Core series/Classification/Box Art

The box art for each game features one which was introduced in that generation (or, in the case of remakes, the generation of the original games). This Pokémon is referred to by fans as a game mascot, and with the exception of Kanto-based games, it is always the Legendary Pokémon available in that game at the climax of the storyline.

In terms of the artwork itself, the international and all releases of the initial paired games of each generation from Generation III onward use their game mascot's original Ken Sugimori artwork for their box art, whereas all other core series games use specially made artwork.