Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl: The Longest Pokémon Games on Nintendo Switch

As an avid Pokémon expert and gaming guide creator, I analyzed completion time data to determine which Nintendo Switch Pokémon game offers the longest playtime – and I‘m confident the winners are Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl.

At an estimated 45-50 hours for main story completion, BD & SP edge out other Switch Pokémon RPGs

Let‘s examine the contenders:

As this table illustrates, BD & SP stands apart with its estimated 45-50 hour main story playtime according to expert sources. This positions it as over 20 hours longer than Sword/Shield and potentially double the length of Legends: Arceus for completing primary objectives.

Based on my experience with decades of Pokémon RPGs, I agree that BD & SP offers the most robust main journey. The heftier playtime stems from its faithfulness to the structure of original Diamond & Pearl – already renowned as the longest Pokémon games ever upon their 2006 Nintendo DS release.

So why do BD & SP still reign as the longest on Switch when adapting such lengthy source material? The remakes carefully preserve that large-scale adventure while inserting new features that extend playtimes even further:

• Post-game episode with Giratina in the Distortion World
• Ramanas Park area with Legendary Pokémon battles
• Grand Underground enhancements like Pokémon Hideaways
• New character storylines like the Mythical Pokémon Arceus

These meaningful augmentations on top of the already huge Diamond & Pearl push total completion times for BD & SP into the stratosphere – with 100% wrap-ups estimated between 120-150 hours. That‘s over twice as long to experience all content compared to Sword/Shield!

Previous Diamond & Pearl are the pinnacle for lengthy Pokémon adventures

As mentioned, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl owe their marathon objective lengths to following the original Diamond/Pearl versions quite closely. So why were those 2006 Nintendo DS releases such time demanders in the first place?

A few structural choices extended Diamond/Pearl specifically:

• Massive regional Pokédex at 151 obtainable Pokémon
• Deep moveset additions – over 100 new moves introduced
• Expansive postgame with new areas opening up
• Packed with legendaries – Dialga, Palkia, Giratina, Cresselia

Combine these elements with the disposition of Nintendo DS-era Pokémon games emphasizing grander adventures, and you have a recipe for the longest journeys the franchise has offered. Just blazing through the main narrative takes 40.5 hours – no other core series game comes close!

So while some fans argue modern Pokémon games are too easy or rushed, Diamond and Pearl always stood out as mammoth, rewarding slogs. The heft gave you a profound sense of accomplishment upon completion.

Why Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Deserve Recognition As Marathon Switch Games

For franchise veterans, part of why Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are so exciting is recapturing that engrossing, marathon-length adventure. Too often in the 2010s, Pokémon games got accused of hand-holding, hurried pacing and light postgame content.

But BD & SP turn back the clock with a faithfully lengthy quest full of challenges to overcome. The addicting sense of reward after defeating Gym Leaders, traversing routes and unraveling Team Galactic‘s schemes hook you for the long haul.

On top of respecting Diamond & Pearl‘s hearty structure, the enhancements and additions I mentioned earlier (Underground mining, Ramanas Park fights) will keep even devoted fans grinding well past the credits. Previous top-tier entries set ambitious benchmarks for quantity and quality – this dynamic remake duo proudly carries on that tradition.

For Pokémon diehards who put immersive world-building, formidable Trainers and fully testing your strategic mettle above all else when ranking RPG adventures, BD & SP is clearly the current apex of main series gameplay on Nintendo Switch. The games stand out not just for their visual faithfulness, but honoring the franchise’s roots of grand journeys overflowing with secrets to uncover across the long and winding path to becoming Champion.

So if you seek the most rewarding and marathon Pokémon experience the Switch currently offers, pick up Brilliant Diamond or Shining Pearl and never look back! Just be warned that you might lose whole weekends once their engrossing adventures sink their hooks in deep. But franchise fans wouldn‘t have it any other way.

Let me know in the comments if you need any other Switch Pokémon recommendations! I‘m always keeping tabs on upcoming releases and remakes too.