In addition to Game Freak's development,Creatures provides support through their Pokémon CG Studio, which creates 3D models for the Pokémon in the games, and also develops some spin-off titles. In 1998, Nintendo, Creatures, and Game Freak jointly established The Pokémon Company, which manages licensing, production, publishing, marketing and deals for the franchise both within Asia and worldwide through The Pokémon Company International.[4][5][6]
The core games are released in generations, each with different Pokémon, storylines, and characters.Remakes of the games are usually released around a decade after the original versions for the latest console at the time. While the main series consists of RPGs developed by Game Freak, many spin-off games based on the series have been developed by various companies, encompassing other genres such asaction role-playing,puzzle,fighting, anddigital pet games.
Chart of the eighteen Pokémon types and their strengths (2, in green), weaknesses (½, in red), and immunities (0, in black)[10]
Each game in thePokémon series takes place in a fictional region of the Pokémon world, typically based on a real-world location, and begins with the player receiving a starter Pokémon, usually from that region's Pokémon Professor. Players have the option to choose one of three different types of Pokémon.[11] Many games include a rival character who acts as a roadblock or boss opponent throughout the game.[12] A major subplot of most games is to defeat a criminal organization, whose intents are usually trying to take over the world through the misuse of powerful Pokémon known as Legendary Pokémon.[13]
Battles between Pokémon are the central game mechanic of thePokémon games. Within the game, they are used to train Pokémon to gain experience and become stronger and to progress through the game's story.[14] Battles can also be done between players by connecting two game systems.Pokémon uses aturn-based system. The player may carry between one and six Pokémon in their active party; the first Pokémon in the lineup is automatically sent into battle when one begins. At the start of each turn, both sides may use amove, use anitem, switch their active Pokémon out for another in their party, or attempt to flee from battle if against a wild Pokémon. Each Pokémon uses attacks to reduce their opponent'sHit Points (HP) to zero, at which point the Pokémon faints and is unable to battle. Pokémon also have in-battle "abilities," which give them different attributes in battle.[15] When an opponent's Pokémon faints, the player's Pokémon receivesexperience points; when a Pokémon accumulates enough, then its level increases.[16] If the player's Pokémon faints, they may select another Pokémon from their active party to battle; in battles against wild Pokémon, the player may attempt to flee instead. If all of a player's Pokémon faint, the player loses the battle. This causes the player to lose some money and return to the last Pokémon Center they visited.
A Pokémon's type is an elemental attribute determining the strengths and weaknesses of each Pokémon and its moves. These types interact inrock–paper–scissors-style relationships: Pokémon take double damage from attacking moves of types they are weak to and half damage from moves of types they resist.[17] Some types have special properties unrelated to the damage chart; for example, certain types cannot be affected by certain status conditions.[18]
Poké Balls are used to capture Pokémon.
Players can catch Pokémon in the wild, engaging with them in a Pokémon battle. In mostPokémon games, players aim to weaken wildPokémon inbattle to then throw a Poké Ball, which are used to capture the Pokémon and add it to the player's team or get sent to storage.[19] Pokémon can "evolve" once they reach a certain benchmark, such as by reaching a certain level, having an item used on them, or by having a high level of friendship. This changes their form and appearance and causes them to grow stronger.[20] Players have the ability to trade their Pokémon with one another by connecting two compatible games.[21] Because of thePokémon series revolving around catching as many Pokémon as possible, trading is considered an important aspect ofPokémon.[22] Certain Pokémon are only able toevolve by trading as well.[23] Players also may encounter alternately colored Pokémon known as "Shiny Pokémon," which are significantly rarer than a standard Pokémon.[24]
Various facilities can be found throughout the Pokémon world such as Pokémon Centers, Poké Marts, and Pokémon Gyms. At a Pokémon Center, the player can have their Pokémon healed for free and access the PC, where players can organize their collection of Pokémon and store and withdraw items. Poké Marts are shops where players can buy items with the money they win during battles; certain cities may have specialized shops, like a pharmacy or a department store. Periodically, a town will contain a Pokémon Gym, which houses a powerful Trainer known as a Gym Leader that functions as aboss. Victory against them grants the player a Gym Badge; after collecting eight Gym Badges, the player may challenge the region's Elite Four and Champion (inPokémon Sword and Shield, the Elite Four is replaced by the Champion Cup, asingle-elimination tournament that determines who gets the right to challenge the Champion). Gyms are absent inSun,Moon,Ultra Sun, andUltra Moon, being replaced by trials that serve a similar purpose. Many games also have facilities dedicated to battling, such as the Battle Frontier, Battle Tower, and Battle Maison, that unlock after the game is beaten. Afterward, the game remains virtually open-ended, with the ultimate goal of the player being to obtain at least one member of each of the different species of Pokémon, thus completing a fictional encyclopedia of all Pokémon species known as aPokédex.
The series features a wide supporting cast, but does not feature many recurring characters.[25] Several recurring characters are listed below.
Red (レッド,Red) is the player character ofPokémon Red,Green,Blue andYellow[26] and the male protagonist ofPokémon FireRed andLeafGreen.[27] Red is a silent character, and doesn't have a distinct storyline or role within the wider series narrative following his first appearance.[28] Red appears inPokémon Gold,Silver, andCrystal and their remakes, where he serves as the strongest opponent a player can battle in the game.[27] 2016 gamesPokémon Sun andMoon also feature Red, who is depicted twenty years after the events of the first games in the series.[28] Red also appears inPokémon Black 2 andWhite 2[28] andPokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! andLet's Go, Eevee!.[26] In thePokémon Adventures manga, he serves as a main protagonist, and he also serves as the main protagonist of thePokémon Pocket Monsters manga.[29] He also appears inPokémon Origins, an anime adaptation of the original games.[30]
Professor Samuel Oak (Professor Yukinari Ōkido (オーキド・ユキナリ博士,Ōkido Yukinari-hakase)) is a Pokémon researcher and the grandfather of Blue.[31][32] He is an important researcher, having studied them his whole life, and in his youth was a Pokémon Trainer himself.[31][33] In the first games in the series, he gives players their first Pokémon.[31] Following this, he appears in various roles in subsequent gamesGold, Silver, andCrystal and Diamond, Pearl, andPlatinum,[34] and additionally appears in a number of spin-off titles.[34] Oak also plays a recurring role in thePokémon anime series.[35] Different characters based on Oak have appeared as well. His relative, Samson Oak, appears inSun andMoon,[36] while another character, dubbed Grand Oak, appears in the spin-off gamePokémon Home.[37]
Blue (グリーン,Green) is therival character ofPokémon Red,Green,Blue,Yellow,FireRed, andLeafGreen.[28] He is the grandson of Professor Oak[32] and the player character's childhood friend. He is pushy and competitive, and always a step ahead of the player's progress throughout the games. He manages to become Champion of Kanto, but is defeated.[28][38] He reappears inPokémon Gold,Silver,Crystal andtheir remakes, having become a Gym Leader, where he has mellowed as a person from his prior appearance.[28] He later reappears inBlack 2 andWhite 2,[39] and also appears inSun andMoon alongside Red, depicted twenty years after the events of the original games.[28] He also appears inLet's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!.[26] Blue appears in thePokémon Adventures manga, where he is a major recurring character who serves as Red's rival, and also serves in a rival role inOrigins. He also appears in thePokémon Generations anime series.[40]
Giovanni (Sakaki (サカキ)) is the leader of the villainous criminal organization known asTeam Rocket.[41] He also runs the Viridian City Gym inPokémon Red,Blue,Green,Yellow, and their remakes.[42] He later disappears and is not seen again, though Team Rocket attempts to locate him inPokémon Gold,Silver,Crystal, andtheir remakes. Their remakes feature a special event in which the player can fight Giovanni, which reveals why Team Rocket was unable to locate Giovanni during the events of the games' story.[43] He appears again inBlack 2 andWhite 2,[39] and later appears as a major antagonist inPokémon Ultra Sun andUltra Moon's story, serving as the leader of the "Team Rainbow Rocket" organization.[42][44] Giovanni appears in spin-off gamePokémon Go, where he leads the villainous "Team Go Rocket" organization,[45] and also serves as a major antagonist in spin-off gamePokémon Masters EX.[46] Giovanni is a recurring character in thePokémon anime series, where he is the boss of Team Rocket.[47]
Steven Stone (Daigo Tsuwabuki (ツワブキ・ダイゴ,Tsuwabuki Daigo)) is the Champion of the Hoenn Region inRuby,Sapphire,Omega Ruby, andAlpha Sapphire. He is interested in rocks and minerals, and acts as a mentor to the player during the course of the game. Steven plays various roles throughout the plot, including aiding in stopping the villainous organizations Team Magma and Team Aqua, and serves as the final boss of the game. InEmerald, he Steven is a wandering trainer, with his friend Wallace taking on the mantle of Champion in Steven's place.[48] Steven appears again inHeartgold andSoulsilver[49]and Black 2 andWhite 2.[39] Steven also serves a recurring role in thePokémon anime series.[48]
Cynthia (Shirona (シロナ)) is the Sinnoh League Champion, first appearing inPokémon Diamond andPearl. She is interested in mythology and history and spends her time researching and exploring various sites associated with Legendary Pokémon of the Sinnoh region. In the games, she helps the protagonist against the villainous organization Team Galactic during the games' story, and she serves as the game's final boss.[50] Cynthia reappears inPokémon Black andWhite,[51]Black 2 andWhite 2,[52] andSun andMoon,[53] as well asthe remakes ofDiamond andPearl.[54] She also serves as a recurring character in thePokémon anime series.[55]
Hex Maniac (Occult Maniac (オカルトマニア)) is actually not one individual character, but a Trainer class that specializes in Ghost-type Pokémon. Originally introduced inPokémon Ruby andSapphire, they received a redesign inPokémon X andY. This version appears as a woman with messy dark blue hair, a purple headband, a long black dress with a spiderweb pattern around the waist, and darkened eyes with a spiral pattern. Since the redesign, they have been cited as one of the most popular characters for their unique appearance,[56] gaining additional notoriety due to an unexplained encounter inPokémon X andY.[57] In the franchise, this version of Hex Maniac has been used forPokémon events related to urban legends,[58] and one named Helena (Sayoko in Japanese) appears as a playable character in mobile gamePokémon Masters EX.[59][60]
"Looker" ("Handsome" (ハンサム,Hansamu)) is a member of theInterpol who appears inPokémon Platinum, where he is investigating Team Galactic. He is a master of disguise, and though initially incompetent, he is treated more seriously as a character as the series progresses. He appears again inBlack andWhite, seeking the player's assistance in apprehending several members of the criminal organization Team Plasma.[61] InX andY, he poses as a detective to apprehend members of the criminal organization Team Flare, and ends up taking in an orphan girl named Emma.[61][62] InPokémon Legends: Z-A, taking place five years after the events ofX andY, Emma has taken over his office in Lumiose City and operates as a detective herself. InSun andMoon, he appears assisting the player with capturing the Ultra Beasts that were unleashed there, eventually alerting the player to the Legendary PokémonNecrozma.[63]
All of the licensedPokémon properties overseen byThe Pokémon Company are divided roughly by generation. These generations are roughlychronological divisions by release; when an official sequel in the main role-playing game series is released that features new Pokémon, characters, and possibly new gameplay concepts, that sequel is considered the start of a new generation of the franchise. The main games and their spin-offs, the anime, manga, and trading card game are all updated with the new Pokémon properties each time a new generation begins. The franchise began its ninth and current generation withPokémon Scarlet and Violet, which were released worldwide for the Nintendo Switch on November 18, 2022.
The originalPokémon games are Japaneserole-playing video games (RPGs) with an element of strategy and were created bySatoshi Tajiri for theGame Boy. ThePokémon series began with the release ofPocket Monsters Red andGreen for theGame Boy in Japan. When these games proved popular, an enhancedBlue version was released sometime after, and theBlue version was reprogrammed asPokémon Red andBlue for international release. The originalGreen version was not released outside Japan.[64] Afterwards, a second enhanced remake,Pokémon Yellow, was released to use the color palette of theGame Boy Color and more of a stylistic resemblance to the popularPokémon anime.
This first generation of games introduced the original 151 species of Pokémon (inNational Pokédex order, encompassing all Pokémon fromBulbasaur toMew), as well as the basic game concepts of capturing, training, battling and trading Pokémon with both computer and human players. These versions of the games take place within the fictionalKanto region, though the name "Kanto" was not used until the second generation.
The second generation ofPokémon video games began in 1999 with the Japanese release ofPokémon Gold andSilver for theGame Boy Color, with Australia and North America getting the game in October 2000 and European release date of April 2001. Like the previous generation, an enhanced version, titledPokémon Crystal, was later released.
This generation introduced 100 new species of Pokémon (starting withChikorita and ending withCelebi), for a total of 251 Pokémon to collect, train, and battle. New gameplay features include a day-and-night system (reflecting the time of the day in the real world) which influences events in the game; full use of the Game Boy Color's color palette; an improved interface and upgraded inventory system; better balance in the collection of Pokémon and their moves, statistics and equipable items (a new addition); the addition of two newPokémon types (Dark and Steel) to better balance the strengths and weaknesses of each Pokémon;Pokémon breeding; and a new region namedJohto. After exploring Johto, the player can travel east to explore the adjacent Kanto region.
Pokémon Ruby andSapphire, released in 2002 for theGame Boy Advance, introduced double battles to the series, in which the opposing parties each use two Pokémon at the same time.
Pokémon entered its third generation with the 2002 release ofPokémon Ruby andSapphire forGame Boy Advance and continued with the Game Boy Advance remakes ofPokémon Red andGreen,Pokémon FireRed andLeafGreen (Red andGreen representing the original Japanese first generation games; territories outside Japan instead saw releases ofRed andBlue). An enhanced version ofPokémon Ruby andSapphire titledPokémon Emerald followed after.
The third generation introduced 135 new Pokémon (starting withTreecko and ending withDeoxys) for a total of 386 species. It also features a more visually detailed environment compared to previous games, "natures" which affect Pokémon stats, a new 2-on-2 Pokémon battling mechanic, a special ability system applying to each Pokémon in battle, thePokémon Contest sub-game, the new region ofHoenn, the ability to select the protagonist's gender and Secret Bases: customizable "rooms" where the player can display items they have collected in-game and battle against real friends. Secret Bases can be found in bushes, trees, or small cave openings in landscapes by using the Pokémon move, Secret Power, which can be taught to virtually all Pokémon. However, this generation also garnered some criticism for leaving out several gameplay features, including the day-and-night system introduced in the previous generation (which was removed due to internal-battery save problems), and it was also the first installment that encouraged the player to collect merely a selected assortment of the total number of Pokémon rather than every existing species (202 out of 386 species are catchable in theRuby andSapphire versions). It was around this time that the franchise was regaining its popularity, managing to ship over 100 million games worldwide.[67][68]
In 2006, Japan began the fourth generation of the franchise with the release ofPokémon Diamond andPearl for Nintendo DS. The games were released in North America on April 22, 2007, and in Australia on June 21, 2007. The game was released in the UK and Europe on July 27, 2007.[69] Other main series games in the fourth generation includePokémon Platinum, adirector's cut version ofDiamond andPearl in the same vein asPokémon Yellow,Crystal, andEmerald.[70][71] It was released for theNintendo DS in Japan on September 13, 2008,[72] in North America on March 22, 2009,[73][74] and in Australia and Europe on May 14, 2009,[75] and May 22, 2009,[76] respectively. It was also announced thatPokémon Gold andSilver would be remade for the Nintendo DS asPokémon HeartGold andSoulSilver.[77] Released in Japan on September 12, 2009, the games were later released to North America, Australia, and Europe during March 2010.[78][79][80]
The fourth-generation introduces another 107 new species of Pokémon (starting withTurtwig and ending withArceus), bringing the number of Pokémon species to 493. This generation is the first to have 3D graphics in the main series game, although it is still a mixture of both 3D graphics and sprites. New gameplay concepts include a restructuredmove-classification system, online multiplayer trading and battling viaNintendo Wi-Fi Connection, the return (and expansion) of the second generation's day-and-night system, the expansion of the third generation's Pokémon Contests into "Super Contests", and the new region ofSinnoh, which has an underground component for multiplayer gameplay in addition to the main overworld. Secret Bases also appear in Sinnoh but can only be created and housed in Sinnoh's underground.HeartGold andSoulSilver also introduced the Pokéathlon to the Johto region, which consists of many Pokémon based sporting events making use of the stylus.
The fifth generation ofPokémon began on September 18, 2010, with the release ofPokémon Black andWhite in Japan. They were then released in North America, Europe, and Australia in March 2011. They have released on theNintendo DS, the same console as its preceeding generation. The games take place in the Unova region. New features include the C-Gear, a feature where players can use Wi-Fi options and customizations; two new battle methods ("Triple Battles", where three Pokémon are sent out at once, and Rotation Battles, where three Pokémon are also sent out at the same time, but the trainer can switch one Pokémon out of the three that are present); "Battle Tests", where trainers battle each other to see who has stronger Pokémon; the Pokémon Musicals (similar to Pokémon Contests), which have trainers use their Pokémon to dance in a theater with other Pokémon; and the ability to not waste Technical Machines (TMs), also when found the first time. The other main series games, and the additions toBlack andWhite, titledPokémon Black 2 andWhite 2, are direct sequels. They take place in the Unova region two years later and were released in Japan on June 23, 2012, and in North America, Australia, and Europe in October of that year for Nintendo DS. They are somewhat different of their predecessors; there are different protagonist trainers, and many of the other important characters have changed as well. The games also introduced a new feature, the "Pokémon World Tournament", where trainers can battle gym leaders and champions from older regions, including Unova. The games also broke the tradition of releasing a third version as an addition to the primary versions.
This generation introduced a total of 156 new Pokémon (beginning withVictini and ending withGenesect), the most of any generation so far. It was also the first generation where the first new Pokémon in National Pokédex order (Victini) is not a starter. It also introduced another new feature, theseasons, which two Pokémon (Deerling andSawsbuck) represent. Unlike previous generations, which would introduce some species of Pokémon that were evolutionary relatives of older-generation Pokémon, the fifth generation's selection was all-original, in an attempt to make the primary versions feel like a brand-new game.
On December 24, 2012, Japanese magazineNintendo Dream posted a greetings card sent out by Game Freak. In the card, Junichi Masuda exclaimed that during 2013, they intend to further evolve the world of Pokémon. On December 29, 2012, a newPokémon Black 2 andWhite 2 commercial aired in Japan, and ending with a message, informing Pokémon fans that the latest news would be announced on January 8, 2013. On January 4, 2013, both the Japanese and English Pokémon website confirmed that an announcement would be made on January 8. On January 7, 2013, the Japanese website explained that the Nintendo president,Satoru Iwata would hold a 10-minute "Pokémon Direct" video conference to announce the big Pokémon news. On January 8, 2013, Satoru Iwata announced the sixth generation of Pokémon, with the new paired games,Pokémon X andY, which were released on theNintendo 3DS on October 12, 2013, worldwide.[82] TheX andY games are rendered in full 3D;[83] however, only select parts of the game can be displayed in stereoscopic 3D.[84] The video introduced the player characters, the starter Pokémon; Grass-typeChespin (Japanese:Harimaron (ハリマロン)), the Fire-typeFennekin (Japanese:Fokko (フォッコ)), and the Water-typeFroakie (Japanese:Keromatsu (ケロマツ)), and two other Pokémon, not named until later; a bird-like Pokémon calledYveltal (イベルタル,Iberutaru) having a shape similar to the letter Y and a deer-like Pokémon calledXerneas (ゼルネアス,Zeruneasu) with X-shapes in its eyes. A month later,Sylveon (Japanese: Nymphia (ニンフィア,Ninfia)), a new evolved form ofEevee belonging to the games' new Fairy-type was revealed and is currently the last Eeveelution to be revealed.[85][86] On May 7, 2014, Nintendo revealed the gamesPokémon Omega Ruby andAlpha Sapphire in a teaser trailer, remakes of the third generation gamesPokémon Ruby andSapphire. They were released worldwide in November 2014.[87]
This generation introduced a total of 72 new Pokémon, the new Fairy type, Mega Evolution, the Kalos region, Trainer customization, Super Training, and three new battle modes: Sky Battles, Horde Encounters, and Inverse Battle. This generation is also the first to be compatible withPokémon Bank.
During aNintendo Direct presentation on February 26, 2016, two newPokémon titles were announced, titledPokémon Sun andMoon. The games were released on the Nintendo 3DS on November 18, 2016, in Japan, North America, and Australia, and in Europe on November 23, 2016.[90] The games were the first since the second generation to be backwards-compatible with other titles, includingPokémon X andY;Pokémon Omega Ruby andAlpha Sapphire; and theVirtual Console re-releases ofPokémon Red,Blue andYellow. On June 6, 2017,Pokémon Ultra Sun andUltra Moon were announced. The two games offer new additions to the story ofPokémon Sun andMoon, including new features, and was released worldwide on the Nintendo 3DS on November 17, 2017.[91] On May 29, 2018, two newPokémon games in the mainPokémon franchise,Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! andPokémon: Let's Go, Eevee!, were announced. They are remakes ofPokémon Yellow with gameplay mechanics borrowed fromPokémon Go and were released worldwide on theNintendo Switch on November 16, 2018.
In total, this generation introduced 88 new Pokémon, Alolan forms, trials, Z-moves, Poké Pelago, and Festival Plaza. It was also the first one to introduce Pokémon mid-generation, with five new Pokémon making their debut inPokémon Ultra Sun andUltra Moon, and two new Pokémon debuting inLet's Go, Pikachu! andLet's Go, Eevee!
DuringE3 2017, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company announced that Game Freak was developing a new corePokémon role-playing game set to release for theNintendo Switch[92] in "2018 or later."[93][94] The game is the eighth generation ofPokémon.[95] Along with the announcement ofPokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! andPokémon: Let's Go, Eevee! it was confirmed that another corePokémon role-playing game would be released in late 2019. It was clarified that the 2019 game was the one mentioned during E3 2017, not theLet's Go games. Game directorJunichi Masuda stated that it would also "follow in the tradition ofPokémon X andY andPokémon Sun andMoon".[96][97] The CEO of The Pokémon Company,Tsunekazu Ishihara, also confirmed that the upcoming core title would not have influences fromPokémon Go likeLet's Go, Pikachu! andLet's Go, Eevee! had.[98][99] On February 27, 2019, on the 23rd anniversary of the franchise,Pokémon Sword andShield were confirmed for Nintendo Switch, which were released worldwide on November 15, 2019.[100][101]Pokémon Sword and Shield takes place in the Galar region introducing new Pokémon, Galarian forms, the Champion Cup, Dynamax, Gigantamax forms, Max Raid battles, and Pokémon Camp. On January 9, 2020, two expansion packs titledThe Isle of Armor andThe Crown Tundra were announced.The Isle of Armor was released on June 17, 2020, andThe Crown Tundra was released on October 22, 2020.[102] On February 26, 2021,Brilliant Diamond andShining Pearl were announced, remakes of the fourth generation gamesPokémon Diamond andPearl developed by ILCA and set to release later that year. On the same day,Pokémon Legends: Arceus was announced, aprequel toBrilliant Diamond andShining Pearl.Brilliant Diamond andShining Pearl were released on November 19, 2021, whilePokémon Legends: Arceus was released on January 28, 2022.
This generation introduced a total of 96 new Pokémon with 81 revealed inSword and Shield, 8 revealed in the expansion packs, and 7 revealed inPokémon Legends: Arceus.
On February 27, 2022,Pokémon Scarlet andViolet were announced for the Nintendo Switch, with a late 2022 release date.[104] The games were released on November 18, 2022. On February 27, 2023, a two-part expansion pack was announced titledThe Hidden Treasure of Area Zero. Part One,The Teal Mask, was released on September 13, 2023. Part Two,The Indigo Disk, was released on December 14, 2023.[105] An epilogue,Mochi Mayhem, was released on January 11, 2024.[106]
This generation introduced a total of 120 new Pokémon so far with 103 revealed inScarlet and Violet, 2 revealed in special Tera Raids, 7 revealed inThe Teal Mask, 7 revealed inThe Indigo Disk, and 1 revealed inMochi Mayhem, with an overall total of 1025 Pokémon.
On February 27, 2024,Pokémon Legends: Z-A was announced to have a 2025 release on the Nintendo Switch.[107] Later on, it was announced the game would also come to theNintendo Switch 2.[108] It released for both consoles, digitally and physically, on October 16th, 2025. It features a return to Lumiose City of theKalos region fromPokémon X and Y, and is the first appearance ofMega Evolution in a Pokémon game sinceLet's Go, Pikachu! andLet's Go, Eevee![109]
After the first five months of release, theGame Boy games sold almost 3 million copies.[180] They have been credited as a factor in the Game Boy maintaining strong sales in Japan well beyond the typical lifespan of a game system.[181] The series has sold over 279 million units (inclusive of spin-off titles; 210 million for the mainline Pokémon games) as of February 29, 2016,[182] giving it the distinction of being one of thebest-selling video game series in history.[183] Guinness World Records awarded thePokémon series eight records inGuinness World Records: Gamer's Edition 2008, including "Most Successful RPG Series of All Time", "Game Series With the Most Spin-Off Movies" and "Most PhotosensitiveEpileptic Seizures Caused by a TV Show".[184] As of March 2025[update], the series has sold over489 million units.[9]
ThePokémon video game series is the basis of thePokémon franchise, which includes thePokémon anime, thePokémon Trading Card Game, thePokémon manga, and various toys. The anime series has run for over 900 episodes, accompanied by 19 feature films, with a twentieth in production. The trading card game and its expansion sets have grown to around 3,000 unique cards in total, and continue to draw a healthy player base to its official international tournaments. The extent of global toy and merchandise sales since 1996 cover broad markets and high quantities.[185]
IGN rankedPokémon as the 17th greatest desired game series: "the basic gameplay premise boasts solid, addictive play mechanics, and several of the handheld RPGs deserve to be in every gamer's collection.[186]GamesRadar listedPokémon as the No. 1Nintendo game "not made by Nintendo", stating that having to catch each Pokémon made the games addictive.[187]
^Allison, Anne (May 2006).Millennial Monsters: Japanese Toys and the Global Imagination. University of California Press. pp. 192–197.ISBN9780520938991.
^Official Pokémon Scenario Guide Diamond and Pearl version p. 277
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