What is Pokémon?

What is Pokémon? As one of the biggest media franchises in the world, it’s hard to imagine anyone who doesn’t know what the red cheeks and yellow ears of a Pikachu look like. Pokémon is absolutely everywhere, but we’re still ready to guide newcomers – there’s a lot to know about this franchise, after all.

Before we set off on a quest to be a Pokémon master, be sure to learn all about the creature collecting series with our positively packed Pokédex of premium guides. We have articles covering subjects like our Scyther evolution, Misdreavus evolution, Gloom evolution, Murkrow evolution, Bisharp evolution, Shellder evolution, Ralts evolution, starter Pokémon, mythical Pokémon, and the best games like Pokémon Go.

Alright, trainers, get ready to learn quicker than a Rapidash using agility (you’ll get that in a bit) with our what is Pokémon guide.

What is Pokémon?

Pokémon – otherwise known as Pocket Monsters in Japan – is a creature-collecting video game series. Developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Game Boy, Pokémon Red Version and Pokémon Green Version debuted in Japan on February 27, 1996, before Pokémon Blue Version came out later the same year on October 15, 1996.

Western audiences had to wait a little longer, as Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue came to North America on September 28, 1998, and Europe on October 5, 1998. Pokémon Yellow debuted in Japan on September 12, 1998, before releasing in North America on October 19, 1999, and Europe on June 16, 2000.

These games launched alongside the Pokémon anime series and the Pokémon Trading Card Game, creating what we now know as the Pokémon media empire. Across multiple formats, the ethos of Pokémon is “Gotta Catch ‘Em All” as players work to complete the Pokédex and catalog every single Pokémon available in each game.

Now, Pokémon has multiple generations of games across various platforms, multiple movies, various television series, and almost countless releases of the Trading Card Game featuring hundreds of different cards. Pokémon is one of the top three earning media franchises in the world, with an estimated accumulated wealth of $76.4 billion since its debut, putting it ahead of Star Wars, Marvel, and even Mickey Mouse.

How many Pokémon are there?

Currently, as of the new Pokémon announced for the Pokémon Scarlet and Violet DLC, there are 1,025 officially announced Pokémon. There are an additional 59 regional forms, 48 mega evolutions, 32 gigantamax Pokémon, and multiple Pokémon that naturally have different forms, such as the Unown forms that spell the alphabet.

How many Pokémon types are there?

There are 18 different Pokémon types, of which the most recent is fairy, entering the fray on the Nintendo 3DS with Pokémon X and Y. You can find each type below, where we also have links that can take you to our guides to each type, where we explain who the best creatures are in that category. Seriously, it’s a good idea to consult those articles if you’re trying to put a solid team together.

Okay, so now that you know what the different types are, you likely want to know who they’re weak and strong against. Luckily for you, we have guides to the weaknesses of all the available types. We even touch on the best counters, resistances, and strengths of the types. If you want to know how to defeat each of them, our weakness guides hold all the answers:

• Water Pokémon weakness
• Fairy Pokémon weakness
• Dark Pokémon weakness
• Dragon Pokémon weakness
• Ice Pokémon weakness
• Electric Pokémon weakness
• Fire Pokémon weakness
• Normal Pokémon weakness
• Ghost Pokémon weakness
• Steel Pokémon weakness
• Ground Pokémon weakness
• Rock Pokémon weakness
• Psychic Pokémon weakness
• Bug Pokémon weakness
• Poison Pokémon weakness
• Flying Pokémon weakness
• Fighting Pokémon weakness
• Grass Pokémon weakness

How many Pokémon generations are there?

There are currently nine Pokémon generations, and you can find each generation below, next to their region’s name, each release (without the word Pokémon), and our guide to the best Pokémon from that generation of games.

For more on the areas where each individual Pokémon game takes place, be sure to read our full Pokémon regions guide next. The most recent region is Paldea, a beautiful place influenced by the Spanish countryside.

How many Pokémon games are there?

There are 38 mainline Pokémon games, including different versions of each, such as Pokémon Green Version, Pokémon Platinum, and Pokémon Black 2 and White 2. This does not include the DLC expansions added to Pokémon Sword and Shield or the DLC for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

To learn which of the many games is worth your time, be sure to check out our guide to the best Pokémon games. Oh, and make sure you check out our new Pokémon game guide to stay up to date with all of the latest news surrounding a Pokémon Legends: Z-A release date.

How many episodes of the Pokémon anime are there?

The Pokémon anime currently has 1,269 episodes. These range from the original series debuting on April 1, 1997, to the current season called Pokémon Horizons.

How many Pokémon movies are there?

There are currently 24 animated Pokémon movies and one live-action. You can find each film listed below, alongside its original release date in Japan and North America.

Alright, trainers, that’s all we have for our what is Pokémon? guide for today, but if you have any burning questions, feel free to let us know over at the Pocket Tactics Facebook account. If you’re getting ready to dive into the games, be sure to check out our guides to the strongest Pokémon, Shellder’s evolution, and our mammoth Pokédex.