Pokemon
Pokemon
The best way to counter Celebi ex in Pokemon TCG Pocket
M Alzamora
Celebi ex can be a challenge to try and counter, but there are plenty of other Pokemon in TCG Pocket that can take it down just as quickly as it comes up. Coming alongside the new booster pack Mythical Island, Celebi ex has quickly risen through the ranks to become one of the best cards in the Pokemon TCG Pocket meta. The card allows the player to flip a coin …
Pokemon
Pokemon TCG Pocket January events schedule revealed
Olivia Richman
The mini-set Mythical Island just dropped in Pokemon TCG Pocket but fans already want to know what’s coming next. Thankfully, the full Pokemon TCG Pocket schedule of events for January has already been unearthed. Pokemon TCG Pocket has continued to grow in popularity, offering fun, immersive cards to collect and a simplified version of the trading card game. The new mini-set added 86 new cards to the game, shaking up …
Pokemon
The best Pokemon cards to pull in Mythical Island
William Davis
Mythical Island has arrived in Pokemon TCG Pocket, and these cards will make the best additions to any player’s collection. Pokemon TCG Pocket’s mini set just dropped, bringing 86 new cards to the popular free-to-play mobile app. Out of the 86 Mythical Island cards, 68 are numbered, six are illustration rare and 10 are special illustration rare variations of those cards, one is an ultra rare immersive, and one is …
Pokemon
Here are all the 2024 Pokemon cards coming to McDonald’s
Steven Rondina
The 2024 set of Pokemon TCG promo cards has arrived in McDonald’s locations in France, giving international fans a look at what’s to come. On an annual basis, Pokemon has partnered with McDonald’s for a line of Happy Meal toys. Though extra trimmings are added each year, the centerpiece is always the lineup of cards. While the prices for these promos aren’t nearly as high as the collector’s pieces found …
Pokemon
Pokemon GO is finally making Gigantamax raids worth doing
Steven Rondina
Pokemon GO fans have been underwhelmed by the introduction of Dynamax and Gigantamax Pokemon, but Niantic revealed upcoming changes that will make them more worthwhile. The Dynamax mechanic was a controversial one when it was first introduced in Pokemon Sword and Shield. In a flailing hate campaign against the games, fans latched onto Dynamax in particular as something to be mad about. This was because the games marked the end …
Pokemon
Pokemon GO: Best counters to Origin Forme Palkia & Dialga
Steven Rondina
Origin Forme Palkia and Dialga are stronger than their counterparts in Pokemon GO, but what’s the best counter to them in raids? The Pokemon Legends: Arceus variants of the gen-four legendaries first arrived in Pokemon GO in January 2024 as part of the Sinnoh-themed Pokemon GO Tour event. While the introduction of new versions of familiar legendaries is always exciting, these two took things a step further. By using candies, …
Pokemon
What is the best deck in Pokemon TCG Pocket?
Jared Wynne
Is there one deck that stands out as the best deck in all of Pokemon TCG Pocket? It depends on who you ask, but there are definitely a few top candidates. Pokemon TCG Pocket has taken the world by storm, with publisher The Pokemon Company already claiming tens of millions of downloads for their new game. Combining elements of the traditional Pokemon trading card game with a simple and user-friendly …
Pokemon
Rumors of updates of a multiplayer Pokemon game sparks buzz
Syed Mujtaba Naqvi
A new update has reignited excitement among Pokemon fans, as rumors continue to swirl about a potential multiplayer Pokemon game. Recent leaks hint at a collaborative effort between Game Freak and ILCA, sparking curiosity and speculation throughout the gaming community. Although concrete details remain scarce, the information revealed so far paints an intriguing picture of what could be the next big thing in the Pokemon universe. Related: New Pokemon TCG …
New Pokemon TCG Pocket leak teases exciting upcoming events and content
Syed Mujtaba Naqvi
Pokemon
Pokemon TCG Pocket fans have reason to be excited as recent leaks reveal thrilling updates, hinting at upcoming events and new card releases for the digital trading card game. The game, which brings the beloved Pokemon Trading Card experience to a digital platform, has been well-received by players. However, many felt it lacked enough content and features. Now, these leaks suggest that the developers are working hard to deliver fresh …
Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Legendary Raid battle: Shiny Rayquaza
Syed Mujtaba Naqvi
Pokemon
Pokemon fans are in for an exciting event as Pokemon Scarlet & Violet prepare to launch a Tera Raid Battle featuring the legendary Shiny Rayquaza. The raid battle is set to take place from December 19, 2024, to January 5, 2025. This gives players a chance to add this rare, shiny form of the Sky High Pokemon to their collection. The details surrounding the event have sparked much anticipation among …
Pokemon GO: Dynamax Drilbur arrives in the latest event
Syed Mujtaba Naqvi
Pokemon
Starting November 15, Pokemon GO players will have the chance to encounter a brand-new Dynamax Pokemon, Drilbur, as part of the Simply Groundbreaking event. This thrilling event, which runs until November 17, introduces a fresh layer of gameplay with Dynamax forms, adding a new level of strategy to Max Battles. Trainers level 31 and up also have the opportunity to earn extra rewards, making this event one of the most …
Pokemon GO: Next Season new Community Day dates announced
Syed Mujtaba Naqvi
Pokemon
Niantic has shared exciting news for Pokemon GO fans with the reveal of upcoming Community Day dates for Season 17. This new season will kick off on December 3, 2024, and run through February 2025, bringing with it multiple opportunities for players to engage in limited-time events and enjoy special bonuses. Related: Pokemon Go Announces Halloween 2024 Event Part 1 Season 17 is packed with events for players to look …
Pokemon Go Announces Halloween 2024 Event Part 1
Tokoni Uti
Pokemon
It’s October, which means that gaming projects are rolling out their Halloween experiences for fans. Naturally, these have a scary edge to them and try to get fans into the spooky spirit. One of the latest of these comes from Pokemon Go, which has announced its 2024 edition, featuring tons of adventure and even new characters. Pokemon Go’s Halloween event in 2024 will see the debut of Galar rodent creature, …
Game Freak Lead Reveals Pokemon Source Codes, Upcoming Multiplayer Game
Tokoni Uti
Pokemon
As much as gaming studios try to keep certain details of past and future projects under wraps, sometimes leaks happen. When they do, fans get an early taste of what is to come or even unknown facts about projects already launched. Such is the case with a recent leak from Game Freak, the developers of the Pokemon Games. About a terabyte worth of data from the company made its way …
Pokemon leak suggests potential Detective Pikachu sequel
Syed Mujtaba Naqvi
Movies & TV
The Pokemon franchise has been one of the most beloved video game and anime series worldwide for over two decades. Following the success of the 2019 Detective Pikachu movie, fans have long awaited news of a sequel. Recently, a major leak within the Pokémon community may have revealed clues. The leak points to a second Detective Pikachu film, titled The Great Detective Pikachu. While official confirmations are still pending, the …
Pokemon GO November 2024 Community Day dive
Syed Mujtaba Naqvi
Pokemon
Niantic has officially revealed Mankey as the featured Pokémon for the November 2024 Community Day in Pokémon GO. Although Mankey might not be the most thrilling choice at first glance, this event brings a major twist. Primeape and its evolved form, Annihilape, will gain access to the newly introduced charged move, Rage Fist. This addition could significantly shake up Pokémon GO’s current battle landscape, making this Community Day one to …
Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: What are the Kitakami Pokedex rewards
Syed Mujtaba Naqvi
Pokemon
In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet The Teal Mask DLC, completing the Kitakami Pokedex offers a fulfilling experience for dedicated trainers. The region, introduced in this expansion, is home to 200 unique Pokemon, including new evolution lines and Legendaries. Completing this Pokedex requires significant time and effort. And players must track down both familiar faces and version-exclusive Pokémon. However, the rewards for this accomplishment make the challenge worth undertaking. Related: Infernape …
Pokemon GO: New Safari Ball tease – Wild Area 2024 Event
Syed Mujtaba Naqvi
Pokemon
Niantic has recently revealed the introduction of the Safari Ball in Pokemon GO, which will debut during the Wild Area 2024 event. This new Poke Ball is expected to bring an interesting twist to the game, as it offers players a chance to catch powerful Pokemon more easily. The announcement has sparked excitement among players, as this is the first time the Safari Ball will be introduced in Pokemon GO. …
Pokemon GO guide – How to defeat the Ke Ke Ke Grunt
Syed Mujtaba Naqvi
Pokemon
In October 2024, Pokémon GO players will encounter the infamous Ke Ke Ke Team Rocket Grunt, who specializes in Ghost-type Pokémon. Defeating this opponent can be challenging, but with the right strategy and Pokémon lineup, you can take down her team efficiently. In this guide, we’ll explore the best counters to use, focusing on type advantages and the potential rewards for emerging victorious. Related: Mega Mawile joins Pokemon GO in …
Mega Mawile joins Pokemon GO in October
Syed Mujtaba Naqvi
Pokemon
In October, Pokemon GO players can look forward to the long-anticipated arrival of Mega Mawile. As part of a special Raid Day event, this Steel and Fairy-type Pokemon will debut in the game, offering exciting opportunities and rewards for trainers. The event promises a variety of bonuses, from free Raid Passes to boosted chances of encountering a shiny Mawile. Related: Shadow Galarian Weezing joins evolution pool in Pokemon GO Firstly, …
Pokemon stands as the largest cross-media IP in the world by a comfortable margin, but how did it make such explosive gains?
For a long while, pivoting a video game franchise into a larger brand seemed impossible. Iconic titles like Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, and Resident Evil received TV and film adaptations, with the most common result being catastrophic failure. That was the norm from the 1990s all the way into the 2020s; and it probably shouldn’t have been.
While Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li and Silent Hill: Revelation were irredeemably bad, Pokemon showed that a video game series can be adapted into many different mediums. Here’s a quick history of the franchise and its future outlook.
Pokemon explodes with Game Boy games, quickly expands
Pokemon first arrived in Japan in 1996 with the release of Pokemon Red and Green; a pair of titles for the Nintendo Game Boy. The two games were largely identical, but each one had a handful of Pokemon that were exclusive to those titles. This encouraged players to collect and trade these monsters with others who purchased the games.
Later on in 1996, the game was reimagined as a trading card game. Then in 1997, an anime adaptation launched in Japan.
Both of those rapid-fire expansions earned strong success domestically. More importantly, it primed Pokemon for an overwhelming global push.
In 1998, the franchise officially crossed over into North America, Europe, and Australia. The games were killer apps for the Game Boy but it wasn’t just a video game. An accompanying anime aired new episodes daily, and the trading card game exploded out of the gate. This made it difficult to ignore Pokemon to the point where characters like Ash Ketchum and Pikachu were universally recognizable. Just like that, the franchise was unstoppable.
Pokemon expands beyond Nintendo consoles, grows even further
For decades, Pokemon video games were among the top-selling games each year they came out. The Pokemon TCG was one of the biggest in the industry. The anime was a constant, without even mentioning its many spin-off movies. Licensing characters for toys and apparel was a golden goose for all involved.
But the franchise was still positioned to grow further.
Almost all of the games were exclusive to Nintendo’s gaming hardware, but mobile gaming was on a sharp rise of its own. The franchise also released a long list of spin-offs, successfully turning the series into everything from a pinball game to a beat ‘em up. The Pokemon Company had dabbled with PC and mobile games previously, but started actively partnering with other studios in the 2010s.
The biggest example of this was Pokemon GO. The Pokemon Company partnered with AR game studio Niantic was an instant hit, being downloaded hundreds of millions of times. It was far from alone, however. Battling-focused gacha game Pokemon Masters, MOBA adaptation Pokemon Unite, and puzzle game Pokemon Cafe launched in the following years.
It wasn’t just licensed mobile games, though. Games like Detective Pikachu and New Pokemon Snap gave players fresh and varied ways to enjoy the familiar franchise.
Modern Pokémon games see mixed response, but sales remain strong
Though Pokémon has many lifelong fans, the mainline releases have long attracted controversy within the fandom. Though the first few generations were generally beloved, opinions on new and modern games releases vary wildly. Starting with the Nintendo Switch, critical response to the games wavered.
Reviews for Pokémon Let’s Go Pikachu and Let’s Go Eevee were lower than previous entries in the series. That pattern held with Pokémon Sword and Shield, which were also met with extreme backlash on social media.
Though each mainline game made every monster from previous generations available up until Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, this ended with Sword and Shield. Several fan favorites, including Beedrill and the Unovan starters, were made unobtainable in the game. The mega evolution and Z-move battle mechanics were also removed from the games. It’s unclear why or what methodology was used to determine which of the little monsters were left out.
Reviews sank further from there, with Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, then Pokémon Scarlet and Violet garnering the lowest review averages for mainline games.
Despite this, the games were still an enormous commercial success. Pokémon Sword, Shield, Scarlet, and Violet ranked among the best-selling games in franchise history. Its publisher may have heeded some of the fan criticism however, as the company opted against releasing a new mainline game or expansion in 2024. This was the first year without a major game release since 2015.
