Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon vs Explorers of Sky: Which to Buy (2026)
By Dexhaul Team · October 15, 2026 · 6 min read
Buy Explorers of Sky if you want the most emotionally powerful story in the series. Buy Super Mystery Dungeon if you want a longer game at a much lower price, with every single Pokémon in the Gen 6 Pokédex recruitable.
The price gap is the real headline here. Explorers of Sky (Nintendo DS, 2009) commands $100 to $500 on the used market because physical copies are genuinely scarce. Super Mystery Dungeon (Nintendo 3DS, 2015) sits at $25 to $45, making it far more accessible for most players.
At a glance
| Explorers of Sky | Super Mystery Dungeon | |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Nintendo DS | Nintendo 3DS |
| Release date | August 31, 2009 (NA) | November 20, 2015 (NA) |
| Recruitable Pokémon | ~492 (Gens 1–4) | 720 (complete Gen 6 Pokédex) |
| Special story episodes | 5 bonus episodes | None |
| Main story length | ~20–25 hours | ~30–35 hours |
| Observed price (Oct 2026) | $29.99–$494.99 | $24.99–$51.00 |
| MSRP | $34.99 (2009; pokemon.com) | $39.99 (2015; pokemon.com) |
| Available new | No | Occasionally (sealed copies) |
On this page 6 sections
Where Explorers of Sky wins
The story is genuinely unforgettable
Explorers of Sky is widely regarded as the best story in any Pokémon spin-off game. The narrative follows Grovyle, a time-traveling outlaw with a tragic backstory, and builds toward a finale that has caught players off guard for over fifteen years. It runs about 20 to 25 hours and does not overstay its welcome.
The five Special Episodes are unique to Explorers of Sky and are not in Explorers of Time or Darkness. Each follows a different character: Bidoof's daily apprentice life, Igglybuff's young Guildmaster days, the Wigglytuff Guild receiving a pair of rival explorers in "Here Comes Team Charm!", and two others. These bonus arcs add four to six hours and contain story beats that recontextualise the main campaign.
Tighter pacing and a more cohesive world
The Pokémon roster in Explorers of Sky spans Gens 1 to 4, around 492 species. That is a smaller number than Super Mystery Dungeon, but it also means the game's recruitment system feels curated rather than exhaustive. You will encounter teams from the same era, and the world feels consistent as a result.
Every floor type, dungeon layout, and wild Pokémon encounter was designed around the GBA-to-DS era cast. The dungeon atmosphere reflects that coherence.
Where Super Mystery Dungeon wins
Every Pokémon through Gen 6 is recruitable
Super Mystery Dungeon launched in 2015 with all 720 Pokémon in the then-current Pokédex recruitable as party members. No other Mystery Dungeon game matches this roster depth. If recruiting Xerneas, Yveltal, Mega-form references, or obscure Gen 5 Pokémon matters to you, this is the only option in the series.
The price is accessible and copies are easier to find
Super Mystery Dungeon sits at $25 to $51 from independent sellers right now (observed October 2026). That is affordable for a full 30-plus-hour RPG experience. Explorers of Sky, by contrast, can hit $195 to $495 for a complete-in-box copy, which is a collector's premium driven by scarcity, not a reflection of gameplay superiority.
The 3DS also has a slightly wider install base than original DS hardware among current players, meaning repair parts and functioning consoles are easier to source if you do not already have one. Super Mystery Dungeon is also the last mainline entry in the series before the 2020 Nintendo Switch remake of the original Rescue Team.
Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon - Nintendo 3DS [New Condition] - World Edition
$44.99 USD
The deciding question
Story-first players
If you are coming to Mystery Dungeon for the narrative, Explorers of Sky is the clear choice. The story structure, the character writing, and especially the five Special Episodes combine into something that no other entry in the series matches. Be prepared to pay collector prices for a physical copy, or explore digital storefronts if 3DS firmware options are available to you.
Roster and value-focused players
If you want the widest possible team variety without spending collector money, Super Mystery Dungeon is the practical answer. All 720 Pokémon, a longer main campaign at around 30 to 35 hours, and a sub-$50 price point make it the rational pick for most buyers in 2026.
Players new to the series
If you have never played a Mystery Dungeon game and own a Nintendo Switch, the best starting point is actually neither of these two titles. Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX launched on Switch in 2020 as a full remake of the series' original entry.
Copies are currently available at $30 to $49, playable on hardware most players already own, and require no vintage portable console. It serves as the cleanest introduction before deciding whether you want to step into older hardware for Explorers of Sky.
One thing neither side mentions: the Explorers of Sky scarcity premium
The price spread on Explorers of Sky is one of the starkest in any Nintendo DS library. A bare cartridge can fetch $30 to $100. A complete-in-box copy with manual and original case sits at $195 to $500, with one listing observed at $494.99 in October 2026.
That premium is entirely collector-market driven: Explorers of Sky was not printed in proportionally high numbers, and no digital re-release has occurred on any Nintendo storefront.
Explorers of Darkness, the companion game released alongside Explorers of Time and sharing most of the same dungeon roster, is available at $15 to $35. It carries the same core gameplay loop but lacks the Special Episodes.
For players purely interested in dungeon content, Darkness is a more economical entry to that era's mechanics, though the story differences are real. For a comparison of all Explorers-era options, see our Pokémon video game comparison guides.
Frequently asked questions
Is Explorers of Sky better than Super Mystery Dungeon?
For story, yes. Explorers of Sky has the most acclaimed narrative in the series, including five Special Episodes not found in any other entry. Super Mystery Dungeon is the better value pick, with a larger Pokémon roster and a much lower price.
Can I play Explorers of Sky on Nintendo 3DS?
Yes. The Nintendo 3DS and 3DS XL play original DS cartridges natively. New 3DS models also support DS cards.
You cannot play it on Nintendo Switch or Switch 2 without additional hardware.
How many Pokémon can you recruit in Super Mystery Dungeon?
All 720 Pokémon from Gens 1 through 6 are recruitable in Super Mystery Dungeon, making it the most complete roster of any game in the series.
Is there a digital version of Explorers of Sky?
As of October 2026, Nintendo has not released a digital version of Explorers of Sky on any current platform. Physical copies are the only option, which contributes to the game's elevated used-market price.
Which Mystery Dungeon game should I play first?
If you own a Nintendo Switch, start with Rescue Team DX (2020), a full remake of the original entry available at $30 to $49. If you own DS or 3DS hardware and want to start with the best-regarded story, go straight to Explorers of Sky; if budget is a factor, Super Mystery Dungeon on 3DS is the practical first pick.
Browse every Pokémon game currently available from independent sellers at DexHaul's video games collection, including Rescue Team DX, Super Mystery Dungeon, and Explorers of Sky listings across dozens of shops.
Catch 'em all
More Pokémon Mystery Dungeon titles from independent shops.