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# Pokemon Battle Revolution vs Pokemon XD Gale of Darkness Compared
- URL: https://idleweekend.net/pokemon-battle-revolution-vs-pokemon-xd-gale-of-darkness/
- Published: 2026-10-11T20:35:02.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-14T05:53:01.000Z
- Description: Battle Revolution is a battle-focused Wii game, while XD Gale of Darkness adds a story mode and a save system. Here is how they compare and which one to pick.
- Author: Alex Morgan
- Tags: Pokemon, Pokemon Battle Revolution, Pokemon XD, GameCube, Wii, #gce-856a192b

When you compare Pokémon Battle Revolution vs Pokémon XD Gale of Darkness, pick XD if you want a story and Battle Revolution if you mainly want battles. XD is a role-playing video game in the Pokémon series [\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pok%C3%A9mon%5FXD:%5FGale%5Fof%5FDarkness?ref=idleweekend.net). Battle Revolution is the Wii battle game in the Stadium line [\[2\]](https://www.resetera.com/threads/how-was-pok%C3%A9mon-battle-revolution.420305/?ref=idleweekend.net), while XD runs on GameCube, so check which console you own first. It also helps to read [Pokemon Battle Revolution Walkthrough](https://idleweekend.net/pokemon-battle-revolution-walkthrough/).

Reader comparisons favor XD's story mode and save system [\[3\]](https://www.pokecommunity.com/threads/colosseum-vs-xd-gale-of-darkness.421649/?ref=idleweekend.net). XD has the save system that Colosseum lacked [\[3\]](https://www.pokecommunity.com/threads/colosseum-vs-xd-gale-of-darkness.421649/?ref=idleweekend.net). If a campaign matters more to you than a battle-only experience, XD is the safer pick.

This article compares the two games on story, saves, Pokémon options and reader opinions, so you can pick the one that fits how you like to play.

## How do the two games compare at a glance?

Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness is the stronger choice if you want a story with your battles. The comparison below shows where each game stands on the criteria readers ask about most.

| Criterion       | Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness                                                                                                            |
| --------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Story mode      | RPG story set years after Colosseum [\[4\]](https://gamerant.com/best-pokemon-stadium-games/?ref=idleweekend.net)                       |
| Save system     | Praised as magnificent [\[3\]](https://www.pokecommunity.com/threads/colosseum-vs-xd-gale-of-darkness.421649/?ref=idleweekend.net)      |
| Pokemon options | Better Pokemon from GBA games [\[5\]](https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/915781-gamecube/74225078?ref=idleweekend.net)                |
| Reader opinions | Crowded with Shadow Pokemon [\[3\]](https://www.pokecommunity.com/threads/colosseum-vs-xd-gale-of-darkness.421649/?ref=idleweekend.net) |

### What the story mode means for you

XD is a role-playing game, so its story mode plays like an RPG rather than a string of matches. It is developed by Genius Sonority and published by The Pokemon Company [\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pok%C3%A9mon%5FXD:%5FGale%5Fof%5FDarkness?ref=idleweekend.net). If you want a reason to keep going past the battles, this is the mode that gives it to you.

### Saves and Pokemon

The save system is where XD clearly improves on Colosseum. One reader comparison calls XD's save system magnificent because Colosseum lacked one [\[3\]](https://www.pokecommunity.com/threads/colosseum-vs-xd-gale-of-darkness.421649/?ref=idleweekend.net). For you, that means progress is less likely to feel like a chore between sessions.

The Pokemon are a bigger draw than the story for some players. Readers note that XD gives you better Pokemon from GBA games [\[5\]](https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/915781-gamecube/74225078?ref=idleweekend.net). The downside is that the game feels crowded, since most grunts use Shadow Pokemon [\[3\]](https://www.pokecommunity.com/threads/colosseum-vs-xd-gale-of-darkness.421649/?ref=idleweekend.net).

### Where Battle Revolution fits

Battle Revolution's battles are the reason to play it, not the story. Readers say that most Stadium-subseries games add a weird gimmick to the battles, such as forcing you into a rule you did not pick [\[2\]](https://www.resetera.com/threads/how-was-pok%C3%A9mon-battle-revolution.420305/?ref=idleweekend.net). If those gimmicks put you off, XD's more traditional battles may suit you better.

### The short answer

XD Gale of Darkness offers the story, the better save system and the stronger Pokemon roster. Battle Revolution is for players who want battling first and do not mind the gimmicks. Pick the one that matches what you want from your evenings. Learn more in [How to Connect Pokemon Battle Revolution to Diamond and Pearl](https://idleweekend.net/connect-pokemon-battle-revolution-to-diamond-and-pearl/).

![Two video game cases lie side by side on a wooden table, one blue and one black, under soft warm lamp light.](https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?q=two%20video%20game%20cases%20side%20by%20side%20on%20table&w=800&h=450&rs=1&c=4)

## Is the story mode worth the extra time?

If you want a story to work through, XD: Gale of Darkness is the one to pick, because its story mode is the main reason to play it. [Battle Revolution](https://idleweekend.net/pokemon-battle-revolution-tips-for-beginners/) is built around its battles, and the plot is not what keeps players coming back. Whether the extra time is worth it depends on how much you enjoy a longer adventure.

XD has an RPG story mode set some years after the events of Pokemon Colosseum [\[4\]](https://gamerant.com/best-pokemon-stadium-games/?ref=idleweekend.net). That means you follow a storyline with a goal from start to finish, rather than moving from one match to the next. The plot gives each battle a reason to happen, so the game feels like one longer trip instead of a menu of matches.

Picture a trainer who breezes through the early battles in an afternoon, then slows down in the middle of the adventure. Readers who have compared the two say Colosseum's story mode is short and fun but starts to feel tedious after a while [\[5\]](https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/915781-gamecube/74225078?ref=idleweekend.net). XD's story is almost the same, so if Colosseum wore you down, expect a similar rhythm in XD. The difference is the Pokemon, since XD also gives you better ones from your GBA games [\[5\]](https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/915781-gamecube/74225078?ref=idleweekend.net).

Battle Revolution takes a different approach. Its appeal is the battling itself, so the real question is whether you want to fight more than you want to follow a plot. If the story is the part you would skip, Battle Revolution lets you go straight to the matches. Its story is not the main draw, so you lose little by focusing on the fights.

### How to decide

- **Choose XD** if you want an RPG story and don't mind spending extra hours getting through it.
- **Choose Battle Revolution** if you mainly want to jump into battles and skip the longer adventure.

Story mode is worth the extra time only if you enjoy the journey. If you mainly want matches, the story is a detour you can skip.

![A person sits cross-legged on a sofa late at night, holding a controller and leaning toward a glowing television screen.](https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?q=person%20playing%20video%20game%20on%20couch%20at%20night&w=800&h=450&rs=1&c=4)

## Which game handles saves and Pokemon better?

XD is the better choice on saves. Readers comparing the two games say XD had the save system that Colosseum lacked, and they call it magnificent [\[3\]](https://www.pokecommunity.com/threads/colosseum-vs-xd-gale-of-darkness.421649/?ref=idleweekend.net). If you plan to play over several sessions, that difference will matter more than most others.

### XD has the better save system

Colosseum had no save system like the one XD added, so the gap between the two is easy to spot. Readers point to this as one of the clearest differences between the games [\[3\]](https://www.pokecommunity.com/threads/colosseum-vs-xd-gale-of-darkness.421649/?ref=idleweekend.net). If you expect to stop and start often, XD gives you a better way to keep your progress.

### XD's Shadow Pokemon feel crowded

XD's main complaint is its Shadow Pokemon. XD's Shadow Pokemon can feel crowded, since most of the grunts use them [\[3\]](https://www.pokecommunity.com/threads/colosseum-vs-xd-gale-of-darkness.421649/?ref=idleweekend.net). Picture a grunt sending out a Shadow Pokemon, then the next trainer doing the same. Battles can start to look alike, and that repetition is what wears on you over a long playthrough.

### Battle Revolution adds Stadium gimmicks

Battle Revolution uses the Stadium-style battle format, and that format is where its gimmicks come from. Reader comments on the Stadium subseries say that most of its games "add a weird gimmick to the battles" [\[2\]](https://www.resetera.com/threads/how-was-pok%C3%A9mon-battle-revolution.420305/?ref=idleweekend.net). A rule that changes how a fight plays can be fun, but it can also get in the way of a straight Pokemon battle.

Some players enjoy that variety, and others find it distracting. Which side you land on will decide how much the gimmicks bother you.

### Pick based on what bothers you

If a reliable save system matters most, lean toward XD. If you mainly want battles and can live with rules that change each fight, Battle Revolution's gimmicks may not bother you much.

## Should you start with Battle Revolution or XD?

Pick **XD: Gale of Darkness** if you want a story to follow. Pick **Battle Revolution** if battling is what you came for and you already own a Wii. The choice comes down to what you want from the game.

### Choose XD for the story and saves

XD is the better starting point if you want a single-player adventure. It has an RPG story mode, set some years after the events of Pokemon Colosseum [\[4\]](https://gamerant.com/best-pokemon-stadium-games/?ref=idleweekend.net). If you want something to work through rather than just fight your way through events, this is the one.

Saving is the other reason to pick XD. One reader comparison calls XD's save system magnificent and says Colosseum lacked that kind of save system [\[3\]](https://www.pokecommunity.com/threads/colosseum-vs-xd-gale-of-darkness.421649/?ref=idleweekend.net). If you dislike losing progress or want a game that keeps your place reliably, that difference matters.

### Choose Battle Revolution for the battles

Battle Revolution makes more sense if your main goal is to battle. You don't need a story to enjoy it, and you can jump straight into matches. If you already own a Wii, you can start right away without buying anything new.

Think of it this way: if you open the game and want to test your team against other trainers, you'll get what you came for. If you want to know why your Pokemon are where they are, XD explains that better.

### Bring your GBA Pokemon to XD

XD also has an edge for Pokemon fans who played the Game Boy Advance games. Readers say XD gives you better Pokemon from those GBA games than Colosseum does [\[5\]](https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/915781-gamecube/74225078?ref=idleweekend.net). If you have a favorite team from those games and want to use it on the GameCube, XD gives you more reason to pick it up.

That's why XD is the stronger pick for most people who want a complete game. Battle Revolution is the choice for players who want battles first and already have the hardware.

## Which one should you pick?

For most players, Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness is the better pick. It provides an RPG story mode set some years after Pokemon Colosseum [\[4\]](https://gamerant.com/best-pokemon-stadium-games/?ref=idleweekend.net). It also has the save system that Colosseum lacked [\[3\]](https://www.pokecommunity.com/threads/colosseum-vs-xd-gale-of-darkness.421649/?ref=idleweekend.net), which makes it the stronger all-around game.

Battle Revolution makes more sense if you mainly want battles and want to play on the Wii first. If a story and better saves matter more to you, start with XD instead.

## Sources

1. [Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pok%C3%A9mon%5FXD:%5FGale%5Fof%5FDarkness?ref=idleweekend.net)
2. [How was Pokémon Battle Revolution?](https://www.resetera.com/threads/how-was-pok%C3%A9mon-battle-revolution.420305/?ref=idleweekend.net)
3. [Colosseum vs. XD: Gale of Darkness - PokéCommunity](https://www.pokecommunity.com/threads/colosseum-vs-xd-gale-of-darkness.421649/?ref=idleweekend.net)
4. [Best Pokemon Stadium Games & Spiritual Successors](https://gamerant.com/best-pokemon-stadium-games/?ref=idleweekend.net)
5. [Pokmon Colosseum or XD: Gale of Darkness? - GameCube](https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/915781-gamecube/74225078?ref=idleweekend.net)