Upper version (アッパーバージョン, —?) is a term referring to games in the core series with an association to the most recently released paired games of a generation. They take place in the same region and retain most of the same plot as games within the core series, but they often add a few minor mechanics, have their own set of version-exclusive Pokémon, as well as some other small differences. While paired games sometimes get remakes, upper versions never do, and that upsets many players because of the lost upgraded features.

Upper versions date back to Generation I, where Pocket Monsters Blue is the upper version of Pocket Monsters Red and Pocket Monsters Green in Japan only, or Pokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition as another set of paired games not only in Japan but also the first paired games that had released in other regions, Pokémon Red Version and Pokémon Blue Version.

In Generation II, Pokémon Crystal Version can be regarded as the upper version to Pokémon Gold Version and Pokémon Silver Version.

In Generation III, Pokémon Emerald Version is the upper version of Pokémon Ruby Version and Pokémon Sapphire Version.

In Generation IV, Pokémon Platinum Version is the upper version of Pokémon Diamond Version and Pokémon Pearl Version.

Generation V, Generation VI, Generation VIII and Generation IX games don't have upper versions.

Pokémon Ultra Sun and Pokémon Ultra Moon are the upper versions of Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon, respectively, and they are the first paired upper version titles.

The practice of an upper version has sometimes been extended to spinoff games, such as Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness having Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky as an upper version.