown away by the game, but it is incredibly fun. Legends is a whole other beast; much more adventure and feeling like you're actually a trainer. Not much in common with the games, though having the knowledge helps. Personally I'd say see if you can get your hands on a rom copy of the original, just so you can see where Pokémon started. After that, each gen up to 4 (D/P) added something game changing. (GSC - Special stat split, RSE - Abilities, DPPt - Stat system rework). If you were to play gens 1-4 in their original state you could gain a very deep understanding of how far it's come. If you want to jump in and have a hell of a good time, probably Black/White would be a good start. If you're dead set on one of the games you mentioned? Only SV has the standard formula, bit they're all good in their own ways.
lets go pika is a major upgrade on the OG yellow. pika gets powerful af like the show. its a blast i promise
Sword and shield was my first and favorite so far! I really enjoyed making curry and playing with anon strangers online. Oh also I enjoyed starting with silly monkey boi grookey!
Bulbasaur.
Firered 🔥
Magneto
Charmander but I’d chose bulbasaur, he’s always left on his own.
Legends it's just too fun
I suggest getting a Miyoo mini plus and playing all the classic pokemon games on a single device. You can even play ds pokemon games you rarely have to use the touch screen and the best part the device is only like 70$ I love my little pokemon machine (playing through silver rn🤙🏽)
Charmander, always Charmander
Legends arceus or get a emulator for your smartphone and play the DS and GBA ones
If you want a traditional pokemon experience brilliant diamond and shinning pearls are what you want. If you want something different I can't recommend arceus enough I'm like 20-25 hours in now and I'm loving it
I would recommend Legends Arceus or lets go Pikachu
Arceus is really fun . I'd start with that .
I was gonna say Bulbasaur but then I read the rest of the question
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^shizbang2: *I was gonna say* *Bulbasaur but then I read* *The rest of the question* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
Either sword or let’s go
Honestly go for the ds era games, platinum, soulsilver, black and black 2 The switch games aren't good, butif it needs to be the switch, meh just go for the latest gen scarlet
hardcore player of these games since Red & Blue. Arceus was what little kid me thought Pokemon should be.
Black and white
Totodile
None of them
legends arceus is the only one that I’ve actually enjoyed, except for brilliant diamond. Arceus brings so many new mechanics and so much to discover that it’s super fun in my opinion. I bought Scarlet, but after playing Arceus, it was ruined since Arceus was just so much better for me.
Just emulate first, we don’t need to give Pokémon Co any more $$ right now.
Depending on the person. Most people I'd suggest Gen 3 - FireRed or LeafGreen. See why people loved those games, then Gen 4 HeartGold or SoulSilver. From there Gen 5, 6, etc.
Wait can you play those on switch?
No. But you can emulate them on a laptop or smart phone
As much as I dislike gen 3, FRLG is probably the best answer here. The tutorial and constant assistance options are very helpful for new players.
I completely forgot the tutorials available in FRLG! I honestly picked those games because they were remakes. Go figure 😅
Following..