The games feature the fictional creatures called Pokémon who have the ability to speak human language navigating through a randomly generated dungeon using turn-based moves, common to Mystery Dungeon games.

As of March 2020[update], there have been eleven games across five platforms, as well as several manga adaptations and animated specials.

Gameplay is based on a classic roguelike game, with the player navigating the randomly generated dungeon with their Pokémon team.

Movement and actions are turn-based; the player can use basic attacks, Pokémon moves, and items.

The game's development started after Seiichiro Nagahata and Shin-ichiro Tomie approached Ishihara and agreed with working on an easier version of the genre for the mainline Pokémon fans.

[1] During the development of Red and Blue Rescue Team, Kouji Maruta, one of the programmer for these two games, and contributed previously on EarthBound and Shiren the Wanderer 2: Oni Invasion!

Additionally, due to a production shortage, Explorers of Sky had limited circulation throughout Australia.

[7][8] Finally, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX is the latest title in the series, released on Nintendo Switch in 2020.