Pokemon is undoubtedly one of the biggest gaming franchises in the world right now. Its games (both mainline entries and spin-offs) sell millions of units every year, its anime adaptation draws in thousands of viewers, its massive fan base is growing bigger and bigger every day, and its iconic characters have become a huge part of pop culture for almost three decades.
How did Game Freak’s little RPG series get so far? Answering this question may be hard for some people, since this franchise will turn thirty in 2026, and they may have no memory of a world without Pokemon in it. Truth be told, there are many reasons why Pokemon has earned its place as one of the biggest franchises in gaming, but the following eight are the most important ones.
A Revolutionary Concept Done Right
It Single-Handedly Popularized The Monster-Taming Subgenre
Monster-taming RPGs have been a thing for many years, even before Pokemon was created, with Shin Megami Tensei being commonly credited for creating this niche subgenre. But nobody can deny that, since the release of Red/Blue/Green in the late 90s, Pokemon has popularized and revolutionized both this subgenre and the entire gaming landscape.
When compared to other monster-taming RPGs of the era, the first generation of Pokemon was simply more accessible and palatable for mainstream audiences due to its world, graphics, character designs, and gameplay. However, the single most important innovation brought about by this franchise was its multiplayer component, as its multiple versions and its Game Boy Link Cable implementation allowed players to trade their Pokemon with each other. The monster-taming subgenre may have existed before Pokemon, but these games took it to a whole new level and laid the groundwork for many similar IPs that came after, like Digimon or Monster Rancher.
The Designs Of The Pokemon Themselves
A Lot Of Time And Care Went Into Designing These Creatures
There are a lot of things that can be criticized about the Pokemon franchise nowadays, but if there’s one area where Game Freak never disappoints, it's the designs of the Pokemon themselves. Since the 90s, the studio’s team of brilliant designers and talented artists has carefully combined different elements from all sorts of real-life inspirations (including animals, plants, prehistoric creatures, mythical creatures, and more) to come up with some of the most interesting and distinct fictional creatures ever put in a video game.
These Pokemon not only look great, but they also attract a variety of audiences, because this franchise is brimming with variety. Pikachu is a cute and friendly mascot with global appeal, Charizard is a cool fire-breathing dragon, Lucario is an anthropomorphic martial artist that looks like a shōnen anime protagonist, and so on. Even the less popular Pokemon (like Mr. Mime or Flamigo, for example) have a few brilliant elements in their designs that often go unnoticed.
Impeccable World Building
Who Doesn’t Want To Live In The Pokemon World?
It’s not just the Pokemon themselves that grabbed the attention of millions around the world, but also the intricate and unique world they reside in. After all, fans always bring up the Pokemon setting whenever they discuss which fictional worlds they’d love to live in, and for very good reason. It's important to remember that Pokemon are not used exclusively for battling; their presence has also affected the society, culture, and even politics of their universe. They even spawned their own fascinating myths and legends, which are reminiscent of classic tales from real-world folklore.
Seeing people experience their day-to-day lives alongside these fascinating creatures is extremely endearing and has endless potential for interesting stories depicted either in the form of turn-based RPGs or other types of games. It’s important to note that humans are also a big part of why Pokemon is so massively popular. The Gym Leaders, the Elite 4, the Champions, the Pokemon Professors, and the Rivals have become some of the most iconic and popular video game characters of all time.
Universal Appeal
It Has Something For Everyone
Pokemon is, first and foremost, a franchise for kids, but it still has many other prominent elements that appeal to adults as well. Younger players may be enticed by the fun and accessible RPG gameplay, but more seasoned players can enjoy the surprisingly complex combat system that has resulted in a massive competitive scene with a welcoming community.
People who don’t like turn-based RPGs can enjoy a vast catalog of Pokemon spin-offs that belong to other game genres: MOBA players can play Pokemon UNITE, fighting game enthusiasts can play Pokken Tournament, trading card game aficionados can play Pokemon TCG Pocket, photography experts can play Pokemon Snap, and so on. That’s not all, because even people who don’t play video games can enjoy the wonderful world of Pokemon, as there are also multiple animated projects (and even a live-action film) that are based on this beloved IP and its titular creatures.
Can Be Easily Adapted To Other Mediums
Pokemon Has Dominated The Animation Industry Since The 90s
When the term “multimedia franchise” comes up in discussion, Pokemon is one of the very first examples that people will cite, and they certainly can't be blamed for it. Pokemon may have started as a series of simple but innovative turn-based RPGs, but it’s safe to say that most people are aware of the IP’s existence thanks to the Pokemon anime, which has been airing for almost thirty years.
The story of Ash Ketchum and Pikachu captivated the hearts of millions of viewers from 1996 to 2023, and other animated projects like Pokemon Horizons and Pokemon Evolutions have been massive hits as well. Due to its varied creature designs and its distinct world-building, the Pokemon franchise very easily lends itself to non-gaming projects (anime series, OVAs, cartoons, theatrical films, and more) that appeal to people who don’t like to play video games and, as a result, extend the franchise’s reach even further.
The Mainline Entries Are Very Accessible
Most Gamers Learned What An RPG Is By Playing These Games
Some people criticize Pokemon for being “baby’s first RPG;” as in, role-playing games that are so accessible and streamlined that they can be understood and enjoyed by even the youngest of players. But this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, and it's yet another reason why this franchise has become so massively popular.
The mainline Pokemon games do many things that help them break away from the stereotype that turn-based RPGs are boring or slow, like implementing mechanics that are easy to learn but difficult to master or adding many quality-of-life improvements that make the gameplay faster and more intuitive. At the end of the day, RPGs are incredibly important for the gaming industry, so it’s actually a good thing that Pokemon has introduced so many young gamers to the genre and has successfully turned most of them into fans.
Perfect For Fan-Made Creations
A Creative Franchise With A Creative Fan Base
The world of Pokemon, and the creatures living in it, were made with a high level of care and creativity. Naturally, the franchise’s most passionate fans are almost equally as creative as the development team at Game Freak. Pokemon has been inspiring countless artists, developers, and designers, who have been using their talents to bring their own fan-made projects to life in the past three decades.
People who are interested in the complex but fascinating process of creating a Pokemon from scratch have created many fan-made creatures (aka "Fakemon") that look just as good as the official creatures. Character designers and storytellers have created their own original Pokemon characters and stories. Aspiring game developers have made a slew of fan-made Pokemon games and ROM hacks that have scratched an itch that official releases couldn’t. Some of them even went a step further and translated their love for the monster-taming genre into brand-new IPs inspired by this franchise, like Cassette Beasts or Temtem. For some fans, Pokemon is not just a video game; it's a piece of art that gives them the inspiration to pursue their own artistic endeavors.
The Franchise Is Always Evolving
The Pokemon Formula Has Changed A Lot Over The Years
Needless to say, the Pokemon games have a clear formula: in almost every mainline entry, players will customize their own character, choose one of three Starter Pokemon, travel around a specific region while catching and training other Pokemon, take down an evil team, and use their skills to defeat eight Gym Leaders, the Elite 4, and the Pokemon Champion in battle. So, why and how is this franchise still so massive if the games seem so repetitive and same-y from the outside?
Unbeknownst to people who may not have played a Pokemon game in years, this franchise is always changing and evolving by repeatedly introducing brand-new mechanics in every generation. From simple things, like the physical/special split or online connectivity, to more complex additions that are meant to sell more game copies, like Mega Evolution or Gigantamax, every Pokemon title is different from the last and is sure to offer something that will attract an even larger audience. Some of the most recent (and more controversial) releases have shaken up the formula in refreshing ways, like Scarlet and Violet with its open world or the upcoming Legends: Z-A with its real-time combat system. The Pokemon franchise would never have maintained its core audience for so many decades if Game Freak hadn’t chosen to revitalize the formula on a regular basis.