Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: Which Story Mode Should I Play First?

Unlike past Pokémon games, which have only offered one main way to experience the game and story, Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet actually comes with three different story modes for players to jump in and explore. This means there are three different versions of the game that you can play, all of which will give you access to the massive PokeDex that Scarlet and Violet has to offer. But how do you decide which version to play first? Here's what you need to know.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet gives players three different modes that they can play to experience the game's brilliant story. The first mode is Victory Road, which is more akin to the older Pokémon games from the series. This version of the story will see players making their way across Paldea, capturing Pokémon, training them and taking on various gym battles as they traverse around the region.

It's what many players within the community will flock to, as it is the most familiar. But it isn't necessarily the best.

There's also the Path of Legends mode, which sees players working with Arven to take down massive Titan Pokémon, which are basically enormous gatekeepers similar to the Totem Pokémon seen in Pokémon Sun and Moon all those years ago. The goal here is to help find Herba Mystica, to make better recipes for Pokémon to enjoy.

The third story mode that players can jump into is Starfall Street. This is a unique take on the standard Pokémon gameplay seen in other entries and will come with an auto battle system that sees you fighting against Team Star, a group of delinquent students enrolled at your academy. Not too many details are known about this story mode yet, but players interested in the battle mechanics of the series will no doubt find it enticing.

But choosing which story mode to pursue first isn't going to be simple, and to be honest, many players will probably find themselves drawn to Victory Road over the other modes. And, if you want more of the familiar Pokémon experience that you've seen in previous games, this is definitely the best place to start. After all, the other modes will always be there when you're done.

Make sure you also have a good idea of what the various starter evolutions have to offer, as choosing your starter Pokémon is always one of the best parts of starting a new adventure in a Pokémon game.