Pokémon is a long-running series of Japanese Role Playing Games, developed by Game Freak and published by video game giant Nintendo, which spawned a multi-billion-dollar media franchise—the highest-grossing of all time, in fact—and indirectly caused the proliferation of Western broadcasts of anime in the mid-to-late 1990s, along with Dragon Ball and Sailor Moon.
Released in Japan in February of 1996 for the Game Boy, Pokémon (or in Japan, Pocket Monsters) came in two versions: Red and Green. The idea of the game is to run around and battle wild Mons with your own, catch them with hand-held balls, and teach them to battle (non-lethally) with each other under the guidance of human Trainers for fun and profit. The original idea was for an artificial form of insect collecting for kids that lived in cities and thus couldn't participate in such a hobby (as the original creator was a bug collector when he was a kid), with the paired versions providing incentive for players to get together and trade Mons with their friends (but more on that later).
The strategy in the gameplay comes from two factors. First of all, there's an ambitiously large Elemental Rock-Paper-Scissors setup. 15 (later 17, and now 18note ) different elements are in play, and some species of Pokémon belong to two elements instead of just one, which can neutralize or compound the elements' respective resistances or weak points. Pokémon aren't strictly limited to moves of their elemental type either,note but can learn almost any move the particular creature might reasonably be capable of executing (like Water Pokémon using Ice-type moves, or Dragon Pokémon using Fire-type moves), and sometimes ones they aren't (a plesiosaur-like creature learning to eat dreams and shoot lightning? Okay!).
The second factor is the strict move limit: each of your Pokémon can only know four moves at once, out of a large movepool that they can learn from. This was hampered in the first generation by balance issues leading to some elements and species becoming obvious Game-Breakers, but later generations have made many strides in balancing them out, most notably with the addition of new types: Dark, Steel, and Fairy. Other restrictions placed on the player are the number of Pokémon one can have on a given team, which is no more than six at a time. Other mechanics introduced in later generations, such as items that Pokémon can hold and abilities they can possess, are also limited, but serve to increase depth in strategy.
The plot of each main-series game is typically a quest To Be a Master; the player is given one Pokémon to start their team with, then proceeds to take on the region's "Pokémon League" by catching new Pokémon, defeating other Pokémon trainers in battles (most importantly your childhood friend and rival), challenging type-specialist Gym Leaders and collecting Gym Badges, and ultimately battling the Elite Four to become the regional League Champion. During your journey, you also manage to single-handedly take down some kind of crime syndicate (and/or save the world) at some point along the way, and capture really powerful Pokémon that the local legends are based on.
While these aren't necessarily the greatest stories ever told, the games are certainly enjoyable, especially if you have friends that also play the games. This is because the completion of the in-game storyline, Bonus Dungeons and filling out the game's Pokédex only comprise part of the gameplay. The rest of the game (or as some insist, the only point of the game) is the one-on-one Competitive Multiplayer. Not only are the player's Pokémon usable against the in-game opponents, these same Pokémon can be pitted against Pokémon trained by other live players of the game. As such, players can continue to train and catch Pokémon in order to have the best team among their peers. To further facilitate interaction between players, Pokémon can also be traded between games, and certain Pokémon can only be obtained by trading. That is the rationale behind releasing different versions of the game, as each version has certain Pokémon that were exclusive to it, and trading is the only way to get those exclusives in the other version.
To say that the brand took off like a (Team) rocket would be an understatement. Part of its success is down to the fact that with each generation, you must have access to (through purchase or a friend) at least two games to complete your Pokédex, trading with another player, and you both need Game Boys and alternate copies of the game. Despite being a relatively young series, the franchise is the second-best-selling video game franchise of all time, by a wide margin,note and is only beaten by its older brother, the Mario franchise. And that's just as a game franchise; as stated above, as a wider media franchise, it is literally the most profitable thing ever, having expanded early on with a Collectible Card Game, various manga, and an on-going anime series that is just as notable as the games. It was even amongst the first of Nintendo's stable of games to be represented in the original Super Smash Bros. (which was the first appearance of characters from the franchise on the Nintendo 64 in the Western world as the franchise had arrived in the West literally just months before) where not only are Pokémon like Pikachu playable fighters, but a larger selection are summonable during battle (one of the earlier summonable Pokémon, Charizard, was later upgraded to playable in Super Smash Bros. Brawl).note
The franchise received a live-action film from Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros. (the latter of which previously distributed the first three anime films in the West) called Pokémon Detective Pikachu in 2019, based off the Detective Pikachu spin-off game. It is the first live-action entry of the franchise to be officially licensed, and the first live-action media related to Pokémon since the short-lived Pokémon Live! concert tour in the United States (besides the 20th anniversary Pokémon commercial shown during Super Bowl 50).
The Pokémon Company is known as one of two major corporate entities with a mouse as mascot (Pikachu). The other is the Walt Disney Company (Mickey Mouse), which owned Miramax at the time it picked up several Pokémon anime films for release in the Western world, and is the owner of Disney XD, which was the American home for English-dubbed anime episodes during the Sun and Moon series.
You can visit the official website(s) (Japanese, English/Worldwide), as well as the official YouTube account (Japanese, English), Tumblr account (English), Twitter account (Japanese, English), and Facebook account (Japanese, English). See also Game Freak's official website (here, in Japanese), and Junichi Masuda's blog (which contains content regarding the Pokémon series — Japanese; English).
- Generation I (Game Boy)
- Pokémon Red Version and Blue Version (Blue Version is known as Green Version in Japan; 1996 Japan (JP)/1998 United States (US))
- Pokémon Blue Version (1996 JP)
- Pokémon Yellow Version (1998 JP/1999 US)
- Generation II (Game Boy and Game Boy Color)
- Pokémon Gold Version and Silver Version (1999 JP/2000 US)
- Pokémon Crystal Version (2000 JP/2001 US)
- Generation III (Game Boy Advance)
- Pokémon Ruby Version and Sapphire Version (2002 JP/2003 US)
- Pokémon Emerald Version (2004 JP/2005 US)
- Pokémon FireRed Version and LeafGreen Version (Remake of Pokémon Red and Blue Versions, 2004)
- Generation IV (Nintendo DS)
- Pokémon Diamond Version and Pearl Version (2006 JP/2007 US)
- Pokémon Platinum Version (2008 JP/2009 US)
- Pokémon HeartGold Version and SoulSilver Version (Remake of Pokémon Gold and Silver Versions, 2009 JP/2010 US)
- Generation V (Nintendo DS)
- Pokémon Black Version and White Version (2010 JP/2011 US)
- Pokémon Black Version 2 and White Version 2 (2012)
- Generation VI (Nintendo 3DS)
- Pokémon X and Y (2013)
- Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire (Remake of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire Versions, 2014)
- Generation VII (Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo Switch)
- Pokémon Sun and Moon (2016)
- Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon (2017)
- Pokémon Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! (Remake of Pokémon Yellow Version, 2018)
- Generation VIII (Nintendo Switch)
- Pokémon Sword and Shield (2019)
- Pokémon Sword and Shield Expansion Pass (DLC for Pokémon Sword and Shield, 2020)
- Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl (Remake of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Versions, 2021)
- Pokémon Legends: Arceus (2022)
- Pokémon Sword and Shield (2019)
- Generation IX (Nintendo Switch)
- Pokémon Scarlet and Violet (2022)
- Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero (DLC for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, 2023)
- Pokemon Legends ZA (2025)
- Pokémon Scarlet and Violet (2022)
- Pokémon Trading Card Game (1998) (a.k.a. Pokémon Card GB)
- Pokémon Card GB 2: Here Comes Team GR! (Japan only)
- Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket
- Pokémon Snap
- Pokémon Pinball
- Pokémon Pinball: Ruby and Sapphire
- Pokémon Puzzle League
- Pokémon Puzzle Challenge
- Pokémon Stadium
- Pokémon Stadium 2
- Pokémon Battle Revolution
- Hey You, Pikachu!
- Pokémon Channel
- Pokémon mini
- Pokémon Colosseum
- Pokémon Dash
- Pokémon Ranger series
- Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series
- Pokémon Trozei!
- Pokémon Battle Trozei!
- Pokémon Shuffle
- My Pokémon Ranch
- Pokémon Rumble series
- PokéPark Wii
- PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond
- Learn with Pokémon: Typing Adventure
- Pokémon Conquest
- Pokkén Tournament
- Pokémon Picross
- Pokémon GO
- Detective Pikachu
- Pokémon Tretta
- Pokémon Ga-Olé
- Pokémon Duel (a.k.a. Pokémon Co-Master)
- Pokémon: Magikarp Jump
- Pokémon Art Academy
- Pokémon Playhouse
- Pokémon Quest
- Pokémon Masters
- Pokémon Smile
- Pokémon Café Mix
- Pokémon Unite
- Pokémon Sleep
- Animation:
- Pokémon: The Series anime
- Pokémon: The Original Series
- Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire
- Pokémon Chronicles
- Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl
- Pokémon the Series: Black & White
- Pokémon the Series: XY
- Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon
- Pokémon Journeys: The Series
- Pokémon Horizons: The Series
- Pokémon anime films:
- Pokémon: The First Movie
- Pokémon 2000
- Pokémon 3
- Pokémon: Mewtwo Returns
- Pokémon 4Ever
- Pokémon Heroes
- Pokémon: Jirachi: Wish Maker
- Pokémon: Destiny Deoxys
- Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew
- Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea
- Pokémon: The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon
- Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai
- Pokémon: Giratina and the Sky Warrior
- Pokémon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life
- Pokémon: Zoroark: Master of Illusions
- Pokémon: The Movie Black/White
- Pokémon: Kyurem vs. The Sword of Justice
- Pokémon: Genesect and the Legend Awakened
- Pokémon: Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction
- Pokémon: Hoopa and the Clash of Ages
- Pokémon: Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel
- Pokémon: I Choose You!
- Pokémon: The Power of Us
- Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution
- Pokémon: Secrets of the Jungle
- Pokémon Black 2 and White 2: Introduction Movie
- Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire Animated Trailer
- Pokémon Origins
- Pokémon Generations
- Pokémon: Twilight Wings
- GOTCHA! (music video)
- Pokétoon
- Pokémon Evolutions
- Bidoof's Big Stand (animated short)
- Pokémon: Hisuian Snow
- Pokémon: Path to the Peak
- Pokémon: Paldean Winds
- Pokémon Concierge
- Pokémon: The Series anime
- Tabletop Games
- Manga:
- Pocket Monsters
- Pokémon Adventures (aka "Pokémon Special")
- Pokémon Getto Da Ze!
- The Electric Tale of Pikachu
- Magical Pokémon Journey
- Pokémon Zensho
- How I Became a Pokémon Card
- Pokémon Golden Boys
- Pocket Monsters Emerald Challenge!! Battle Frontier
- Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Ginji's Rescue Team
- Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl Adventure!
- Phantom Thief Pokémon 7
- Pocket Monsters HGSS - Jou's Big Adventure
- Pocket Monsters BW: The Heroes of Fire and Thunder
- Pokémon RéBURST
- Pokémon Horizon
- Other:
- Pocket Monsters: The Animation (books (titled "The Animation" because they're adaptations of the anime))
- It's a White Tomorrow, Team Rocket! (radio drama)
- Pokémon 2.B.A. Master (music)
- Pokémon Christmas Bash (music)
- Pokémon Live! (stage show)
- Pokémon Pikachu (Virtual Pet toy)
- Pokémon Sunday (TV show)
- A Sneak Peek at Pokémon (promotional video)
- Pokémon: The Birth of Mewtwo (radio drama)
- Pokémon Detective Pikachu (live action film adaptation of Detective Pikachu)
- Pokémon Learning League
- Pack Your Pocket With Adventure
- Super Smash Bros. (The series has been represented since the first installment.)
- amiibo (A few Pokémon amiibo have been released, and some games unlock Pokémon-themed content based on those amiibo.)
- Also see Fan Works