Pokémon Features
Guide Essential Tips to Reach Level 100 in Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon
Time to evolve
Levelling up Pokémon can always be such a pain. While battles will often bring your Pokémon down to Level 50 or up to Level 100, there are many reasons to get your Pokémon to higher levels. Some Pokémon, such as Zweilous, don't evolve until they hit Level 64. Although the Move Reminder can also teach your Pokémon moves late in...
Movie Review Pokémon The Movie: I Choose You!
Ash turns 10…again!
For the first time in over a decade (for many in the West, at least), Pokémon has hit our cinema screens again with Pokémon The Movie: I Choose You!, and I was lucky enough to attend one of its few screenings in the UK (though “due to popular demand”, two more dates have been added on the 11th and 14th of this month)...
Exclusive Game Freak Explains Why We Should All Play Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon
Riding Mantine, new Pokemon, Mewtwo and more
Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon aren't far away on 3DS, and the more we learn about the new titles the clearer it gets that they're offering more than minor expansions. The Pokémon Company and Game Freak have emphasised that there'll be an expansive storyline, and in a new twist to previous expansions...
Feature Looking Back On Enhanced Versions Of Pokémon Games
Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon are part of a proud tradition
Pokémon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon were revealed back in June with the promise of having an alternate story. We didn't really get much information to elaborate on that until fairly recently, when it became clear that Pokémon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon are a return to the style of game...
Talking Point The Apple Event - It's Worth Looking Out for Nintendo and Pokémon GO
A sign of the times
A few years ago your humble scribe was advised it may be worth 'keeping an eye' on an Apple event, to which the response was a raised eyebrow. Sure enough, nothing happened; in fact Apple straight up copied the Wii with its motion controllers for a gaming-focused Apple TV, an initiative that didn't quite take off. In any case,...
Guide Pokémon GO Raids, Bosses, Rewards And Winning Tactics
Playing with the big boys
Niantic’s Pocket Monster-catching phenomenon is an ever-changing and adapting beast; regular updates and additions to the game have made Pokémon GO a much-loved but potentially confusing experience. The recently added ‘Raid Battles’ are one element that may well cause some confusion to new players and veterans alike...
Feature Everything You Need To Know About The 2017 Pokémon World Championships
Serebii's Joe Merrick fills us in on the action
This past weekend was the 13th Pokémon World Championships. After last year, where spectators were not permitted to enter barring those who queued early in the morning in the slim hope of getting a spectator pass, this year The Pokémon Company International shifted the locale to Anaheim, California,...
First Impressions Prepping for Round Two with Pokkén Tournament DX
Once more into the fray
Pokkén Tournament was a game that perhaps never had a proper chance to shine. After its debut in Japanese arcades, the fighter saw a console release on a platform that was in the autumn of its life, and which hadn’t been all that impressive (in terms of sales) to begin with. It was no wonder, then, that Pokkén Tournament...
Feature Pokémon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - What We Know So Far...
Ultra surprising
The Pokémon Direct has passed, and it brought us three announcements: Pokkén Tournament DX for the Nintendo Switch, Pokemon Gold and Silver for the Virtual Console and - the most notable one of the trio - the new main series Pokémon arrivals, Pokémon Ultra Sun and Pokémon Ultra Moon on 3DS. So, what do we know about these up
Poll What Did You Think of the Pokémon Direct and Its Big Reveals?
Was it the ultra surprise?
Earlier today The Pokémon Company and Nintendo shared an eight minute video outlining releases in the series that we can expect this year. There were significant announcements, though they didn't match up with some expectations and predictions, particularly when it comes to 2017 releases on the Nintendo Switch. First of...
Guide How To Evolve Your Magikarp Into Gyarados In Magikarp Jump
Although, it's almost useless...
Magikarp has always had it rough over the Pokémon franchise's 20-year existence. In the main-series Pokémon games, the flopping fish is (in most cases) practically useless - but as many know, those with enough persistence to raise their Magikarp to level 20 can evolve it into a ferocious serpent-like dragon,...
Review Datel Go-tcha For Pokémon GO
Taking the effort out of catching those pesky 'mon
While the Pokémon GO craze has clearly died down after the initial explosion of interest at launch, there are still millions of people who continue to play the game each and every day. Some of these will already be using the excellent Pokémon GO Plus accessory, a device worn on your wrist which...
Feature An Extraordinary Pokémon Trading Card Collection and a Life-Changing Sale
"It’s all about the memories I can give to my children and wife"
Many reading these pages are dedicated and passionate gamers, and plenty of us will have sizeable collections from our hobby that'd make the uninitiated scratch their heads in bewilderment. Yet gaming is powerful, it can be motivating and inspiring. Sometimes, it can also lead to...
Guide How to Transfer Pokémon from Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow to Pokémon Sun and Moon
Get a Bulba in your life
Pokémon Bank has had the update Pokéfans have been anticipating for months, and finally we're able to transfer our beloved Pokémon from the Virtual Console versions of Red, Blue, and Yellow to the shiny new Pokémon Sun and Moon. But how do you go about this? Well if you'd divert your attention
Guide Getting to Grips With SOS Battles in Pokémon Sun and Moon
Sending out an SOS
S.O.S. Battles are the most noteworthy new battle element in Pokémon Sun & Moon because, well frankly, you will continually see them during your gameplay. So what are they? As you are battling a Pokémon, it will often call for help from another Pokémon, usually one of the same species, that will join the battle and give...
Feature Experiencing Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses & Pokémon: Symphonic Evolutions
Music to all ears
Arjun has attended both the Symphony of the Goddesses and Pokémon: Symphonic Evolutions tours, and shares his thoughts on the experiences. To most people, video games are a way to relax, unwind, be entertained, get competitive, or all of the above. To others, video games are that and then some - a tool to escape into worlds...
Guide Collecting Zygarde's Cores for the Complete Forme in Pokémon Sun and Moon
Gotta find 'em all
Zygarde was one of the great mysteries towards the end of the last generation, with new forms being introduced and no game to tie them together, but Pokémon Sun and Moon finally provide the first time that these forms are usable in a main game. Getting these forms is a convoluted process where, once given the Zygarde Cube, you...
Guide Getting To Grips With EV Training In Pokémon Sun And Moon
Worth the effort
Next week is the 2016 European International Championships at the ExCel in London, and many people are still getting to grips with the new system for training and even the new Pokémon in Sun and Moon. While Individual Values haven't changed much - beyond Hyper Training, anyway - how you get Effort Values has altered from Pokémon X...
Feature The Most Intriguing Features in Pokémon Sun and Moon
A new generation is coming
Pokémon Sun and Moon are almost here, bringing us the year's biggest release(s) on the 3DS and kicking off a new generation in the iconic franchise. There's plenty of excitement, with pre-order numbers high and plenty of buzz online, so we thought we'd break down some of the most intriguing new features to be found in...
Feature Getting To Know Pokémon Sun And Moon's Monsters
Monster mash
We are just a mere two weeks away from the launch of Pokémon Sun & Moon and so it's time for another run down of every single thing that we know and today, we are dealing with the Pokémon. We won't be detailing the datamined leaks here, but there will be things from what has been officially revealed so there may still be spoilers...
Hands On Pokémon Sun and Moon - Special Demo Version
Demonstrative indeed
Demos have come an awfully long way over the years, even to the point where these bite-sized chunks can be considered full games in their own right; you only have to look at the Bravely series to know what we're talking about. So it was no surprise when Nintendo announced the arrival of a demo for the upcoming Pokémon Sun &...
Guide How To Use Medals To Boost Your Pokémon GO Catch Bonus
Playing to type
The latest Pokémon GO update introduces catch bonuses which improve you chances of bagging that elusive 'mon. This system is based on the existing medal element, where collecting a certain number of monsters earns you an achievement. Only the monster type-related medals have impact on your catch bonus - so ignore the first set of...
Hands On Checking Out A New Generation In Pokémon Sun and Moon
Talking 'bout our generation
From the off it's clear that here's been a tremendous level of effort from Game Freak to make Pokémon Sun and Moon another notable evolution of the Pokémon series; whilst the jump from Black and White to X and Y was like a Bulbasaur becoming an Ivysaur, the jump to this generation is more like a Magikarp becoming a...
Guide Everything You Need To Know About The Pokémon GO Plus
Catching them all just got easier
The Pokémon GO Plus arrives at retail this week after a lengthy delay, but there's still an awful lot of confusion about what this diminutive device actually does, what it's limitations are and how it can be used to improve your Pokémon GO experience. Fear not however, because we've compiled this handy one-stop...
Poll How Excited Are You About Pokémon Sun and Moon?
We know quite a lot about the games now...
Pokémon Sun and Moon, combined together, are the main event for 3DS this year. The hype and buzz around Pokémon GO hasn't exactly harmed awareness of the upcoming portable titles, and The Pokémon Company has also been upping its game with a number of major reveals. In recent times it's unveiled new...
Feature 1000 Live Pikachu Running Wild in Yokohama
A look at annual Summer Pokemon events in Japan
Its the summer of 2016, and the biggest craze going is Pokémon GO! If you've been too busy running around trying to catch em all, you might have missed out on the news of a few other Pokémon related events that are happening over in Japan right now. First up is the Pokemon Riddle Solving Rally...
Feature Pokémon Sun and Moon - Breaking Down The Most Exciting New Features
From Hyper Training to Z-Moves and more
What a few months it has been. Since we last took a look at what we knew about Sun & Moon, following its original reveal, we have had a massive amount of information; it's still coming at us faster than a Quick Claw Speed Forme Deoxys using Extreme Speed. While much of the news has focused on new...
Poll Will You Still Be Playing Pokémon GO at the End of 2016?
Will the evolution of a revolution be enough?
It's quite clear that Pokémon GO has been one of the most widespread and revolutionary concepts with which Nintendo has ever been associated, albeit the app is very much the work of developer Niantic. Sure, the Nintendo Wii, DS, Game Boy and original NES are also of great mention, but the mainstream...
Guide Building The Perfect Team In Pokémon GO
The best monsters rated by attack, defense and stamina
If you've spent the past few weeks catching Pokémon, grabbing items and evolving your brood in Pokémon GO, then you'll no doubt be keen to fine-tune your team in order to take down some local gyms. That means building the perfect fighting unit of monsters with a mixture of high attack (or CP)...
Feature What We Can Expect From The Future Of Pokémon GO
Keeping the going good
Niantic's Pokémon GO - in which Nintendo has a major stake - has been a lion's roar to the naysayers, for as you're probably well aware the app is breaking records all over the shop. Naturally, we can expect to see this huge spike of interest drop as the novelty may wear off for the more casual fans. However, if you're...
Guide How To Hatch Eggs In Pokémon GO Without Taking A Single Step
You spin me round (like a record)
Hatching eggs in Pokémon GO is definitely something you'll want to do on a regular basis. Not only does it give you additional 'mon for your collection, it's the only way to bag some of the rarer beasts. The big problem? You actually have to walk around for the eggs to incubate. The distances involved vary, but as...
Guide Pokémon GO Monster Types And Where To Find Them
Trying to find your favourite? We're here to help
So you've been playing Pokémon GO for a few days and have built up a pretty impressive menagerie of 'mon, but there are still a few firm favourites you've not stumbled across yet. If you're wondering how to nab these elusive beasts, then we're here to help. Pokémon each have an elemental affinity,...
Guide Advanced Pokémon GO Capture Tips And How To Get Better Pokéballs
All you need to know about bagging those pesky 'mon
If you've already read and digested our handy starter's guide to Pokémon GO then you'll no doubt be ready for some more advanced tips and tricks. We're now going to take an in-depth look into how to actually catch monsters, how to bag the rarer ones and what you have you have to do to get your...
Talking Point The Viral Reaction to Pokémon GO is a Surprise Gift for Nintendo
And it's not even a Nintendo game, in the typical sense
Pokémon GO was an app that bored quite a few observers during a lengthy E3 Q & A this year, a session most entertaining for Shigeru Miyamoto's "who's your daddy" moment when he unexpectedly announced a release date for the Plus add-on - to the bemusement and surprise of Niantic and...
Feature What Are Your Thoughts, So Far, on Pokémon GO?
Avoiding cars and other problems, we hope
It's fair to say that Pokémon GO has struck a nerve with the public, with the app going viral in terms of downloads, money made from micro-transactions and through social media. Pokémon GO is everywhere - well, except for Europe and some other territories still waiting for the release. It's generated some...
Guide New To Pokémon GO? Check Out Our Handy Starter's Guide
Catching, training and hatching - it's all here
Pokémon GO is experiencing a staggered release across the globe, and many people are now hunting Pokémon all around their homes and nearby areas. If you want to get off to the best start then we're here to help - we've compiled a handy starter guide for all budding 'mon catchers. Starting Out When...
Guide Here's How To Get Pokémon GO On iPhone And Android
Super effective!
Pokémon GO has just gone live in Australia and Japan, but for the rest of the world, you can't access the app unless you're willing to jump through a few hoops. [Update: it's now also available in the US] Thankfully, we're here to make that process a little easier. Here's how you can get Pokémon GO on your iOS or Android device...
Hardware Classics Pokémon Mini
Nintendo's smallest console, in both size and stature
It's somewhat ironic that one of Nintendo's most obscure consoles is so strongly aligned with one of its most instantly recognisable brands, but understanding why the Pokémon Mini wasn't quite as successful as it probably should have been is relatively easy; it was marketed poorly, the games...
Talking Point Our Hopes For Nintendo's E3 2016 Legend of Zelda (and Pokémon) Bonanza
Beyond gameplay, Nintendo can emphasize its unique strengths
Well, it's finally here. After 18 months of near-silence and zero footage, Nintendo is going to lift the lid on The Legend of Zelda for Wii U and Nintendo NX (and also show some Pokémon Sun and Moon). It's the Wii U version that'll be on display, due to the ongoing secrecy around the...
Editorial With Lowered Expectations E3 Can Still Be Full of Nintendo Magic
Focused on the now, not the future
E3, at least in the years I've been following it, has been at its best when focused on the future and full of surprises. Nintendo's plans only fulfil one of those criteria, and partially at that. The latest breakdown of Nintendo's efforts contains a day devoted to games that are rather close, due typically within...
Soapbox How The Evolution Of Pokémon Can Unexpectedly Influence Play-Through Experiences
Arjun Joshi used Reflect...
Pokémon is amazing. It's cemented itself in my top three video game series', often switching positions between Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda. It truly was a franchise I grew up with, and I owe a great deal of my current successes and overall well-being to its games - but that's another story for another time...
The spirited Level-5 series needs time
The Yo-kai Watch franchise is enormous in Japan, to the point that in late 2015 Level-5 was able to reference 10 million games in the series being shipped. That number will have also included some sales from the first game's launch in North America, though based upon its absence from NPD's results and...
Feature What We Know, and Think We Know, From the Pokémon Sun & Moon Reveal Trailers
Picking through the clues
As we approach a new generation, we have now had a first look at the seventh generation of Pokémon games, Pokémon Sun & Pokémon Moon. These games are the second generation of Pokémon games on the Nintendo 3DS, so while things may look the same on the surface there are some interesting changes that have come. While...
Poll Did The First Pokémon: Sun and Moon Trailers and Starter Pokémon Get You Excited?
Which Starter will you choose?
Well, Pokémon is still a very big deal. Following the announcement of the Starter Pokémon through a debut trailer the franchise was trending on social media, and at the time of writing the trailer on the official Pokémon channel has amassed over 4.4 million views in a little over one day. Pokémon Sun and Moon had...
Talking Point What Would You Like to See From Pokémon Sun and Moon?
Louisa Bhairam outlines her hopes for the new Pokémon titles
Details of the next instalment in the Pokémon franchise should start to come out very soon, and we're interested in what you would like to see from the newest addition to the Pokémon family, or just the future of the series in general. To get you thinking, I've thought of some areas...
Talking Point The New 3DS Can Revive the Portable Family With Help From Pokémon and amiibo
Pokemon amiibo cards could print money
Nintendo knows how to bury bad news. Not long before the Pokémon Direct and the reveal of Pokémon Sun and Moon, it announced cuts to its estimated profits and sales. Net sales could be the lowest in 15 years for the
Feature Why We're Still Playing… Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver
The winners of your community vote on favourite Pokémon games
This is a series of features that focuses on games that we keep playing again and again, either over an unhealthy number of hours or those that keep getting return visits long after they first graced our systems. In this entry Mitch talks about his favourite Pokémon games, which also...
Feature Nintendo Life's Favourite Pokémon Games - 20th Anniversary Edition
They all want to be the very best...
Not too long ago we asked you, the Nintendo Life community, to vote for your favourite Pokémon games, in order to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the franchise; to say that the voting was close would be an understatement. As for the rules, only 'main' or 'core' games were included, which was nevertheless a...
Feature Reflections on 20 Years of Pokemon
Our staff and contributors shared their thoughts on the series
Pokémon is now 20 years old, with the celebrations having included a Pokémon Direct and the release of the gen 1 Game Boy titles on the 3DS Virtual Console. It's become one of the most important franchises for Nintendo both commercially and in broader terms, with a popular culture...
Reaction The Pokémon Direct Was Short and Slick, But Had a Blunted Impact
Sun and Moon remain a mystery despite their leaks and then reveal
Well, the first Nintendo Direct of the year has aired, and it was short and snappy. The Pokémon Direct was confirmed to be around five minutes long when announced, and it only edged up to 'approximately 6 minutes' when it actually arrived; there was no double bluffing to be found...