Pokémon (video game series)

Lore & Background

The Pokémon series takes place in fictional regions of the Pokémon World, typically based on real-world locations. Players begin by receiving a Starter Pokémon from a region's Pokémon Professor, choosing one of three types. A rival character often acts as a roadblock, and a major subplot involves defeating a criminal organization misusing Legendary Pokémon. Battles are turn-based, with players carrying up to six Pokémon; the first is sent into battle automatically. Each turn, players may use a move, item, switch Pokémon, or flee. Pokémon faint when their Hit Points reach zero, and the player's Pokémon gain experience points to level up. If all of a player's Pokémon faint, they lose money and return to the last Pokémon Center. Pokémon Legends: Z-A uses a real-time battle system where players and Pokémon move around the field strategically. Abilities, introduced in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, were absent in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu!, Let's Go, Eevee!, Legends: Arceus, and Legends: Z-A.

Pokémon types interact in rock–paper–scissors-style relationships, with double damage from weaknesses and half damage from resistances. Players catch wild Pokémon by weakening them in battle and throwing a Poké Ball. Pokémon can evolve by reaching a certain level, using an item, or having high friendship. Trading between games is important, as some Pokémon evolve only through trade. Shiny Pokémon, alternately colored and rarer, may also be encountered. Facilities include Pokémon Centers (for healing and PC access), Poké Marts (shops), and Pokémon Gyms (housing Gym Leaders who grant Badges). After eight Badges, players challenge the Elite Four and Champion. Gyms are absent in Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon, replaced by trials. Pokémon Legends: Arceus and Legends: Z-A do not use Gyms; Z-A uses the Z-A Royale. Post-game facilities like the Battle Frontier allow continued play, with the ultimate goal of completing the Pokédex.

Reader's Guide

Pokémon is one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time, with a successful anime series, movies, and merchandise. The spin-off game Pokémon Go crossed 1 billion mobile game downloads worldwide. By November 24, 2017, more than 300 million Pokémon games had been sold worldwide across 76 titles, including spin-offs. As of March 2026, the series has sold over 515 million units worldwide, making it the fourth best-selling video game franchise behind Mario, Call of Duty, and Tetris. The core games are released in generations, each with different Pokémon, storylines, and characters. Remakes are usually released around a decade after the original versions for the latest console. Spin-off games have been developed by various companies, encompassing genres such as action role-playing, puzzle, fighting, and digital pet games. The Pokémon Company, established in 1998 by Nintendo, Creatures, and Game Freak, manages licensing, production, publishing, marketing, and deals for the franchise worldwide through The Pokémon Company International. The series' gameplay revolves around catching, battling, and trading Pokémon, with a turn-based battle system that has evolved to include real-time elements in recent titles. The franchise's enduring popularity is reflected in its massive sales and cultural impact, though the article does not provide further details on its legacy beyond these facts.

Did You Know?

• The first Pokémon games, Pocket Monsters Red and Green, were released in 1996 in Japan for the Game Boy.
• Pokémon is the fourth best-selling video game franchise, behind Mario, Call of Duty, and Tetris.
• As of March 2026, the series has sold over 515 million units worldwide.
• Pokémon Go has crossed 1 billion mobile game downloads worldwide.

Origins & the Development Triad

The Pokémon franchise traces its roots to a 1996 Japanese release on the Game Boy, where Pocket Monsters Red and Green first introduced players to the world of creature collecting and turn-based combat. The project was conceived by Satoshi Tajiri, who worked alongside Ken Sugimori to bring the initial vision to life. Game Freak handled the development, while Nintendo served as the publisher. What began as a two-company collaboration quickly expanded: in 1998, Nintendo, Creatures, and Game Freak jointly founded The Pokémon Company, a dedicated entity responsible for overseeing licensing, production, publishing, marketing, and commercial deals across Asia and the rest of the globe through its international arm. Creatures also contributes behind the scenes by operating the Pokémon CG Studio, which crafts the three-dimensional models used in-game, and by developing select spin-off titles. Outside Japan, those original 1996 titles were rebranded as Pokémon Red Version and Blue Version, setting the stage for a franchise that would go on to define an entire genre of handheld gaming.

The Battle Loop & Type Strategy

At the heart of every core Pokémon title lies a turn-based battle system that rewards strategic thinking over reflexes. Players assemble a party of one to six Pokémon, with the lead member automatically entering each encounter. On every turn, both sides can choose to attack, use an item, swap in a backup, or attempt to flee from a wild foe. Combat revolves around reducing an opponent's Hit Points to zero, at which point that Pokémon faints and must be replaced. A layered type system governs damage interactions in a rock-paper-scissors fashion: moves of a type a Pokémon is weak against deal double damage, while resisted types deal only half. Certain types carry special properties that interact with status conditions independent of the damage chart. Beyond raw stats, each Pokémon possesses an in-battle ability that grants unique attributes, adding another dimension to team building. The entire loop—catching wild creatures with Poké Balls, leveling them through experience, evolving them via level thresholds, items, or friendship bonds, and trading with other players—creates a deeply interconnected ecosystem of collection and competition.

Commercial Dominance & Global Reach

Few entertainment properties have matched the sheer commercial footprint of Pokémon. By November 24, 2017, the franchise had already moved more than 300 million game units across 76 titles on handheld and home consoles. That figure continued climbing, and by March 2026 the series had surpassed 515 million units sold worldwide, cementing its position as the fourth best-selling video game franchise of all time, trailing only Mario, Call of Duty, and Tetris. The franchise's reach extends far beyond the screen: a long-running anime series, a slate of theatrical films, and a vast merchandise ecosystem have made Pokémon a cultural touchstone across generations. The mobile spin-off Pokémon Go pushed the brand into the physical world, accumulating over one billion downloads worldwide. This multi-platform, multi-decade presence—spanning role-playing adventures, action titles, puzzle games, fighting games, and digital pet experiences developed by a variety of studios—has ensured that Pokémon remains not merely a video game series but a global media institution with an almost unmatched shelf life.

Generational Cycles & the Spin-off Universe

The core Pokémon series is structured in generations, each introducing an entirely new roster of creatures, a fresh storyline, and a new cast of characters, with the games following Nintendo's handheld hardware roadmap. The most recent core entry, Pokémon Legends: Z-A, launched on October 16, 2025, for both the Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo Switch 2, and notably shifts the battle system from the franchise's traditional turn-based format to a real-time model where players and their Pokémon move freely across the field. Remakes of earlier titles typically arrive roughly a decade after the originals, reimagined for whatever console is current at the time. Beyond Game Freak's mainline RPGs, a rich ecosystem of spin-off games has been produced by multiple studios, branching into action role-playing, puzzle, fighting, and digital pet genres. Creatures, the company that supports Game Freak with 3D modeling and co-owns The Pokémon Company, also develops select spin-off titles. This layered structure—core games anchoring each generation while peripheral titles explore new mechanics—keeps the franchise's creative output diverse and continuously evolving.

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