By Freakout Studios
Pokémon was created by Satoshi Tajiri and Ken Sugimori in 1995 in Japan, and the first game, Pokémon Red and Green, was released for the Game Boy in 1996.
The name "Pokémon" is a contraction of "Pocket Monsters", which refers to the creatures that players capture and train in the game.
There are currently over 800 different species of Pokémon, each with its unique characteristics, abilities, and weaknesses.
The franchise has spawned a massive media empire, including video games, trading card games, anime series, movies, and various merchandise.
The most famous Pokémon is Pikachu, a yellow mouse-like creature with electric powers. Pikachu has become the unofficial mascot of the franchise.
The Pokémon universe is divided into regions, each with its unique set of Pokémon species and challenges. The regions include Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova, Kalos, Alola, and Galar.
The main objective of the game is to catch, train, and battle Pokémon against other trainers to become the strongest Pokémon master in the region.
Pokémon has a vast and dedicated fanbase, with millions of players worldwide. The franchise has also inspired numerous fan-made creations, including ROM hacks, fan fiction, and fan art.
Pokémon has had a significant impact on popular culture, with references to the franchise appearing in music, movies, and television shows.
In 2016, the mobile game Pokémon Go was released, which became a global phenomenon, with millions of people around the world playing the game and catching Pokémon in real-world locations using augmented reality technology.