Pokémon Diamond & Pearl

Pokémon went online. Diamond & Pearl (2007) brought the series to the Nintendo DS and the Sinnoh region — snow on Route 216, a mountain splitting the map in two, and Dialga and Palkia bending time and space on the boxes. Underneath, the battle system got its smartest overhaul ever: moves split into physical and special by the move itself, not its type, and every team build changed overnight.

The headline, though, was the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. The Global Trade Station let you trade with strangers on the other side of the planet — no cable, no cafeteria, no begging. The link cable era ended here, and the connected era began. Add the Pokétch on the bottom screen, underground bases with your friends, and 107 new Pokémon, and Sinnoh felt like the future arriving.