Pokémon (game series)

Pokémon is a game series that has been an influence on Smosh since the channel's beginning with the deleted video Pokemon Theme Music Video in 2005. On Smosh Games, it has been featured on Top 5, Gamer Nation, and Why We're Single.

Game Information
Pokémon is a series of fighting strategy puzzle RPGs developed primarily by Game Freak and published by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. The games are commonly released in pairs, each with slight variations, with an enhanced remake of the games usually released a few years after the original versions. While the main series consists of role-playing games, spinoffs encompass other genres, such as action RPG, puzzle, and digital pet games.

As of February 2016, more than 279 million Pokémon games have been sold worldwide, more than 200 million of which from the main series. This makes Pokémon the third best-selling video game franchise, behind  and . The game series is the basis of the Pokémon franchise, which includes the anime, Trading Card Game, manga, and various toys.

Core series

 * Pokémon Red and Blue are 1996 role-playing games developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy and the first installments of the Pokémon franchise. The player controls the protagonist, a boy named Red, and navigates him throughout the Kanto region in a quest to master Pokémon battling. The goal is to become the champion of the Indigo League by defeating the eight Gym Leaders and then the Elite Four. Another objective is to complete the Pokédex, by obtaining the 150 available Pokémon.
 * Pokémon Gold and Silver are 1991 role-playing games developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Color. They introduce 100 new species of Pokémon, and follow the progress of the central character in his quest to master Pokémon battling. Both games are independent of each other but feature largely the same plot and, while both can be played separately, it is necessary to trade between them and their backward compatible predecessors in order to fully complete the games' Pokédexes.
 * Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire are 2003 role-playing games developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Advance. The gameplay is mostly unchanged and the controls are largely the same. The main objectives are to catch all of the Pokémon and defeat the Elite Four; the main subplot involves the main character defeating a criminal organization that attempts to take over the region. New features, such as double battles and Pokémon abilities along with 135 new Pokémon, have been added.
 * Pokémon Diamond and Pearl are 2007 role-playing games developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS. Like previous games, Diamond and Pearl chronicle the adventures of a young Pokémon who trains and battles Pokémon while also thwarting the schemes of a criminal organization. The games add many new features, such as Internet play over the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection and changes to battle mechanics and Pokémon Contests, along with addition of 107 new Pokémon. It is still necessary to trade between the two games to capture all Pokémon.
 * Pokémon Black and White are 2011 role-playing games developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS. Similar to previous games, the two games follow the journey of a young Pokémon trainer through the Unova region as they battle and train Pokémon while thwarting the schemes of the criminal organization Team Plasma. Black and White introduces 156 new Pokémon, as well as many new features, including a seasonal cycle, rotation battles, fully animated Pokémon sprites, and triple battles. As usual, trading between the games is necessary to complete the Pokédex.
 * Pokémon X and Y are 2013 role-playing games developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS. Each game follows the journey of a young Pokémon trainer and his friends as they train Pokémon. Set in the France-based Kalos region, the objective being to thwart the nefarious criminal organization Team Flare, all while attempting to challenge the Pokémon League Champion. X and Y introduces 72 new Pokémon species, and includes new features such as the new Fairy type, character customization, updated battle and training mechanics, and completely rendered polygonal 3D graphics. Mega Evolution allows players to further evolve many species of fully evolved Pokémon, with 30 evolutions currently available. Trading Pokémon between the two games is, as with past titles, necessary ito obtain every Pokémon species.
 * Pokémon Sun and Moon are 2016 role-playing games developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS. Set in the Hawaii-based Alola region, the objective is to thwart Team Skull, and later the Aether Foundation, all while challenge various Pokémon trainers of gradually increasing difficulty. The games introduces 81 new Pokémon, and includes new features such as Alolan forms of previous generation Pokémon, powerful moves known as Z-Moves, powerful creatures called Ultra Beasts, updated battle and training mechanics, and improved graphics. The games also adopted Mega Evolution.

Spin-offs

 * Pokémon Stadium is a 2000 strategy game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. Gameplay is built around a 3D turn-based battling system using the 151 Pokémon from Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow. Using the Transfer Pak accessory bundled with the game, players can to view, organize, store, trade, and battle with their own Pokémon uploaded from Red, Blue, and Yellow. One main focu is completion of the four stadium cups, each of which is a series of three-on-three Pokémon battles against an ordered lineup of opponents. Another battle mode called Gym Leader Castle allows battles against the eight Kanto gym leaders and the Elite Four. Other features of Pokémon Stadium include mini-games, versus-style battles, a hall of fame, compatibility with the Game Boy Printer, and a built-in emulation function for Red, Blue, and Yellow.
 * PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond is a 2012 action-adventure game developed by Creatures Inc. and published by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company for the Wii. It is the sequel to 2010's PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure. In the game, Pikachu has journeyed to a new PokéPark with his best friend Piplup. They are introduced to the Wish Park, but later find out that it is impossible to escape the park. Like the first game, Wonders Beyond was met with mixed reception.
 * Pokémon Snap is a 1999 first-person rail shooter and simulation game co-developed by HAL Laboratory and Pax Softnica and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. The gameplay is similar to other first-person games, viewing from the perspective of protagonist Todd Snap as he moves automatically on a rail. The objective is to take pictures of Pokémon, using items such as apples and "pester balls" to achieve better shots. After each round, players are judged based on the quality of their photos.
 * Pokkén Tournament is a 2016 fighting game developed by Bandai Namco Studios and published by Nintendo for the Wii U. The game combines gameplay elements from Bandai Namco's Tekken series with characters from the Pokémon franchise. An enhanced port for the Nintendo Switch, titled Pokkén Tournament DX (Deluxe), was released in 2017.
 * Pokémon GO is a free-to-play, location-based augmented reality mobile game developed by Niantic. TIt utilizes the player's mobile device's GPS ability to locate, capture, battle, and train virtual Pokémon, which appear on the screen as if they were at the same real-world location as the player. The game features a freemium business model and supports in-app purchases for additional in-game items.