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In a new press release from audio electronics company Altec Lansing, it was revealed that GameShark is returning, sort of via an artificial intelligence-powered successor called “AI Shark” You don’t care about that. Instead, the big news out of this press release is that it might have leaked the release date for the Nintendo Switch 2. – Zack Zwiezen Read More
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Bird Pokemon make up an extremely large portion of the Flying Type roster, with many of them being common contenders for many Trainers Pokemon teams due to commonly being available at their first form in early routes of each Region. However, bird Pokemon are often overlooked in favor of cuter, cuddlier creatures, so we’ve rounded up ten of the best feathery friends to bring them the love and attention they deserve.
Look at this majestic beast, is there any wonder why it was worthy of receiving a Mega Evolution? Absolutely not. Plus, as one of the original 151 Kanto Pokemon and the final form of Pidgey, the little bird native to the first few routes, Pidgeot holds a special place in the hearts of many. Mega Pidgeot only adds to the appeal, giving this fierce, feathered friend an extra element of badassery with the bright red and blue feathers that spout from its head and tail.
Staraptor has always been the cool kid of the bird Pokemon crew, and for good reason. I mean look at this edgy guy, he just screams badassery – how could you not love him? Stararptor was also an absolute beast on Ash’s team in the Diamond and Pearl era of the anime, which only adds to the appeal. Honestly, this birb has the best of both worlds, sporting both a ridiculously cool design as well as having great potential for a member of your team on any Sinnoh Region playthrough. Trust me, you’ll want to make sure you catch Staraptor, as this guy can deliver damage with Brave Bird!
Chatot is often overlooked, as it is somewhat forgettable. This poor guy has no evolution line and isn’t all that great when it comes to battle potential, but that doesn’t mean Chatot doesn’t deserve some serious recognition as one of the best birds of all time. After all, this little parrot-like critter is capable of learning to speak human words, making it the only other ‘Mon capable of doing so, apart from Team Rocket’s Meowth. Chatot also ensures safety by mimicking the cries of other Pokemon so that they will refrain from attacking it. A smart birb is best birb!
Corviknight is the regional bird of Galar and the final evolved form of Rookidee. This birb, however, stands out for being one of the featured ‘Mons to receive a Gigantamax form. Corviknight is also incredibly intelligent, and a strong flyer, owning the skies of Galar with their skills – so much so that they’re used as the Galar Region’s airborne taxi service. I mean, come on, tell me you wouldn’t want to hitch a ride with this spooky-looking steel-feathered birb!
Talonflame is well-known among many Fire and Flying Type enthusiasts and was commonly used on the teams of many in the Kalos Region era of games. Talonflame here is one speedy boi, being able to reach speeds of up to 310 mph. However, not only is this fiery feathered foe quick in the skies – Talonflame is also a deadly predator. This ‘Mon is known to feast on other, smaller birds, such as Wingull and Pikipek. Damn, that’s absolutely brutal! Talk about the top of the food chart, much?
You may be surprised that Murkrow is here on the list over its evolved form, Honchkrow. And while Honchkrow is one badass Dark Type bird without a doubt, Murkrow here deserves just as much, or more recognition for holding down the fort. You see, Murkrow here was released in Generation 2, the Johto Region, where it was a viable pick. It wasn’t until Generation 4’s Sinnoh Region when Honchkrow was released, meaning for those years in between, Murkrow survived (or even thrived) as a ‘Mon with no evolution line.
This is a rare feat, as these Pokemon are often overlooked and forgotten, but not our shadowy little bird buddy. Little ol’ Murkrow here is widely known and feared by many in Johto due to fables regarding its presence. In reality, though, this guy is a bit of a trash digger, collecting and hoarding anything with the slightest shine. How could you not love the little dude?
Ah, yes. The Robin Hood bird of the Pokemon world. No, seriously though, Decidueye is one badass Grass owl. The Pokedex states that Decidueye here is capable of firing arrow quills from its wings with such precision, that they can pierce a pebble at distances over a hundred yards. On top of this, Decidueye can nock and fire an arrow at an enemy in a tenth of a second – that’s some seriously impressive archer skills!
Aww, c’mon, who couldn’t love this fuzzy little friend? Starter ‘Mons tend to be as popular as they come within the Pokemon franchise, but Torchic here really is an adorable little critter who holds a special place in the hearts of many who chose it as their starter in Generation 3’s Hoenn Region. Not only is this baby chicken an adorable, fluffy Fire Type, but they are also very loyal and lovable, sticking close to their Trainers with clumsy steps. Also, bonus info: if you hug Torchic, it will glow with warmth. Isn’t that the most adorable thing ever? You’re welcome.
Hisuain Braviary is one badass bird, for multiple reasons. First of all, this guy is one of the biggest bird Pokemon in existence, standing at a whopping five feet! If that wasn’t enough to make this intimidating birb a fearsome flier then perhaps its hunting behaviors will do the trick.
Whilst letting out bloodcurdling battle cries, Hisuian Braviary sends a blast of shock waves to lakes, zapping its prey alive. It will then follow up by snatching up any poor victims that float to the water’s surface. I mean, hey, this is actually kinda admirable, as it seems Hisuian Braviary has the whole work smarter, not harder thing down.
Now this list wouldn’t be complete without the Legendary Bird trio. Not only are these three ‘Mons a part of the original 151 Kantonian specimens, but they are also literally big, powerful, Legendary birbs. Each one of these birds is impressive, powerful, and endearing in different ways, but together, this trio is one of the most iconic within the entire Pokemon franchise, there’s no doubt about it.
Each member of this trio has qualities of a single element – Fire, Ice, and Lightning. Articuno is an elegant Ice and Flying Dual-Type known for causing snow to fall as it flies, Zapdos is a shocking yellow Electric and Flying Dual-Type with spiked feathers known for causing lightning showers, and Moltres is a big, flaming chicken-like Fire and Flying specimen, known for flapping its wings to release flames that turn the sky red.
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A new report says Unity is cutting around 1,800 jobs, or about 25 percent of the its employees, according to a regulatory filing and internal company memo obtained by Reuters on Monday.
This is reportedly the largest round of layoffs in the software company’s history—far larger than what happened in November of last year—and it will be completed by the end of March. Unity has gone through three prior rounds of layoffs within the last 12 months.
“We are … reducing the number of things we are doing in order to focus on our core business and drive our long-term success and profitability,” interim CEO Jim Whitehurst wrote in an internal memo obtained by Reuters. The memo was sent to all Unity employees on January 8.
Kotaku has contacted Unity Software for comment.
Unity Software’s main product is the Unity engine, a flexible and popular game engine that powers numerous big and small games—including Hearthstone and Pokemon GO. The company was at the center of a massive controversy last September when it announced changes to how it would charge developers and publishers to use its tech. Devs would potentially be on the hook to pay for every install, which could be costly for free-to-play mobile hits or popular games on platforms like Steam. Following the failed rollout of these changes, a huge backlash from developers quickly followed. It grew so loud that eventually the company apologized and walked back most of its new plans.
In October, shortly after this all happened, Unity’s then-CEO John Ricetello resigned. That’s when the current interim CEO, Whitehurst, took over the company. In November, during the last round of layoffs, the new CEO claimed the company needed a “reset.”
These latest layoffs continue a horrible trend in the video game industry that saw an estimated 6,000 jobs lost during 2023. And it seems things aren’t going to get better in 2024.
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Gamers are a passionate bunch, and we’re no exception. These are the week’s most interesting perspectives on the wild, wonderful, and sometimes weird world of video game news.
If you tried to venture to your local Target for some groceries or perhaps a discounted appliance this past Wednesday, January 3, you might have noticed a massive line snaking around its brick edifice. Based on historical reasons why a huge congregation of people would wait outside a retailer in the wee hours of the morning, you might have thought it was for a new Pokémon card set, or maybe a rare Nintendo bundle. But no, instead, the line of people standing (and fighting) in line are trying to buy a portable cup. Yes, a drinking cup. – Alyssa Mercante Read More
We asked and you answered. Some games and franchises, no matter how popular they are, just don’t make the cut for some of us, and we wanted to know which ones just don’t click with you. – Claire Jackson Read More
Back in November, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio head Masayoshi Yokoyama said that Infinite Wealth was the biggest game in the series yet. He described it to Japan’s Game Watch as a “monster-class game longer than anything we’ve made so far.” Eep. The series is known for its ostentatious helpings of optional content, and while main stories usually run around 20-30 hours, it’s awfully easy to double that playtime if you get sucked into minigames and sidequests. Do you have 80 hours to play a new Yakuza game? I sure don’t! But I’m sure I’ll manage to find it somehow. – Jen Glennon Read More
We all have our favorite franchises and one-and-done games, be it classics like Super Mario Bros., Final Fantasy, Tetris, or more modern series like The Last of Us, Halo, or Uncharted Others we happily play, but they don’t become go-to favorites. And then there are those games that we’re just so definitely, clearly, absolutely sure are not for us that we can go on at length as to why. – Claire Jackson Read More
Like too many movements, there’s a thing the alt-right does that’s pretty essential to its survival: it obfuscates everything it believes in overlapping layers of irony. No one involved is in any form of agreement over which aspects are irony and which are sincerely held beliefs, which only adds to this bizarro wall of gibberish that protects it from any form of intellectual scrutiny. Yes, some of them absolutely believe there’s a pedophile ring being run out of a pizza parlor in Washington, D.C., and would die in the cause’s name. Others, meanwhile, laugh at you for thinking that’s really a thing the alt-right believes, you libtard idiot cuck. Apply the same to every other element of their clusterfuck of deranged and bigoted beliefs. – John Walker Read More
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Generation 1 is where everything began for Pokemon, marking the debut of the 151 original specimens. For this reason, Gen 1 is often held in high regard as the most beloved Generation for longtime Pokemon fans.
However, this doesn’t mean that all Kanto ‘Mons are as popular as the iconic Charizard, Venusaur, and Blastoise or franchise mascot, Pikachu. We’ve rounded up ten Gen 1 Pokemon who often go unnoticed by fans, and deserve much more love and attention than they receive.
Poliwrath is the original final form of the Poliwag evolution line, carrying a fun Dual-Typing of Water and Fighting. Unfortunately for this bulky, brawling tadpole, Poliwrath here has since become quite overshadowed by its cooler younger brother, Politoed. Sure, Politoed is considered to be a ‘king’, and can gather a pack of Poliwag and Poliwhirl to its side by simply calling out, but Poliwrath has its unique appeal, too.
This absolute beast has muscles that will never grow fatigued, no matter how much it exercises, and can even use these muscles to run on water for a short second. C’mon, this ‘Mon is an absolute powerhouse! It deserves just as much attention as Politoed, at the very least.
Cute aquatic friend alert! That’s right, who remembers Dewgong? I certainly do! This adorable friend is the evolved form of Seel, and an Ice and Water Dual-Type introduced alongside the other Gen 1 specimens. This critter isn’t just a cute face it seems, as it has some seriously impressive skills and abilities, too.
Firstly, Dewgong here is unharmed by even the most intense cold and is capable of swimming powerfully through icy waters and oceans. Dewgong can also store thermal energy in its body and maintain a swimming speed of eight knots even in intensely cold waters. That’s seriously impressive, and most Trainers don’t even recognize this speedy seal friend for what it is!
Aw, just look at this smol little guy. How could anyone possibly forget about the adorable Abra? This Pokemon is like an alien kangaroo pet that I’d (obviously) take in a heartbeat if it were real. Seriously, though; Abra has become much more overshadowed with the addition of recent Pokemon Gens, as there are now many more psychic powerhouse lines to keep up with the Abra line.
This is a disappointment, though, as Alakazam was once undoubtedly one of the most popular 151 Pokemon, and now Abra, who is pretty much baby Alakazam, seems to be long forgotten. Sure, Abra may be a total scaredy cat only capable of fleeing through Teleport, but that doesn’t make him any less endearing — give this little guy the love he deserves!
Look, I get it. Dodrio isn’t the most badass Pokemon in the world at first glance, sporting the appearance of a big, fuzzy bird Cerberus…birberus? But honestly, this big fuzzball is pretty damn cool. Just imagine some big, overgrown chicken-looing monster running towards you at 40 mph. Yep, that’s right — Dodrio can get some serious speed going.
Not only that, but this three-headed beast has a head to represent joy, sadness, and anger, and combines the power of these three brains to collect data, then establish and execute complex plans. Smart and speedy? This birb is truly underrated!
Psyduck has forever been one of the more popular Pokemon due to how lovable its forever confused demeanor is. However, this very same little confused and stressed-out duck evolves into one of the most badass Gen 1 Water Types, Golduck. Golduck is a fiercely fast swimmer thanks to its streamlined body shape and webbed arms and legs, enabling it to sim non-stop for up to two days straight.
Because of Golduck’s abilities in the water, it is often mistaken for the mythological creature known as the Kappa, which only adds another element of coolness to this ‘Mon. Honestly, Golduck is the perfect combination of elegance and badassery and deserves to be recognized as so.
Sandshrew is such a cute little critter, and I will forever stand by this claim. Seriously, is Sandshrew not the most adorable armadillo-like creature you’ve ever seen? This wee Ground Type is known to curl up into a ball when threatened, which can cause any attack to bounce off harmlessly. I don’t know about you, but that certainly sounds like a powerful survival ability for a first-form Pokemon.
Incoming Explosion attack? Sandshrew can apparently curl up and just tank the blow. Talk about impressive! Unfortunately, this desert-dweller has been forgotten in the most recent Pokemon era, with the snowy Alolan form of this ‘Mon taking up much more of the limelight.
Look, Pokemon wouldn’t be Pokemon without the addition of a few weird or silly creatures here and there, and Lickitung was among some of the first to emerge from the franchise. This Normal Type is literally known as the Licking Pokemon, using its massive tongue to dish out iconic attacks such as Lick, Wrap, and Belly Drum.
This silly guy has a squishy-shaped body and face with beady little eyes, which makes it look both lovable and dorky all at once. Plus, Lickitung’s tongue is twice the size of its body and can be used as a third arm. This friendly ‘Mon is one of the funniest creatures in the franchise and deserves much more love.
Next up is Seaking, who is perhaps the best giant goldfish to exist. How could you not love that funny fish face? Seriously though, there are a lot of fishy ‘Mons in existence, and not many of them are all that appealing to look at (I’m looking at you, Bruxish…). However, Seaking here is definitely one of the nicer-looking fishies in the Pokemon world. On top of this, Seaking is totally badass, as far as goldfish go. This guy has a little horn that can spin like a drill, enabling Seaking here to bash its way through ocean boulders and riverbed rocks. Can we just appreciate how cool this scaly fin friend is?
Look, even I’m guilty of forgetting about Exeggutor from time to time, but I love this silly Pokemon. I mean, it’s literally a giant, living, breathing, palm tree with three silly faces. These three heads think independently but are all as friendly as one another. I mean, just look at those big eyes and mouths, so full of expression.
Funnily enough, these heads are also capable of falling off from their tree body, and if this is to happen, any fallen heads will become an Exeggcute. This is probably the most hilarious circle of life depiction ever, which makes Exeggutor an absolute gem.
Tangela is another often forgotten, but highly endearing and amusing ‘Mon, hiding its true form behind a mass of vines. All that we can see are Tangela’s red little feet and big eyes, which makes it seem like quite a shy, cute Pokemon. In some parts of the Galar Region, Tangela’s vines are even used as herbs, as they emit a scent and break off naturally and painlessly.
There’s something so mysterious about this critter, and that makes Tangela entirely lovable. Let’s not forget to show our little vine guy the love!
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Pokémon’s profit margins probably don’t reflect it, but the franchise had a rough year in 2023. Without a new mainline role-playing game to dominate the series’ headlines, Pikachu and friends were, instead, shrouded in controversies throughout the past 12 months. Between Pokémon Go angering swaths of its community, scalpers making a public embarrassment of the franchise to people who don’t even pay attention to it, and Scarlet and Violet’s DLC underlining the problems ingrained within the Pokémon pipeline, the screws are coming loose on the hype train. – Kenneth Shepard Read More
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Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are full of numerous Trainers with unique styles, Type preferences, and personalities. With so many bright and vibrant character designs, Generation 9 very quickly became recognized by players for having the best collection of character designs in a single Gen.
To highlight some of these phenomenal concepts, we’ve befriended ten lucky individuals from Paldea to discuss, so follow along below.
Kieran’s design is arguably one of the more interesting concepts in the game; in the Teal Mask DLC, he’s got that classic, emo kid energy with his messy black hair, complete with purple strands underneath for extra edgy points. Kieran’s outfit is very simple, being a variation of the Blueberry Academy uniform — however, it’s not this that makes him stand out, but more so the fact that he’s the only character to receive two different designs.
In the Indigo Disk DLC, Kieran has undergone some changes, wearing a much sportier set of clothes to indicate his new, brutal training schedule. On top of this, his hair has been pulled back from his face, which changes the coloring to show off the purple undertones in full. Both of Kieran’s designs perfectly balance simplicity with the harmony of complementary colors, which makes his appearance interesting and easy to identify. Considering lil’ Kiki here has two successful designs, he deserves his rightful place on this list, without a doubt.
Drayton is one of several new characters added via the Indigo Disk DLC, carrying a preference for Dragon Type Pokemon. This is hinted throughout his design with subtle elements, such as the flowy, cape-like garment he wears around his waist, and his horn/scale-shaped hairstyle.
On top of his love for Dragons, Drayton also gets some bonus points for having a Maschiff design on his jacket simply because who doesn’t love doggos? Drayton also has a strong silhouette that portrays his confidence, and his clothing is a great mix of Academy uniform with unique additions, which helps him stand out from the crowd of other NPCs.
Iono is the Electric Type Gym Leader in Paldea and also has a secondary job as a streamer, so I’d say Pokemon hit the nail on the head with her design. She has that comfy, yet stylish attire that so many streamers and content creators are known to love, and even has bright, funky-colored hair split in hues of pastel pink and blue, which is a bit of an e-girl classic, at this point.
However, there are also some really interesting additions to this attire to indicate her Type preference and add some originality, such as her shark-like teeth, screw-like parts of her shoes, and of course, her big Magnemite hair accessories — which can detach and float around her. Or…maybe these are actual Magnemites that have been painted to match her hair? Either way, they make her very interesting and certainly add to her silhouette, making Iono one of several characters who stand out in the Paldea Region the most.
Grusha has been a beloved Pokemon Scarlet and Violet character ever since he was first teased in one of many trailers leading up to the game’s release and for good reason. I mean, just look at his design — Grusha is so simple, yet interesting.
His design clearly portrays the presence of Ice Typing, and the chosen color palette makes him appear cold, yet warm and approachable still. That Poke Ball scarf? An absolute highlight. If I were Grusha, I’d be snuggling into it and letting it cover my face, too.
Crispin is another character introduced in the Indigo Disk DLC, and once again portrays perfect clarity in his design through his simple details and color palette. Right from first glance, before we even witness him speak, we can tell that this guy is a passionate cook — his Blueberry uniform is modified into a chef coat, and he’s holding his best battle stance with that frypan.
On top of this, Crispin’s Fire Type preference is indicated through subtle additions of red, yellow, and orange, such as his scarf, shoes, hair, and the trim of his coat.
Jacq has that perfect nerdy, quirky teacher appearance, complete with a very nice color palette of purple hues. His biology and teaching roots are indicated with the numerous books he carries in his hand and coat pockets, and the room phone sitting in his shirt pocket.
The hexagon-shaped glasses and rips in his pants are a nice little touch of detail that adds to his character, and the dad sandals honestly just complete Jacq’s entire vibe as he he takes on a step-in father figure approach and runs around after his class, making sure they’re all healthy and happy.
Brassius is the Grass Type Gym Leader in Paldea, and in my opinion, perhaps the best Grass Type Gym Leader design of all time. His entire design is themed around thorns and vines, and this is pulled with great success. The thorn-like spines in his shirt, the belt wound around his body, and even his hair; everything is shaped like a thorn, which adds to his silhouette and makes him stand out while also keeping things strongly related to his Type usage in the perfect way.
Brassius’ design isn’t overcomplicated, either, which is quite impressive. A concept such as this would be easy to go full send on and make everything super busy and complex, yet Brassius here remains eye-catching, easy to read, and interesting, holding just the right amount of mystery to make you want to know more.
Atticus certainly stands out as being one of the brightest and bold character designs in the entire Pokemon franchise. Don’t let this overwhelm you, though — this dude’s appearance fits his personality and background perfectly, and once examined, it becomes obvious that this is one of the most interesting designs in all of Scarlet and Violet.
Atticus is said to be a descendant of ninjas, hence his unique attire. However, he’s also modernized his take on ninja wear by adding his touches — black and white chest straps, bright coloring, and sludge-like patterns to indicate his Poison Typing and a hood that creates an illusion of dripping poison covering his face. Honestly, it’s easy to see why he was responsible for coming up with the Team Star outfits; this guy is a design whiz!
Look, if there’s one thing I have to say about Ortega, it’s that he somehow managed to make me love and hate him all at once…but if he’s good enough for the rest of Team Star, he’s good enough for me. That being said, Ortega has a phenomenal character design, and there’s no denying it. His design tells so much about his character that even just a slight glance can indicate that not only is he a Fairy Type user, but also that he’s a rich little boy from a wealthy background.
Putting his background aside, this ‘fit honestly just suits Ortega’s personality to a T. He definitely gives me the vibe that he’d always want to be dressed in proper quality attire, so this matching dress coat and pants certainly do the trick…and I do love his little bowtie. However, the best part is without a doubt, his golden Poke Ball staff. I mean, look at the Poke Ball — it has little pixie wings to once again indicate Ortega’s Type preference. Little details like this go a long way, which is why Ortega’s overall character design is such a huge success.
Scarlet and Violet are the first games to offer version exclusive professors, and for good reason — one for the past (Scarlet), and one for the future (Violet). These design variants are pulled off with nothing but success, too. I’m honestly blown away a little at just how much the past/future aesthetics of Paradox Pokemon were able to be indicated through Sada and Turo’s designs, whilst still holding that classic Pokemon Professor look at the same time.
Turo takes on a futuristic bodysuit with sleek patterns and markings that give off sci-fi and cyberpunk vibes, while Sada has a very cave woman-ish vibe to her, complete with little beaded belts and necklaces that appear to have jewels resembling fangs or claws hanging from them.
Another thing that is interesting about these designs, is that with them being Arven’s parents and Sada resembling the past while Turo resembles the future, leaves Arven as the present. Putting all three of these characters side by side makes the designs even more harmonious as a group, which shows off just how well thought out each character is.
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Pokémon’s profit margins probably don’t reflect it, but the franchise had a rough year in 2023. Without a new mainline role-playing game to dominate the series’ headlines, Pikachu and friends were, instead, shrouded in controversies throughout the past 12 months. Between Pokémon Go angering swaths of its community, scalpers making a public embarrassment of the franchise to people who don’t even pay attention to it, and Scarlet and Violet’s DLC underlining the problems ingrained within the Pokémon pipeline, the screws are coming loose on the hype train. And yet, it cannot be stopped as it barrels down the tracks. Pokémon’s 2023 had its moments, but overall, it was pretty grim for a series usually so full of hope.
To start off with some good, Detective Pikachu Returns finally came to Switch and wrapped up the original 3DS game’s bewildering cliffhanger. Without a new RPG out this year, Detective Pikachu Returns was the only home console game Pokémon fans got in 2023. The adventure game is pretty simple, but maintains the original’s charm and compelling setting. The ending felt pretty definitive, but hopefully, it’s not the end of The Pokémon Company greenlighting adventure games in the Pokémon universe.
After years of teases, Pokémon Sleep, the sleeping app meant to encourage consistent sleeping habits, finally launched on mobile devices. In our review, I talked about how it feels geared toward kids who need a little motivation to get to sleep on time. Arceus knows it’s near impossible for an adult with sleep disorders and things to do in the morning to get their recommended eight hours of shuteye. But the app is the latest example of Pokémon getting into lifestyle and wellness, following Pokémon Go’s lead of gamifying daily activity while building people’s relationships with the Pokémon brand.
Whether you were one of the 194,000 trainers attending Pokémon Go Fest or were in attendance during the Pokémon World Championships in Yokohama this year, Pokémon remains a community-driven series that brings people together. I even attended my first Go Fest this year, and having felt walled off from that side of the community living in rural Georgia, it was an invigorating experience to be surrounded by so many people coming together for a common love.
One of the biggest events of Pokémon history happened in 2023, with long-time protagonist Ash Ketchum walking into the sunset in a final episode. The episode itself didn’t end with a definitive story beat but essentially said he and his partner Pikachu would continue to go on adventures throughout the Pokémon world, but we wouldn’t get to follow them. Instead, Pokémon Horizons, which follows new heroes Liko and Roy, has usurped Ash and Pikachu’s adventures as the primary animated series. The series has been airing in Japan since April, and will finally come to English-speaking territories in February 2024. Though it remains to be seen if Liko and Roy will ascend to Ash’s status as a beloved, iconic hero in anime, Horizons has already garnered acclaim from fans for its lovingly crafted animation.
While Liko and Roy are headlining the anime, Pokémon has had two more TV projects in 2023 that expand beyond 2D animation. This includes PokéTsume, a live-action drama starring a young woman who sorts through her personal and professional drama by playing Pokémon (she’s just like me, FR), and Pokémon Concierge, a stop-motion animation series on Netflix that is available to stream today, December 28. The Pokémon machine primarily focuses on games, anime, and merchandise as its core pillars, so it’s been nice to see The Pokémon Company continue to expand its projects to tell new stories in this world that aren’t always tied to competitive sports.
While there was no new RPG in 2023, Scarlet and Violet got a two-part expansion called The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero. Between The Teal Mask and The Indigo Disk, fans got new maps to explore, Pokémon to catch, and tools to build competitive teams. While the new story beats didn’t capitalize enough on the base games’ incredible ending to my liking (with one major exception), I was still happy to run around new places with my friends in co-op and learn more about this world. Sadly, in the year since Scarlet and Violet launched, Game Freak hasn’t managed to get the games into a fully functional state, and The Teal Mask and Indigo Disk’s new open-world maps are just as (if not more) buggy and ugly than Paldea was in 2022.
Welcome to Exp. Share, Kotaku’s Pokémon column in which we dive deep to explore notable characters, urban legends, communities, and just plain weird quirks from throughout the Pokémon franchise.
Pokémon and the Van Gogh Museum had a collaboration this year that included Pokémon-themed recreations of legendary Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh’s works, as well as merchandise tied to the event and a rare Pikachu card available with purchase alongside these limited edition items. As anyone who has paid attention to Pokémon in the past seven years can tell you, scalpers have become an entrenched part of this community, as it’s nearly impossible attempting to buy any limited edition item without someone’s bot swooping in and buying it to resell it on sites like eBay. While Pokémon fans know to expect that, it’s not often that this issue becomes a public spectacle. The Van Gogh Museum’s new exhibit, however, was overrun by so many people that it looked like something out of a Black Friday sale, and rather than just being fans hoping to acquire some special merch for themselves, many of these were scalpers, looking to hoard the items and jack up the prices.
It’s not unusual for people to attempt to steal and sell Pokémon merchandise, especially cards, andt more often than not, these are just petty crimes. The Van Gogh Museum fiasco, however, was a public embarrassment for The Pokémon Company, and the museum had to cease its card distribution for the safety of its patrons and employees. But even if the card is no longer being given out at the museum, the lingering aftermath of scalpers can still be seen on overpriced eBay listings for it, as well as associated merchandise from the collaboration. The Pokémon Company issued an apology and has since offered the card through the Pokémon Center store, but has neglected to manufacture more of the merchandise.
At the beginning of the covid-19 pandemic, Pokémon Go developer Niantic made it easier for players to take part in raids with Remote Raid Passes that let you play the game from anywhere. It was a huge move for the game, as it was now possible to take part in these events regardless of where you and your friends were. This was especially helpful for people who lived in rural areas where Pokémon Go was typically not well-supported, as well as disabled players who typically had trouble playing Pokémon Go due to its focus on walking to reach objectives.
Read more: The Real Impact Of Pokémon Go’s Changes That Niantic Won’t Face
In March, Niantic made Remote Raid Passes more expensive and limited how many you can use in a day, which fundamentally undermined the ways several subsets of the Pokémon Go community had been playing the game for three years. The subsequent backlash spawned a fan campaign using the hashtag #HearUsNiantic, in which players expressed how these changes affected their enjoyment of the game, with some going as far as to say the increase in price for Remote Raid Passes felt like a tax on the disabled community. Despite protests and boycotts, these restrictions remain in the game to this day.
If the public controversy around its flagship game weren’t enough, Niantic has been the subject of a lot of bad news in 2023. In June, Kotaku reported that Niantic was shutting down its Los Angeles studio, laying off over 200 employees in the process. The company made the decision to move away from in-house development, shuttering its basketball game NBA All-World and canceling its planned Marvel game.
Two weeks later, Niantic was the subject of a lawsuit accusing it of “systemic sexual bias” against its female employees and creating a “boys club” work environment. In November, a California judge approved the lawsuit to proceed.
The 3DS and Wii U eShops were shut down in 2023. While this affects every game and service on those platforms, Pokémon is in a precarious position because the loss of the 3DS eShop has created a gap between Pokémon generations. Trading old Pokémon to new games has been a long-held tradition within the series. It’s taken different forms between games, but the practice has become much more streamlined with the introduction of platform-agnostic services like Pokémon Home that host Pokémon from any game that can connect to the internet. However, the 3DS has been the bridge between older generations and Home through an app called Pokémon Bank. This 3DS app is used to transfer Pokémon from 3DS games to Home, thus to Switch games like Scarlet and Violet.
Pokémon Home is still probably the best solution The Pokémon Company has launched for this problem, as it doesn’t have to rely on specific hardware to store and trade different monsters. But without Bank, some Pokémon have become difficult or even impossible to obtain and trade over to modern games. As of this writing, Bank still works for those who had it purchased and installed on their 3DS before the eShop shutdown, but the tool is no longer readily available for new players.
While not every Pokémon player is embedded in the competitive scene, ranked Pokémon play is still a pillar of the RPGs millions of people play every year. However, at this year’s Pokémon World Championship tournament in Yokohama, several players were banned from competing after it was discovered they were using hacked teams that weren’t approved for competitive use at an official tournament. However, some competitors told Kotaku The Pokémon Company’s rulings on this matter have been inconsistent, which made their bans at the headlining event of the year all the more devastating. In the fallout, new data seems to reveal this kind of homebrewing of competitively viable teams is rampant within the community.
The debate about using tools like PKHeX, which allows you to create teams without finding, catching, and training the Pokémon in a game, is a complicated one. Going this route doesn’t necessarily give you a competitive edge but can be viewed as not within the spirit of the franchise. Competitive players argue that using a tool like this is just a matter of saving time, allowing users to craft a team without having to do so within the boundaries of games like Scarlet and Violet. Training Pokémon to their most powerful potential isn’t an easy feat and can take large swaths of your time, even if you have endgame resources. But the argument that you should have to train like a real Pokémon trainer to “earn” your spot in the competitive space harkens to arguments made in the games and anime themselves.
We at Kotaku launched Exp. Share, our Pokémon column, in 2023 to talk about all the wild, wonderful, weird, and woeful parts of this franchise. One of the most telling things I’ve learned in my years of covering Pokémon, especially for this column, has been that even as the series frustrates and confounds its legions of fans, those people will still show up to throw their money at it, despite their annoyance.
Issues like the supply problems that let scalpers run rampant, Pokémon Go pushing out the same community that kept it afloat, and Scarlet and Violet selling 23 million copies despite being an absolute trainwreck on a technical level only happen when The Pokémon Company is given little incentive to fix these problems. When I interviewed collectors for the Van Gogh reseller story, Grace Klich, who owns one of the Pikachu-inspired Volkswagen Beetles known as Pikabugs, pointed out that The Pokémon Company has watched systemic issues sprout up in its community over the years, but hasn’t done much to address them. Sure, the company apologized this time, but it’s not making more of what people are asking for. They made their projected profits; what does it matter if people are upset by the same supply problems they’ve always been?
This extends to pretty much every pillar of Pokémon’s business. The merch can sell out before fans can buy it because a scalper’s money clears just as easily for The Pokémon Company as that of a dedicated fan who wanted a Pikachu plush for their shelf. Pokémon COO Takato Utsunomiya said this year that the company’s annual releases may not be sustainable, as it’s affecting the quality of games like Scarlet and Violet, which are largely defined by big ideas and squandered potential. But if they sell 23 million copies despite being raked through the coals for their poor technical performance, is anything actually going to change? If The Pokémon Company knows it can count on people to show up, no matter how poor or frustrating its offerings are, can the machine ever be stopped?
Last year, Pokémon Legends: Arceus and Scarlet and Violet showed that Pokémon is growing beyond simply banking on nostalgia. But 2023 showed that all of that growth can be squandered as it inevitably gets funneled back into the bottom line. The machine is pumping out Pokémon games, cards, merchandise, and collaborations at a rate only rivaled by the late ‘90s Pokémania era. And yet, with every botched launch and misguided decision, with the ongoing lack of real change, the facade of this most hopeful franchise gets increasingly exposed for the money-making machine it is underneath.
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Kenneth Shepard
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With over a thousand different Pokemon species in existence, there is a wide variety of different influences these monsters are inspired by. Naturally, there is an assortment of frosty and festive ‘Mons that are just perfect for spreading holiday cheer, and we’ve rounded up ten of the very best.
Follow along below to admire these winter-themed ‘Mons and celebrate the holidays with beloved Pokemon pals.
Few Pokemon scream ‘reindeer’ as much as the majestic Winter Sawsbuck, the evolution of Deerling. Apparently, this form is the least popular among Trainers in the Pokemon universe, which is an absolute disgrace! I mean, just look at that snuggly, snowy white neck and hoof floof, and frosted branch-like antlers — I say they are absolute perfection!
Also, according to the Pokedex, Sawsbuck is calmest and easy to tame when they take on this form during winter, making it the perfect time to make one your partner Pokemon. Honestly, all I want is to boop the snoot of this gentle deer and become best friends forever. It may be a hot take, but I’d say Winter Sawsbuck is a contender for the best deer Pokemon around, and that’s more than enough reason to shine the limelight on this ‘Mon for the holidays. Rudolph, who?
C’mon, as if we could put out a holiday-themed Pokemon list without the presence of Delibird. This feathery little friend is probably the closest thing to Santa Claus in the Pokemon world. While this Pokemon may give the optical illusion that it’s slinging a bag full of gifts over one shoulder, this Pokemon is actually holding onto its own tail, which it uses to store food.
However, Delibird does give gifts of some variation, as it is also known to hurl exploding presents from this tail toward opponents, too. Honestly? I’m digging the chaotic Santa vibe. I respect it, Delibird. I respect it.
That’s right, yet another majestic deer has appeared! Wyrdeer is the very fluffy-looking evolution of Stantler, and much to the surprise of some fans, this Pokemon does not hold an Ice Typing. Instead, this unique creature is a Normal/Psychic Dual-Type, with horns that are capable of creating invisible barriers.
However, this ‘Mon is still a picture-perfect holiday critter, as not only does it carry major reindeer vibes, but the fur from its beard is also detailed in the Pokedex to retain heat once shed, meaning many items of winter clothing have been crafted from this frosty-colored fluff. A deer with a big white fluffy beard who naturally provides materials for warm winter clothing? Wyrdeer is an absolute win.
Cuteness overload incoming! That’s right, this snowy fox is a perfect fluffy friend to keep by your side for the holidays. Just look at that adorable face, there’s no way I could ever turn down Alolan Vulpix. In the Pokedex, this ‘Mon is detailed as looking like snow come to life, and has control over ice due to being able to exhale air colder than -58 degrees Fahrenheit. Brr!
Besides, how could we ever forget how precious Lillie’s Alolan Vulpix, Snowy, was in the Pokemon anime? After all, this was the little friend who was able to assist Lillie in getting over her fear of Pokemon, which is quite an achievement. Following this, the two were thick as thieves, which just made Alolan Vulpix even more lovable.
Look at this chilly little guy! Snorunt is an absolute winter gremlin, surviving by only eating snow and ice. According to this Ice-Type Pokemon’s ‘Dex entries, this fella is also responsible for causing heavy snowfall, which makes him the perfect addition for celebrating the holidays; before you know it you’ll have a snowy white wonderland to explore!
Plus, Snorunt is a cute, shivery critter, which makes it that much more endearing and lovable for such occasions. All in favor of Snorunt, say Ice!
I often feel that Vivillon is long forgotten in comparison to how unique and sought-after it was considered to be upon its original release. This Pokemon is rather fascinating and fun, coming in a total of eighteen different forms, which originally differed depending on the region that was set on a player’s Nintendo 3DS.
As you may have guessed, Polar Form Vivillon is a pretty butterfly found in cold, winter climates. Being born in snowy lands, this ‘Mon scatters colorful, toxic scales from its wings during battle — just don’t mistake the white scales for snowflakes and catch them on your tongue!
Seriously though, despite being a unique and interesting Pokemon, Vivillon has always been a bit underappreciated, which is why now is the perfect time to spread some appreciation for this bug in its cold-palleted Polar form.
Awww, don’t you just want to pick Cubchoo up and squeeze it like a teddy bear? This ‘Mon is literally an Ice Type bear cub with a common cold, how could you not want to befriend the little guy and show ’em love?
While your first thought may be that this snotty guy is unwell, that’s not the case at all. As it turns out, Cubchoo’s health is determined by the consistency of the snot that hangs from its nose, and if that snot is missing rather than present, Cubchoo may actually be sick. Yeah, we know. It sounds gross, so it sure is a good thing that this critter is such an adorable wee thing! You’re lucky Cubchoo… I still want to celebrate the holidays with you, no matter how snotty that snoot may get.
Look at this silly penguin and tell me it isn’t the perfect winter Pokemon to celebrate the holiday season — I mean, the funny fella has a block of ice for its head, making it a living, breathing ice sculpture, the perfect decor for any fancy holiday party.
Honestly, everything about Eiscue makes it a lovable ‘Mon, with flocks of these critters pressing their ice heads together to cool each other down on hot sunny days. Aside from this, Eiscue will go fishing by dipping its head into the water and using the one hair on its noggin to lure in prey. Eiscue is one hundred percent the best icey block boi, and you can’t change my mind.
How could we possibly bring up the idea of winter-themed Pokemon without including Abomasnow? As the name indicates, this big, bulky mon resembles none other than the abominable snowman. Besides, Abomasnow is so often overlooked in favor of more popular or adorable winter-themed or Ice Type specimens, so it more than deserves to feature in our bundle of the best winter ‘Mons.
According to the Pokedex, Abomasnow lives a quiet life on mountains that are covered in snow and hides itself by whipping up blizzards. Abomasnow is also known to appear when the snow flowers bloom and retreat to places unknown once these petals fall. D’aww… for a big scary Ice monster, that sure is sweet; perhaps Abomsnow is truly a big frosty marshmallow after all!
Concluding our list of winter holiday-themed Pokemon is Vanillite, an adorable li’l ice cream cone. Look, I know Vanillitte’s evolution line gets a lot of hate for being rather… lackluster at best, which I get, and even agree with — but can we just appreciate this adorable guy for what it is? (aka the best design out of the entire evolution line)
Seriously, what is one of the big appeals to the holidays? Sharing food with the people you are closest to, of course. And what better way to wrap up a tasty meal than with a perfect dessert? Well, Vanillite is right here to resemble that dessert, making the perfect final addition to our winter Pokemon assortment in the spirit of the holidays. I mean, just look at that face. You wouldn’t want to disappoint this cute little cone, would you?
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Grace Black
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The Pokemon franchise is full of a huge variety of different monster designs, plenty of which are inspired by real-world animals. Naturally, there is an adorable selection of cat-like Pokemon in existence, based both on domestic house cats and big cats.
We’ve rounded up ten of the best fluffy lil cattos for everyone to admire, so follow along below to take a look at these purrfect fuzzy friends.
Sprigatito, my beloved. I mean, just look at this certified smol floof — isn’t it one of the most adorable Grass Type Pokemon, and one of the most adorable starter Pokemon in existence? I mean, behold its silly little leaf-shape Siamese marking and fluffy chest — it just screams ‘must give infinite cuddles’! Sprigatito is an absolute joy, and I will forever hold this little buddy to a high standard as the best Paldean starter by far.
Sprigatito could stubbornly sit on my lap and growl when I try to move, scratch me when I attempt to give belly rubs, bring me little dead things, AND tear apart every carpet in existence any day of the week, and I’d still have absolutely nothing but love and joy for this wee kitten; it’s just that much of a perfect cat ‘Mon.
Look at this squeeful cat and tell me Skitty is anything less than absolutely precious, I dare you. From its constantly closed squinty eyes to the tiny fangs that show when it opens its mouth, every feature on Skitty amplifies its cuteness factor tenfold. I just love that Skitty is almost always depicted as having a smile on its face, and the fact that it keeps itself occupied by chasing its tail to make itself dizzy, in genuine kitten behavior.
Skitty is not only small but also has a brilliant nature. This means it would make one of the best contenders for a household pet in the Pokemon franchise, as it is a suitable companion for a Trainer of any age, including young kids.
Persian has been a fan-favorite feline from the very beginning, holding the title of one of the Pokemon franchise’s first cat ‘Mons after being introduced as one of the original 151 species. Persian is a fairly iconic ‘Mon, as it is the partner Pokemon and beloved pet of Team Rocket leader, Giovanni.
I can so clearly remember Persiann’s smug face and meows as it sat next to Giovanni while the latter had very harsh words with Jessie and James on multiple occasions, and how this fancy cat just seemed like the most spoilt pet in existence. Also, there’s just something very lovable about seeing a dog-sized cat taking up regular cat behaviors such as laying around on a tree branch and bathing itself as it basks in the sun, which makes Persian even more appealing.
Look, we all get it. Litten was an adorable Fire starter in the Alola Region, but many of us were disappointed when…sigh… Incineroar got up on two legs and became more human-like. For this reason, Torracat deserves the limelight — it’s still very much a cat ‘Mon, carrying over those feline traits from its pre-evolution, Litten, while also having that element of intensity and badassery that Incineroar is supposed to portray.
Let’s just pretend Incineroar doesn’t exist, and focus on this fiery friend instead. I mean, he even has a little ‘collar’ marking with a fire bell, is that not the best combination of both cuteness and badassery in one? I would 100% keep a Torracat as a pet, and you can’t convince me otherwise.
Look, look, I love Kantonian Meowth dearly, but there’s just something about Alolan Meowth that makes it, dare I say, a little bit better than its Kantonian Regional variant. I mean, just look at the smarmy look on its face and the sassy posture, and try to tell me that’s not absolute classic cat behavior. This variant is also the polar opposite of Kanto Meowth, carrying the Dark Typing, y’know, for extra ‘super edgy Mr Cool Guy’ points.
There’s so much to love about this design, from the heavy eyelids on those narrow feline eyes, to the whiskers bent upwards and muted gray color palette. Oh, and very importantly; Alolan Meowth’s little fangs stick out of its mouth even when closed. I just wanted you all to know that; it’s not like that’s adorable or anything, it’s just simply a mere fact.
Hehe, anyone want a silly cat friend with a curly and springy tail? Well, I present to you; Glameow, Generation 4’s beloved grumpy cat. Look at that gaze… this cat is always watching, always judging every little thing you do. Seriously though, there’s nothing I love more than when cats are depicted as smug and mischievous, because, well, it’s so damn true — and Glameow fits this bill perfectly. Glameow is stated to ‘purr when pleased and claw when displeased’ — and if that isn’t relatable to any cat owner then I don’t know what is!
Glameow can also be quite spiteful when not fed, which is rather amusing, but also very scary considering those claws! However, its this very personality that makes this feline such a perfect cat-based Pokemon, and with a very lovable design to match, too. Every time I see Glameow, I can’t help but think it’s the kind of feline that was once worshipped as a God, it just has that same energy, y’know?
Oh, Espurr…how are you so cute, yet so terrifying at the same time? This bipedal catlike creature may have adorable tufts of fur, a teeny tiny nose, and big, endearing eyes. However, behind those very eyes is a struggle to control an unbelievably strong source of psychic power, which is sheltered by its folded-down ears.
This power could enable Espurr to blast everything within 300 feet with psychic energy, however, this poor fuzzball has zero control over its abilities, making it quite a danger. While Espurr certainly is a bit spooky, this makes this cat ‘Mon even more intriguing and unique in terms of feline creatures, with everything about this little guy balancing both bizarre and adorable.
Perrserker is perhaps the most ‘feral’ of all catlike Pokemon, which makes it stand out from the others. This pure Steel type takes on the appearance of a cat demon, with multiple sets of horns on its head, and sharp, blade-like claws that emerge from its paws for fighting.
From a piercing amber gaze to the large, pointed teeth (all the better to chomp you with), this ridiculously fluffy feline has much to be admired, with the design effortlessly portraying classic cat qualities with the darker concept of a demon or werecat-like appearance. I also love the gray fluff — is it a beard-like section, or is it the genuine fur length whilst the rest of Perrserker’s limbs are shaved? I guess we’ll never know, but it’s certainly amusing to consider.
Liepard is a brilliant design, somehow managing to look both like a house cat and a leopard in one. First of all, this Pokemon has a beautiful color palette that catches the eye and makes it stand out from other specimens, but on top of that, it also has many small details to admire, such as the sharp fangs, yellow whiskers on each cheek, array of spots on its back, and curved, almost blade-like fluffy tail.
While Liepard looks beautiful and elegant, don’t let this fool you. These are very vicious and dangerous Pokemon known for silently stalking their prey in the night before striking from behind, giving the victim no chance to react. Talk about brutal! However, that does kinda make these Pokemon undeniably badass, and I find it pretty damn cool that they are the stealth masters of the Pokemon world.
It’s time for a biiiiiiiiiiig cat in the form of Luxray, who resembles a lion. While there is more than one lion-like Pokemon, and multiple big cat Pokemon in general, Luxray takes the cake as the most popular species (sorry Litleo and Pyroar…). Honestly, it’s easy to see why, too.
First of all, Luxray has one of the best designs in all of Gen 4, and possibly one of the most favorable Electric Type designs of all time. While the fluffy black fur may indicate a secondary typing of Dark, Luxray remains a pure Electric type, meaning that the dark fur is just there to make him look more intimidating and powerful. Honestly, no complaints here, this suits Luxray very much. However, the most important thing about this Pokemon, and what makes them so unique, is that Luxray has their very own superpower of seeing through solid objects.
Lastly, I don’t think I’ll ever forget Sorrel’s Luxray, who gave up its life to ensure Sorrel was kept as safe and warm as possible when the two got lost in a blizzard. Sorrel’s Luxray gave its life in a very selfless action and was the only reason Sorrel survived. I’m not sobbing, you’re sobbing! Luxray is the best big cat Pokemon ever, hands down.
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Grace Black
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On the heels of The Game Awards, this week saw the launch of two expansions for fan-fave games: God of War Ragnarok and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. We also took a meaty deep dive into Analogue’s latest and greatest new retro console and did a year-three rundown on the state of the PS5.
From the latest and greatest to cult gems and retro classics, these are the games and consoles we’re loving—and loathing—this week.
Valhalla takes place after the events of Ragnarök, as Kratos seeks out the titular hall of heroes due to a mysterious invitation. Once inside, he finds himself faced with combat arenas built from his memories that repeat as he ascends through Valhalla. Old vistas and enemies are a decent enough framing device, and an effective way to unpack Kratos’ nearly 20 years of baggage. While the 2018 reboot used shame and fatherhood to interrogate the pornographic violence and carnage of the series’ past, Valhalla actualizes that idea without having to be tied to his relationship with his son Atreus. – Kenneth Shepard Read More
We made it. After a tumultuous 11 months of really high highs (the games) and really low lows (the layoffs), we’re finally rounding out the last month of 2023. Good riddance. And to really underscore that goodbye, we here at Kotaku thought it’d be fitting to take a look back at what felt like the longest year yet to compile some of the most buggy, broken, and busted games to drop in 2023. – Levi Winslow Read More
Today the company’s launching another retro console recreation, the Analogue Duo. And this time, it’s something of a deeper cut.
Just…god, there’s so much random info you gotta know to understand this thing’s deal. So before we get into it, here’s a tl;dr: Analogue Duo is a very solid PC Engine / TurboGrafx-16 replacement that looks pretty good on modern displays and controls pretty well, too. It’s also not for everyone. It may not even be for me. – Alexandra Hall Read More
The Indigo Disk picks up with new characters Kieran and Carmine returning to their Unova-based school, Blueberry Academy. The school invites you to be an exchange student, and Blueberry Academy is a Pokémon trainer’s dream facility, as it’s built around a terarium that emulates four different biomes. Students capture and study Pokémon in habitats analogous to their natural homes. It’s a decent enough framing for a reasonably sized open-world environment, while also bringing some familiar Pokémon back into the fray. – Kenneth Shepard Read More
A slick new VR headset, a “slim” console refresh, tons of flashy new accessories, and multiple exclusives, including the fastest selling PlayStation game ever, Spider-Man 2. The PlayStation 5 made big moves in 2023. So why does it feel like the console spent most of it resting on its laurels while flailing for a new direction? – Ethan Gach Read More
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It’s a quiet week for major releases, but a big week for savings and DLC from some of the biggest games in the land, like God of War Ragnarok and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.
Here are some of the tips and guides we found most helpful this week.
In case you still needed to do some last-minute Christmas shopping for the gamers in your life (or for yourself), Microsoft has temporarily slashed the price of its most powerful gaming console, knocking the cost down by $100. – Levi Winslow Read More
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s Indigo Disk DLC adds a handful of new monsters to catch, one of which is, as fans had theorized, an evolution to Dipplin called Hydrapple. This means one of Applin’s diverging evolutionary lines finally has a third form. But if you’ve had a Dippllin since it was introduced in The Teal Mask DLC, you might be curious why it hasn’t evolved into this new form in the time between the two expansions. That’s because Hydrapple’s evolutionary method hadn’t been added to Scarlet and Violet until now. Here’s how to evolve your candy apple dragon into its final form. – Kenneth Shepard Read More
God of War Ragnarök’s new, free DLC Valhalla is out now, and it’s a pretty great combat showcase that has the added benefit of giving Kratos some much-needed therapy. But if you’re unfamiliar with the punishing, repetitious nature of the roguelike genre or just haven’t booted up Ragnarök lately, it can knock you on your ass. Worry not, because we’re here to give you some general tips to help you face your demons. So grab your axe, blades, and spears, and let’s walk into Valhalla together. – Kenneth Shepard Read More
Alan Wake 2, Remedy’s survival horror sequel, came out in late October, but if you’re already longing for another trip through the spiral, I have good news: “The Final Draft” update has arrived, and with it a new game plus mode and new story content. Not convinced? Then just watch this trailer and try not to lose your mind at the 30-second mark. – Claire Jackson Read More
Oh hey, we’re just burning through December, aren’t we? Well if the 2024 release calendar is lookin’ rather slim to you, might I interest you in some new additions to Sony’s PlayStation Plus service? This month includes quite a few tempting offers. – Claire Jackson Read More
George Carlin famously said “a house is just a pile of stuff with a cover on it.” At its core, Lego Fortnite is the same. Epic’s new collab with Lego has become an absolute phenom since it launched December 7, seeing a daily peak of around 2 million concurrent players. Like all good sandbox survival games, it’s driven by the need to gather, store, and organize piles of stuff. But not all stuff is created equal. Some stuff, like wood and granite, is readily available. Other stuff is harder to find. This guide is concerned with the latter, giving you insight on where to find the hard-to-find materials like knotroot, flexwood, and more. – Mo Mozuch Read More
Curious about Alan Wake 2 but never played the first? Well if you’re a PC gamer, I’ve got some good news: Grab a copy of Alan Wake 2 on the Epic Games Store during its holiday sale and you’ll get a free copy of the 2021 remastered version of the first game. – Claire Jackson Read More
Yeah, so that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III campaign wasn’t great. The multiplayer though? That’s a different story. And if you’re at all curious about some shooty fun between friends across some classic maps, good news: You can play the game for free from December 14 to 18. – Claire Jackson Read More
With the Valhalla DLC out it’s a great time to tackle those bosses who’ve been bodying you
Baldur’s Gate 3 shadow-dropped on Xbox after winning Game of the Year at The Game Awards, and Larian Studios is already pushing out updates and hotfixes as the dust settles. If you’re playing the fantasy epic on your Xbox, you may be at risk of losing your saves, and Larian is warning players to update their system to avoid the issue. – Kenneth Shepard Read More
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Despite The Game Awards officially capping off the end of video game news for 2023, we’ve still got stories to share, from GTA 6 controversies to the inglorious end of E3. Here’s your cheat sheet for the week’s most important stories in gaming.
The drama-filled saga behind one of Steam’s most-anticipated games of 2023 just took its weirdest turn yet. The Day Before maker Fntastic announced it will cease operations less than a week after accusations of swindling players with a massive bait-and-switch when it came to the true nature of its The Last of Us-looking survival game. – Ethan Gach Read More
Valve has a message to all you folks (myself included) who love huffing your Steam Deck exhaust fumes: Stop it. Please.
Have you ever taken a break from playing your Steam Deck to sample the complex fragrances emanating from its exhaust vent? If so, you aren’t alone. Since the release of the handheld PC, many owners have reported that they can’t stop sniffing the fumes that waft out of the Steam Deck during play. It’s become a bit of a meme among Steam Deck owners, with folks often posting online how much they enjoy the distinctive aroma. I’m one of those sickos, sticking my nose right above the exhaust and taking a big whiff each time I play. But someone finally asked Valve about this, and it turns out the company wants you all to knock it off. – Zack Zwiezen Read More
A Florida man is calling on Rockstar Games to pay him $2 million for showing literally one second of a character who looks like him in the reveal trailer for Grand Theft Auto 6. Lawrence Sullivan, AKA “Florida Joker,” accused the studio of stealing his likeness in his latest TikTok video. But a Red Dead Redemption 2 voice actor wasn’t having it. – Ethan Gach Read More
Remember when finding and capturing a Legendary Pokémon felt special? You would stumble upon these powerful creatures whose stories were woven into the world’s history. The Mewtwo encounter in the original Pokémon Red and Blue is an incredible endgame payoff for a story that’s unfolding in the background the whole time. When you finally find it in the Cerulean Cave during the postgame, you understand how significant it is to stand in front of this all-powerful monster. However, in the time since, the series has increasingly broken its own lore to come up with silly excuses for why these god-like entities are available to be caught in subsequent games, and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s Indigo Disk DLC seems to be the latest to continue the trend. – Kenneth Shepard Read More
‘Tis the season, once again, for Rockstar Games to drop another massive (and free) Grand Theft Auto Online update. And this time, not only has the company added a whole new chop shop business, but it’s also added drift races, new cars, and animals, too. Yes, it took a decade and three console generations, but finally, GTA Online will have animals running around its massive map. – Zack Zwiezen Read More
Everything going on with failed Steam zombie shooter The Day Before continues to shock and amaze. The latest wild development is studio Fntastic’s response to the entire self-inflicted debacle: “shit happens.” – Ethan Gach Read More
E3, the video game conference that’s taken place annually in Los Angeles since 1995, is officially dead. After several years of struggles and rumors of its demise, its end was confirmed in The Washington Post’s exclusive interview with president and CEO of the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), Stanley Pierre-Louis. – Alyssa Mercante Read More
Today, Sony and Insomniac confirmed that the PlayStation-5-exclusive open-world superhero action game, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, will receive a big, free update in “Early 2024” that will add highly requested features. – Zack Zwiezen Read More
The free Valhalla DLC for the surly son of Sparta is an epilogue to 2022’s action-adventure epic while tinkering with it’s tied-and-true formula
A new Granblue, House Flipper 2, and One-Armed Robber are also dropping this week
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Pokemon Scarlet & Violet’s Indigo Disk DLC is set to go live on Dec. 14, 2023, finally giving eager Trainers another adventure to play through. However, before jumping into the Indigo Disk, there are several things that players will want to consider doing beforehand, some of which are mandatory.
We’ve rounded up the most important items to check off on your to-do list, so take a look below to ensure you’re fully prepared when launch day rolls around.
That’s right Trainers, to jump into the Indigo Disk DLC, you will first need to have completed the base Scarlet & Violet game the entire way through. This shouldn’t be a big deal to many, but for the few of you who are yet to work your way through the Elite Four, battle one of the remaining Titan Pokemon, or tie up loose ends with the pesky Team Star crew, you’ll need to ensure you’ve wrapped everything up by Dec. 14.
Much like beating the base game, players will need to ensure they’ve also completed the Teal Mask DLC, which launched previous to the Indigo Disk. This adventure lets players explore the Kitakami Region and investigate the secrets of four Legendary Pokemon among festival celebrations, bringing an enjoyable little tale.
Unfortunately, you’ll need to complete this one too as a prerequisite to playing the Indigo Disk, but don’t worry — completing all of the main tasks from start to finish should only take a few (2-4) hours.
Again players are faced with that tough choice — carrying over their team of hulking fully evolved giants to wreck their way through the DLC as quickly and easily as possible, or starting fresh with a team of newbie low-leveled ‘Mons to impose more of a challenge.
Personally, I’d recommend the latter if you’re in no rush, as this gives you the chance to utilize other forgotten Pokemon that may never usually find a spot on your team, as well as giving you the chance to get more out of the DLC by exploring and working your way through at a slower pace.
It’s that time again, Trainers; another new DLC to explore, another collection of returning Pokemon to catch, possibly even with one or two newbies sprinkled in, such as the mysterious Terepegos. To make your life significantly easier once release day rolls around, it’s smart to start stocking up your bag with as many Pokeballs as possible in advance.
This way, you won’t have to worry about making numerous pit stops to buy more along the way, you can simply run around and catch Pokemon to your heart’s content.
Again, with the collecting of returning Pokemon dropping into the game through the Teal Mask DLC, shiny hunters have a variety of new targets to select from for their hunts. If you’re looking to do some serious shiny hunting in the Indigo Disk, then it can be handy to prepare a False Swipe Pokemon in advance.
This means that if you discover a shiny through a wild encounter, you can use the False Swipe move to deplete the shiny’s HP down to 1, without ever KO’ing it — making it much easier to successfully catch. Don’t forget to save right before beginning the battle, too!
EXP Candies are extremely useful for quickly leveling up a Pokemon from low to high level in a mere few seconds. To help you complete the Indigo Disk Pokedex, evolving Pokemon as quickly as possible will likely be key. For this reason, taking a day or two to hit Tera Raids one after the other to farm EXP Candy before launch day will give you the upper hand.
This technique will also provide you with many more resources and items to use on your new adventure, too, so it’s a worthwhile strategy if you plan to do a lot of level grinding and evolving.
With a bunch of Pokemon returning, many players are hoping to obtain shiny variants of some of their beloved childhood ‘Mons, or even just their favorite choices to have in their team for battles. Making a list of Pokemon that you wish to capture first, as well as any shiny variants that you want to get your hands on can be extremely useful.
Websites such as Serebii keep updated data regarding the confirmed returning Pokemon, which can be used to plan, and forums found on sites such as r/PokemonTrades on Reddit offer trades daily, giving Trainers a platform to help each other obtain their favorite ‘Mons.
With more Pokemon returning into the game, PC boxes continue to be a tight squeeze when it comes to collecting ’em all! For this reason, it may be time to do some re-organization before the Indigo Disk arrives.
Organizing Pokemon in boxes by Type, battle potential, ‘Dex number, or even Region/Generation can be extremely useful, enabling you to find and place your beloved ‘Mons with ease. Alternatively, you can also move some of your Pokemon over to Pokemon HOME to make room for any newbies you pick up on your new Indigo Disk adventure.
With Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, both the base game and the Teal Mask DLC had their own separate Pokedexes. Because of this, it can be estimated that the Indigo Disk will also bring a new Pokedex to the table for players to complete.
Before jumping into this new ‘Dex, it can be a good idea to try and complete the other two in advance. This way, you won’t get mixed up about which Pokemon you still need for each variant, and can focus solely on catching ’em all as you explore new locations in the Indigo Disk.
Lastly, the great thing about Pokemon Scarlet & Violet is that the multiplayer function enables you to run around the Region with friends and race to complete tasks, trade or battle with each other, and watch from the sidelines as one of you catches a new Pokemon.
Playing through the DLC with friends can be a surprisingly fun time, and it also makes it easier to complete the ‘Dex when there are multiple sets of hands working on their copies; simply trade and trade back to mark off any missing ‘Mons. Oh, and any Trade evolutions needed are also a complete breeze, too.
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Grace Black
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Fan-made Pokémon are nothing new, but the community seldom rallies around one like they have Regitube (or Regifloat, depending on who you ask). The hypothetical water-type Legendary Giant originated in a TikTok shitpost and has since become a legend within the Pokémon fandom, inspiring fan art, memes, and even modded in-game renders.
For consistency’s sake, we’ll call this legendary king Regitube. The fake Pokémon’s origins started innocently enough. Back in August, The Tube Shack, a Canadian river tubing company, posted a TikTok of one of its employees creating what can perhaps best be described as a big suit of armor out of blue floating tubes. The video is silly and cute, but fans quickly pointed out that if you put the iconic dotted eyes of the Legendary Giants that debuted in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire on it, the cartoonish blue figure looks like it could be one as well. The Tube Shack ran with the joke.
The video has over 3.6 million views on TikTok, but it’s begun spreading to other platforms as well, where fan artists and modders have taken notice. Now, Pokémon fans are collectively building out this big guy’s lore, typing, moveset, and even its stats.
Welcome to Exp. Share, Kotaku’s Pokémon column in which we dive deep to explore notable characters, urban legends, communities, and just plain weird quirks from throughout the Pokémon franchise.
With all this attention comes fanart, and the Pokémon community works fast and still manages to come out with some incredible work. There are some realistic, modern-looking pieces, but some of the best art of Regitube is the stuff that harkens back to the series’ roots. The Ruby and Sapphire-style sprite below makes me think back to surfing around the Hoenn region, likely finding this big guy floating on the sea somewhere. I’ve never really had a steady water-type member for my team in Generation III’s games, so I’d catch Regitube and add him to my team, without question.
While Regitube can only exist in our hearts and fan art, the Regis have become so prominent in Pokémon memes, especially on TikTok, that it makes perfect sense for one internet inside joke to spawn another one, complete with stats and lore. And hey, at least no one’s suggested we nerf the floating king by giving him a garbage ability like the one Regigigas is cursed with.
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Kenneth Shepard
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Next year is to bring us a whole new set of shiny Pokémon, when the Paldean Fates set hits streets January 26. We already knew it would, of course, contain a shiny Charizard. But now we’ve seen it, and oh god it’s going to cost so much money.
Japan is getting its version of this set, Shiny Treasures ex, a lot sooner, cards going on release December 1. So this means we’re seeing what a lot of the cards will look like a lot earlier on than we have with more recent sets (the current Paradox Rift had cards appear internationally before some of their Japanese equivalents appeared), and today we’ve seen the Special Illustration Rare of the shiny Charizard. It has every sign of being the biggest, most sought-after new Pokémon card in years.
What’s the reasoning for this? It’s the combination of three factors. First, and most obviously, it’s Charizard. Anything featuring the not-a-dragon beast gets tagged with a premium, due to its overwhelming popularity among players. Make that Zard shiny, and it’s entire other leagues.
Secondly, it’s the complexity of the card. The more detail present, the more popular cards tend to be, and this terastallized Charizard is a spectacular piece of art.
Artist Akira Egawa has been producing the most astonishing string of incredible cards in the last couple of years, and is responsible for by far the highest priced on the resale market. She was behind all four of Crown Zenith’s blisteringly good gold cards, Fusion Strike’s Mew VMAX alt-art, the Mewtwo V-Union four-parter, and most relevantly here, Obsidian Flames’ Charizard ex. On release the latter was selling raw at over $100, and still sits at over $60 pack fresh.
And thirdly, yes, it’s that this new card matches that Charizard ex, and will inevitably send the price up on both of them. This new shiny version is a wholly original piece of art, but one that matches the style and theme of the former. It shows a Charizard terastallized into a Dark-type, but now in its black-skinned shiny form, the red insides of its wings reflecting a hundred other colors in the cracked-mirror design.
I couldn’t care less about Charizard, and I want this card. (A desire not helped by my son’s mad luck at pulling the Obsidian Flames version from a pack.) My guess would be the Japanese version will start selling for around $300 pack fresh, and the international version next year will easily hit $200, before coming down to about half that. I also think this could be the first new card in a very long while to see PSA 10 prices hitting $750. (For reference, 2021’s infamous Moonbreon peaked at $1,300 in a 10, and is now around $740.)
The scarcity will be increased by Paldean Fates being a s0-called “special set,” meaning booster packs won’t be sold individually (unless your LCS tears down boxes). However, there’s a small glimmer of hope given that this will be the first time there will be six-pack Booster Bundles of a special set, The Pokémon Company’s incredibly welcome way of selling just packs without vast cardboard boxes also containing oversized cards, pins, stickers and goodness knows what else.
Paldean Fates is the third shiny-containing set to hit the Pokémon TCG, following 2019’s Hidden Fates and 2021’s Shining Fates. We’ll bring you a lovely gallery of the all the prettiest cards revealed so far in the near future.
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John Walker
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If I told you there was a Pokémon card going for $50, you’d wonder why I was bothering you. In a world where such things regularly change hands in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, such a figure is a shrug. But sorry, I should have been clearer: it’s a birthday card. A brand new one. Mass-produced. It’s a $50 birthday card.
Now, The Pokémon Company has been overcharging for greetings cards plenty, and I’ve previously triple-checked to see how many cards you get in a $15 or $20 pack, only to be flummoxed that the total really is one. But $50?! What’s the point of having access to an internationally famous, widely-read, top-tier gaming site when all the staff are on holiday if you can’t use it to complain about that?
The card prices are—I hesitate to use the word “justified”—by always including a Pokémon pin, too. The site’s tiny metal badges also go for wallet-punching figures, rarely less than ten dollars, and sometimes as much as $25. (This is something that bemuses me, given similarly sized pins are routinely included in triple-pack blisters as “freebies”.) So when you’re paying $9.99 for a “Happy New Year” card, you’re really paying for the Pikachu pin that pokes through the hole in the front.
But this latest $50 birthday card? It’s…it’s functionally identical to the one linked above, with the same size pin, the same Pokémon on the pin, the same sort of cut-out design, and as far as I can tell, it’s not printed on paper-thin diamond.
At first I gallantly assumed the description of “Pikachu Birthday Balloons Pokémon Pin & Greeting Card” meant it was going to also come with an amazing Pikachu balloon, and possibly a large bar of gold bullion. But it seems the only balloons included are those drawn on the cardboard, and the only sign of gold is the color of the lettering.
And no matter how many times I re-read the page, it still doesn’t say, “Pack of 20″ anywhere, no matter how much all of reality says it should.
I realize the trap I fall in if I say, “How can they justify a fifty dollar price for a folded in half piece of cardboard,” given the money I’ve spent on unfolded pieces of cardboard from the same company. But still.
We have of course reached out the Pokémon to check this isn’t a matter of a typo, because then wouldn’t everyone look silly? In the meantime, you can comment below complaining what a slow news day it must be, and how everything’s such a rip-off in this day and age that we shouldn’t be surprised.
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John Walker
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Pokemon designs are often indicative of their Typings through name, color, shape, and other visual attributes. However, there are a few Pokemon who may look like a certain Type, but are something completely different entirely, or appear to have colors linked to a secondary Type not incorporated in their species.
Here are ten Pokemon whose typings caught us all off guard at some point.
Lycanroc’s Midnight form takes on a spooky werewolf appearance, with a slouched posture and dark red coloring. Now, all Lycanroc forms are a Rock Type, much like their pre-evolution, Rockruff. However, I will forever be greatly surprised that Midnight Lycanroc didn’t gain an additional Dark Typing, as nothing apart from the thick, rocky-looking claws gives a visual indication of Rock Typing.
I mean, Midnight Lycanroc just screams ‘Dark Type’, from the intimidating red gaze to the deep crimson color palette and black and white accents. While this would give poor Lycanroc 4x Weakness to Fighting Type moves, it visually makes so much more sense than Rock Type. C’mon, I know you can see it, too.
Luxray has indicators for its Electric Typing with its bright yellow details and vibrant eyes. However, Luxray’s mostly black fur color often gives Trainers the false assumption that this lighting lion has a secondary Typing of Dark.
While this would certainly be a suitable combination for the badass and lovable Luxray, this is unfortunately not the case, with this big cat carrying pure Electric Typing instead. Luxray really does visually fit in alongside the likes of Mightyena, Incineroar, Zoroark, and many other ‘Mons who share the Dark Typing, so it’s easy to understand how this assumption can be made.
Dunsparce is quite an oddity in the world of Pokemon, as this unusual critter looks some part bug, some part snake, or even some sort of little first-form Dragon. However, as it turns out, Dunsparce is based on the land snake being in Japanese folklore, Tsuchinoko. Dunsparce is even well known in the Pokemon world for burrowing itself into the ground, referencing the Tsuchinoko.
Because of this, you’d assume Dunsparce is Ground Type, right? Wrong! Dunsparce is instead a pure Normal Type Pokemon, which seems very odd. But then again, this little fella is a strange little guy, to begin with, so are we really that surprised?
Taking a glimpse at this giant jellyfish-like beast, you’d probably assume it to be a Water Type, or even a Normal or Psychic Type due to its color palette and overall design. However, Nihilego is neither of these, instead holding a Ground and Poison Dual-Typing.
Technically, the Poison Type makes sense with the whole jellyfish aspect, but the Ground Typing has certainly caught many Trainers off guard. However, when you consider Nihilego’s Pokedex entry, the Ground Typing does make a little bit more sense, as its body is composed of glass, which is created from heated sand.
Clobbopus is a wee octopus fella, so I’m sure your first thought would be that this silly little friend has a Water Typing. Well, this is not the case at all. Rather, Clobbopus is a pure Fighting Type Pokemon, despite looking like something that would spend the majority of its time under the water.
Furthermore, Clobbopus’ Pokedex entry even confirms this, stating that the only thing that brings Clobbopus onto land is a search for food. Even though this feisty fella lives underwater, it still completely lacks a secondary Water Typing; make it make sense, please.
I’m sure anyone who has played the Johto Region Pokemon games (Gold/Silver/Crystal or HeartGold/SoulSilver) has witnessed the trickery of Sudowoodo’s Typing. This Pokemon looks like a silly, wiggly little tree, right? In the games you even have to water it to start the encounter.
Pretty much everything about this wriggling friend screams Grass Type, or so we all thought, as poor, unsuspecting kids. As many of us found out after hitting Sudowoodo with a flurry of Fire-Type attacks, this Pokemon is not a Grass Type at all, but rather a Rock Type, posing as a tree.
Florges is literally a huge flower. How could this Pokemon be anything other than a Grass Type? Well, apparently Florges completely denies our expectations, as this blooming beauty lacks the Grass Typing, even as a secondary Type. Instead, Florges is a pure Fairy Type Pokemon, which still baffles a lot of fans around the world.
While this is a common misinterpretation, we can’t blame those who make this mistake, as Florges looks much more Grass Type than many genuine Grass Type Pokemon, making this a very easy ‘Mon to get mixed up.
Psyduck is a Pokemon that surprises many with its Typing. While it’s obvious that this cute, goofy ducky is a Water Type, many would assume that Psyduck also has a secondary Typing of Psychic. After all, it’s even in the name; Psy-duck, Psy-chic. Get it?
Well, apart from the name, Psyduck is also often depicted clutching its head in confusion, which is a pose that would work very well for a basic form Psychic Pokemon. Maybe Psyduck secretly is a Psychic Type, and he’s just been trying really hard this entire time to get his telekinesis powers to work. I guess we’ll never know.
Lugia is one of the more memorable Legendary Pokemon in existence, known for being the Guardian of the Sea. The combination of this title and Lugia’s cool-toned color palette, consisting of whites and blues, could quite possibly lead anyone to believe that it is a Water Type. Well, we hate to break it to you; but the Guardian of the Sea is a phony.
Lugia does not have any Water Typing and is instead a Dual Psychic and Flying Type. Interestingly enough, however, this is how Lugia operates as the Guardian of the Sea, using its Psychic abilities to control the water around itself.
Ah, Charizard, you poor unfortunate soul. For many, this big ol’ guy will be the first Pokemon that pops into their mind when they ponder the question of which specimen doesn’t look true to their Typing. Even though Charizard is a big, fierce, fire dragon guy….. he’s not a Dragon-Type at all.
Charizard remains a pure Fire Type, meaning this ‘dragon’ is essentially just a large lizard (but with wings?). It doesn’t make sense to us either and has left poor Charizard a complete laughing stock for years, with never-ending ‘not a real dragon’ memes taking the internet by storm.
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Grace Black
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The Pokemon games have had some fascinating characters over the years. However, many of these individuals are often forgotten or overshadowed by the main protagonist and rivals. We’ve rounded up ten of the most intriguing and lovable Pokemon characters who deserve to make a comeback in future games, revisiting what makes them so special and where they could go next.
Having made her debut in Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, Zinnia is a character that deserves so much more attention. Not only is her design near flawless, but she also came with one hell of a battle theme to get you truly pumped. Zinnia was the starring character within ORAS’ post-game Delta Episode, which created much intrigue towards her character and story; and who could forget her beloved partner Pokemon? This girl had ‘Mons of both the small and cute variation with her Whismur, Aster, as well as powerful and menacing with her Mega Salamence.
It’s been nine years since Zinnia made her appearance, and she’s yet to show up in a mainline Pokemon game since. For someone who had ties to Mega Evolution and the secrets of the Legendary Rayquaza, this is highly disappointing. It would be great to see Zinnia return to future Pokemon titles, perhaps to research mysteries regarding a new powerful, Legendary, or Mythical Dragon Type. Bring her back, bring back her theme, and let her thrive; please, Game Freak, all I want is a Zinnia Rematch outside of Hoenn.
If there’s a Pokemon rival who stands out from others, it’s certainly Silver. This guy made an unfavorable first impression by stealing a Pokemon from Elm’s Lab and barging into you with some pretty harsh words. Despite his mysterious allure, the most interesting thing about Silver is the fact that he is Giovanni’s son, which explains his behavior in the earlier stages of the game.
However, as you progress through the story, Silver learns from his defeat, changes his views on Pokemon, and even gains the courage to stand up to his father. By the end of the game, Silver is on a mission to establish genuine connections with his team and become a truly great Trainer, the right way. For that reason alone, Silver is long overdue for another game appearance; we all want to see his transformation into the Trainer he wanted to be.
Who could forget the iconic Champion Lance? After all, this guy comes equipped with three Dragonite on his team! Aside from being one of the most badass Dragon Type Trainers in existence, Lance also holds the title of Elite Four and Champion, proving his power is no joke. Lance also has a very interesting background with his relation to Gym Leader Clair and the clan of Dragon Masters, and it would truly be incredible to see this explored more if he were to make a return to a future Pokemon title. Bring him back, Game Freak! Nobody would complain.
N is certainly one of the most mysterious Trainers who has ever made an appearance in the series. Not only does N have the fascinating ability to understand Pokemon speech due to his upbringing, but he also has a mysterious link to the Illusion Fox Pokemon, Zoroark, which makes him even more of an enigma. N just so happens to be a fan-favorite Pokemon character, and people have been eager to see him make even more appearances due to his interesting background and storyline in the B/W and B2/W2 games.
I mean, come on, this guy has a Legendary Pokemon by his side, there’s plenty of opportunity to have him make a surprise comeback in a new Region, putting a stop to more plans of those who aim to divide people from Pokemon.
It’s ya boi Guzma! I struggle to think of another Team Leader who managed to draw me in from the very first encounter, such as Guzma managed to do. Perhaps it’s the amusing fact that his Team Skull are nothing more than rebels and hooligans just doing their best to be bad guys, or the fact that Guzma turns out to not be that bad at all, and instead rather misunderstood and misguided.
Guzma’s story and change of heart were quite fascinating to watch unfold, as he just wanted to be a genuinely respected Trainer. I say bring him back after having completed that goal, giving Guzma and his beloved Wimsipod a moment to shine; it’s what he truly deserves to round out his redemption ark.
Bede is a very interesting character whose story still feels somewhat unfinished. Starting as one of your rivals in Pokemon Sword and Shield, Bede was a Trainer who utilized Psychic-type Pokemon by choice. However, at about the halfway mark of the game, his potential was noticed by Fairy Type Gym Leader, Opal. Next thing you know, Bede’s throwing on a Gym Leader outfit, switching his team up to Fairy Types, and stepping into the role of new Gym Leader.
This was a cool little story ark for him, but felt rather sudden and rushed, with the way he just tossed his old team aside. Most importantly, I want to know about Bede’s challenges adjusting to his new role and the struggles he’s had to overcome, as well as his progression into a powerful Gym Leader for opposing Trainers to face off against. I’d love Bede to make a comeback in future titles, perhaps stepping out of Galar for a mission to help a new young Gym Leader settle into their role, or investigate a mysterious new phenomenon, much like the Steven Stone of Fairy Types.
Solana is one of the two playable characters in the Pokemon Ranger game, and one of the first characters who introduced that wild Pokemon could be tamed and utilized for helpful scenarios other than battling. With games such as Scarlet & Violet taking a much more open-world approach, it would be fascinating to see some new mechanics developed, such as temporarily taming Pokemon to assist you in clearing obstacles, solving puzzles, and unlocking new paths.
Nobody would be better than Solana when it comes to introducing players to how to tame Pokemon for these scenarios. This would be an amazing and nostalgic appearance for many players who grew up with the DS era of games and spent time playing the Pokemon Ranger spin-off, and given a chance to develop her character even further, with her adorable partner Pokemon, Plusle, by her side, of course.
There’s nothing quite like a classic sibling bond in video games, and Gladion and Lillie are no exception here. These two have shared anything but the cliche sibling love during their adventures, with Gladion abandoning Lillie, and running away without a trace. However, by the end of the game narrative, Gladion has shown to feel remorse for his actions and revealed that he does indeed care deeply for his sister, having left not only to escape their mother but to train so he could get stronger to protect his family.
The story concludes with Gladiona and Lillie having patched up their relationship, and moving forward in life. However, it would be incredibly satisfying to see these two make a return, with a bond stronger than we’ve ever seen. Just imagine how satisfying and entertaining it would be to go up against these two in a friendly double battle.
Wes is certainly an intriguing (and often overlooked) individual, starring as the protagonist of the spin-off title, Pokemon Colosseum. While Wes has an extremely mysterious past that is never completely explained in-game, this could work in favor of bringing him back in a future title.
Bringing Wes back could feature an explanation of this vague past, or even explore where he goes next following Colosseum, as his future whereabouts are never disclosed. Besides, he has the coolest partner Poekmon in the world, wielding Umbreon and Espeon as a powerful night and day duo. Who wouldn’t want to see this team in action?
C’mon, who doesn’t love the goofy and unexpected addition of Ball Guy? This guy is pretty much a living breathing gacha machine, giving you a gift of various Pokeballs each time you visit a Gym in Pokemon Sword and Shield’s Galar Region. Ball Guy was such a fun little mechanic, and I genuinely looked forward to finding out which Pokeball I’d be getting as a freebie every time I headed into a Gym. If there’s one thing I miss from Galar’s Gym system, it’s Ball Guy.
It’s an absolute crime that this funny little fella has yet to return in the following titles. He’s like the perfect little meme character to keep things light and entertaining – I mean, just look at that wacky Pokeball face mask. How is it so hilarious and so cursed at the same time? Ball guy. That’s how.
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Grace Black
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Nintendo’s portable jump into glasses-free 3D, the Nintendo 3DS had an extremely slow start and was looking like a rough moment for Nintendo. After a price drop and some exciting releases, though, sales rebounded and the 3DS family would go on to become one of Nintendo’s most successful systems.
And like many Nintendo systems before and after it, it’s home to many fantastic games in some of Nintendo’s most iconic franchises.
As always, though, not every game is as readily accessible for dedicated players. Many games, for one reason or another, become exceedingly rare or expensive and exist as “prized possessions” among collectors. Here are 10 of the rarest and most expensive 3DS games that’ll more than likely set your wallet on fire.
As is the case with previous articles, all prices are sourced from PriceCharting. Used prices are based on their “Loose Price” listing, while new prices are based on their “New Price” listing. Entries are ranked from lowest to highest by their respective “new” price.
“Special Edition” versions of games are a lock to end up on lists like these, so let’s just go ahead and rip the Band-Aid off right away. Scribblenauts Unlimited is by no means a rare or expensive game on any of the several systems it’s available for, but a “Special Edition” will always be a harder find.
In the case of Scribblenauts Unlimited, the 3DS version was the only one to receive a “Special Edition,” and it came with a 3DS jacket resembling the main character Maxwell and a special stylus…in the form of a pencil…okay, come on, that’s really cute. I don’t even play Scribblenauts and I’d buy that…well, maybe not for THIS much money.
Even a used copy of the game will bring you down $150, while a new copy pushes up to $270. Just trying to find the stylus itself will set you back $140…which shouldn’t be too surprising with how adorable it is. If you’re looking for the game itself, the good news is that it’s readily available on many other platforms for a much cheaper price. You’d probably be much better off looking around there…maybe next time, pencil stylus.
In its original form, Etrian Mystery Dungeon already fetches a pretty high price. The Standard Edition goes for $80 used and $143 new, which already sounds pretty massive, right? Now, factor in that a bundle exists that includes a soundtrack alongside the game. You can only imagine how much higher the price goes when that’s taken into account…heh heh, get it? Account? Money? Accounting? Okay, fine, I’ll stop.
But historically, Atlus has had pretty limited print runs when localizing games, and those print runs are most likely even smaller when it’s a “Special Edition.” As a result, used copies of this soundtrack bundle land at $170, while a new copy jumps up to $320. It’s probably best to go with the Standard Edition on this one…or pray that said Standard Edition falls down a peg or two as far as its price is concerned.
That’s right, what better way to ring in that new Nintendo 3DS (or, *ahem*, that New Nintendo 3DS) than with the legend of our time, Frogger…in 3D! An extra layer of dimensionality was everything gamers could ever ask for out of Frogger, making this an incredibly necessary game in the 3DS’s first year of its life.
What’s more, publisher Konami made their own “Special Edition” of the game that came with a hard case for the 3DS. That’s certainly nice and all, but Frogger, you’re not a cute pencil stylus so you’re a little less cool. And don’t give me that “respect your elders” crap, either; Maxwell’s got you beat on this one.
If you’re truly interested in Frogger 3D’s “Case Bundle”, you’re gonna have to pay $200 for a used copy, or $350 if you want to find a new copy. The good news here is that the Standard Edition is much more reasonable if you’re really looking to grab this. The bad news is that the game is not all that exciting, so you might want to think twice before spending your money on it. Sorry, Frogger, I’ll respect my elders but I have to call a spade a spade, too…don’t give me that look.
The 3DS was home to many a great rhythm game, top-lined by the fantastic Theatrhythm Final Fantasy games, but Rhythm Thief & the Emperor’s Treasure was one that flew under the radar. Published by Sega, this was a clever mixture of the rhythm and puzzle genres about an art thief in Paris searching for secrets of his past. Despite being a pretty creative game, it seemed to fall by the wayside a bit, which makes it a pretty rare title on Nintendo’s 3D handheld.
A used copy will already put you down $153, but buying the game new will go for an even greater $371. It’s a shame this one slipped through the cracks and became so expensive because it’s such a clever take on the rhythm genre. Your best bet is to hope that the price goes down, or that Sega somehow remembers the game exists long enough to reissue it on current systems. Especially since that abridged iOS version of the game is long gone…and yes, I know what you’re thinking, that was a thing.
Oh, poor Yo-Kai Watch. You could’ve been so much more than you were. A franchise not too dissimilar to Pokemon, Yo-Kai Watch was touted as a potential “killer” in the “mon” genre but couldn’t quite reach the heights of the title it was so heavily inspired by. Already not too huge in the West, Yo-Kai Watch 3 also had the displeasure of being released at a terrible time: though Japan got the game in 2016, it wasn’t localized in the West until February 2019.
By that point, the 3DS was gasping for air, and gamers were more interested in titles like Kingdom Hearts III and the Resident Evil 2 remake. Thus, it became a commercial failure — and it even contributed to Level-5 exiting the international publishing market for several years afterward — though its struggles did lead to it fetching a pretty handsome sum among 3DS games.
Even if you’re looking for a used copy of the game, you’ll have to give up $336 to get it. On the same flip of the coin — ha, yeah, like I was actually gonna stop making money puns — a new copy lands you at $400. It’s a shame because these games are not too bad and could be worthy of your time…but are they truly worthy of that much money? You’ll probably have to wait until a giant price drop…or pray that Level-5’s return to localization means Yo-Kai Watch 4 will finally come to the West.
Time to get really obscure on you with this one. Alien Chaos 3D is a 2D shooter (ha ha, ironic, isn’t it?) from Ludosity, who you may know better as the team behind the recent Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl games. As Ludosity is already a small developer and was even smaller when this game was released in 2012, it initially received an eShop-only release, only having a small print run of physical copies. Be glad at least a few exist — with the eShop’s closure this year, it would’ve been lost to time otherwise — but let it be known that you’re gonna need a lot of money to have it for yourself.
Just searching for a used copy will force you to give up a pretty decent $135. Going for a new copy is a totally different story, though, as you’ll have to pay $536 for one. It’s a shame that it’s so hard to find because, under the radar, Alien Chaos 3D is a pretty decent little game. The key word, though, is “little,” and unfortunately, the price of the game is anything but “little.” Good luck waiting for this one to receive a price drop.
It wouldn’t be a proper “rarest and most expensive” Nintendo games list without adding a first-party game or two, right? The Special Edition of Fire Emblem Fates feels fitting on a list such as this; as it was released as three separate “games” accounting for the full story, this Special Edition was the only way to get all three titles — Birthright, Conquest, and the downloadable Revelation — in one complete package. And with the aforementioned closure of the eShop, you might find it even harder to access Revelation nowadays. Thus, good luck finding all of Fire Emblem Fates in one place for a decent price.
If you want this bundle in used condition, you’ll still have to give up $326, while getting a fully new copy will go for an asinine $650. The Special Edition will also net you a steelbook, an artbook, and a poster of the game’s key art as well as a map of Nohr and Hoshido so you won’t have to ask for directions. Considering the steep price, even though you’re gonna miss out on the third story, it’s probably best to just buy the games separately if you want to experience most of what Fire Emblem Fates has to offer.
Sometimes, when making these lists, a game comes along that makes you just tilt your head to the side like a confused puppy. Nintendo 3DS Guide: Louvre is exactly what it sounds like: a piece of software for the 3DS that lets players virtually explore the Louvre.
Originally, it was exclusive to rentable 3DS units at the museum that could be used as a tour guide, but it eventually got an eShop release so users could explore the Louvre without having to travel to Paris. It even got a physical release, but as it was never available in America (it seemed to have only been available in the Louvre’s gift shop), it became incredibly expensive.
Used copies of the game run for $459, while new copies will go up to roughly $779. I mean, sure, it definitely beats the amount of money it would cost to fly to Paris and visit the Louvre, but $459 is unreal for any video game, especially one such as this. Perhaps there’s a YouTube video inside the Louvre that can get the point across as well as the 3DS can, without all the money a trip would cost.
Surprise surprise, Pokemon makes an appearance on the list thanks to a dual pack. With the release of Pokemon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire in 2014, Nintendo chose to release a double pack containing both releases in one convenient place.
This is a common practice that Nintendo continues to do when yearly Pokemon games are released, and after a while, each bundle becomes somewhat “rare” or “expensive.” This isn’t because the games themselves are hard to find or expensive on their own, but largely because it’s hard to find the bundles complete in the original box.
The good news is that a used copy of this dual pack is only $46. The bad news is that a proper “new” copy of it lands all the way up at $1,366. Any time a game’s price starts jumping into the thousands, you can’t help but just let out a deep sigh. The only thing helping Pokemon’s case here is that a used copy is affordable, meaning you can still get both games in one place without much hassle. That said, if you’re an extreme collector or someone who HAS to have the game mint in the box, get ready to cut off an arm and a leg to get this one.
Is writing about Barbie: Groom and Glam Pups for my job the ultimate sign that I’ve made it in life? This game is exactly what you think it is: Barbie gets to groom and nurture her own puppy. Interestingly, the Wii and DS versions of the game are nowhere near as expensive as the 3DS version, and even the new prices for both are incredibly affordable.
It probably helps that, while THQ published those versions of the game, Little Orbit handled the publishing of the 3DS version. Beyond being a smaller publisher, the physical North American release was apparently only available in Canada, which helps drive its value through the roof.
Even if you just want a used copy of this game, you’ll have to spend around $735 on it. Take a deep breath before I reveal what a new copy costs, though, because it’s absolute nonsense: a new copy of Barbie: Groom and Glam Pups for the Nintendo 3DS costs $5,021.
If you’re keeping score at home, I’d rank that among the top 10 worst sentences I’ve ever said or typed in my life. At that point, if a handheld Barbie video game is trying to take $5,000 from you, that could be grounds for legal action. You’re better off just finding any other piece of Barbie media to spend time with, like the ever-popular new Barbie movie for example…isn’t that supposed to be coming to Max soon? Whatever happened to that?
Anyway, what are some other rare or expensive 3DS games you can think of? Sound off in the comments below!
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Matt Anderson
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