Popular Games by Game Freak
Pokémon Legends: Z-A - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Switch 2
- 16th Oct 2025 (UK/EU)
- 16th Oct 2025 (NA)
Pokémon HeartGold & SoulSilver DS
- 12th Sep 2009 (JPN)
- 14th Mar 2010 (NA)
- 26th Mar 2010 (UK/EU)
Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire 3DS
- 21st Nov 2014 (NA)
- 28th Nov 2014 (UK/EU)
Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen GBA
- 29th Jan 2004 (JPN)
- 9th Sep 2004 (NA)
- 1st Oct 2004 (UK/EU)
- 18th Sep 2010 (JPN)
- 4th Mar 2011 (UK/EU)
- 6th Mar 2011 (NA)
Reviews of Game Freak Games
Review Pocket Card Jockey: Ride On! (Switch) - Game Freak's 3DS Gem Is Still A Prize Pony
Yay or neigh?
When the 3DS eShop closed back in March 2023, we were sad for a number of reasons. We were sad at the thought of losing the wonderful Virtual Console library. Sad at the prospect of never seeing the little orange bag mascot again. Sad at the understanding that we'd soon be returning to the silent eShop of the Switch without a...
That's why they call it the blues
What is The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero? That was probably the question on most players’ lips after the Expansion Pass for Pokémon Scarlet & Violet was revealed. Part one, The Teal Mask, was just an appetizer, taking players to a new land in Kitakami and introducing new characters who might just end up being...
Review Pokémon Scarlet & Violet - The Teal Mask (Switch) - DLC That Offers More, But Not Enough
Matcha the mood
As a series, Pokémon is one that has held onto tradition pretty firmly. In the 25+ years since Red & Blue’s release, the fundamentals of the game haven’t really changed – you explore a world, you fight Pokémon, you catch Pokémon. Last year’s Pokémon Scarlet & Violet was the mainline series’ first big attempt to...
Review Pokémon Trading Card Game - A Cracking Adaptation That Still Holds Up
A rare source of fun or just an uncommon?
This review originally went live in 2014, and we're updating and republishing it to mark the game's arrival in the Nintendo Switch Online Game Boy / Game Boy Color library. It’s almost surreal nowadays to think that there was ever a time when portable gaming didn’t have Pokémon. When Red and Blue...
The world is your Cloyster
If there’s one thing we always hope for with a brand-new Pokémon generation, it’s a sense of childlike wonder. Of course, it’s not always a guarantee, especially with a formula that has been followed consistently for the last 26 years, but we always start a new generation with our fingers crossed that we'll be...
Review Pokémon Legends: Arceus (Switch) - One Of The Greatest Pokémon Games Ever Made
We all live in a Pokémon world
A century before it became the land of Sinnoh, the Hisui region was a dangerous place where humans and Pokémon didn’t share the close bond they have today. In fact, Pokémon were treated like dangerous creatures to be avoided, and in Pokémon Legends: Arceus it’s up to you and the Galaxy Expedition Team to...
Latest Game Freak News
YesterdayThu, 18th Sep 2025
Anniversary Celebrate Unova As Pokémon Black & White Turns 15
Is that a grey hair we spot?
Pokémon's fifth generation kicked off 15 years ago today with the release of Pokémon Black & White in Japan. On 18th September 2010, the world first stepped foot into Unova, a brand new Pokémon region based on North America, specifically New York City's metropolitan area, with a mix of landmarks inspired by the...
Friday12th Sep 2025
News Pokémon Legends: Z-A Is Getting DLC Featuring Two Different Mega Raichu
Plus new starter Megas are coming, but there's a catch
it's not even out yet, but Pokémon Legends: Z-A is already getting DLC, and it was announced during today's Nintendo Direct. Pokémon Legends: Z-A - Mega Dimension doesn't have a release date yet (though it will release by 28th February 2026). Pre-orders are available now on the
News Pokémon Pokopia Looks Like An Adorable Mix Of Minecraft And Animal Crossing
New HoriZ-Aons
We've (read: this writer) has been banging on about a Pokémon life sim for ages, and today, our wish has finally come true. Pokémon Pokopia was announced during today's Nintendo Direct; it's got a pastel aesthetic and blocky structures, a little bit like Minecraft or Dragon Quest Builders, but with a cosy little Animal...
Tuesday26th Aug 2025
News Pokémon Legends: Z-A Seems To Be Teasing Another New Mega Evolution
"Ready for the mega matchup of the millennium?"
Another week, another Pokémon Legends: Z-A teaser. The Pokémon Company is teasing another YouTube Premiere for Thursday, 28th August 2025. This is the second premiere in two weeks, following last week's unveiling of Mega Victreebel. This time, the hook is a little more obvious - no purple
Tuesday19th Aug 2025
News Pokémon Teases A Spooky Legends: Z-A Reveal Later This Week
"Viewer discretion advised"
We've got some more fresh Pokémon Legends: Z-A news coming our way this week, as The Pokémon Company is teasing a little YouTube Premiere for Thursday, 21st August. All we have to go on is a post on social media site X confirming that a video will be dropping at 6am PDT / 9am EDT / 2pm BST on Thursday, a photo of...
Friday15th Aug 2025
First Impressions Pokémon Legends: Z-A Is An Attempt To Catch The Hardcore Again
Smooth sailing on Switch 2
Pokémon Legends: Arceus isn’t a perfect game by any means, but that didn't stop it from syphoning all of my free time when it launched back in 2022. This was the first time in a while where I truly felt the desire to “catch 'em all”. While Arceus still borrowed a lot from the mainline games, it did enough to make...
Tuesday5th Aug 2025
Guide Best Pokémon Spin-Off Games Of All Time
Ranked by you
If there's any franchise that's no stranger to a spin-off or two, it's Pokémon. The inherent appeal of the little Pocket Monsters makes the series ripe for all kinds of genres and video games. Name a genre, and Pokémon has most likely done it. But, dear readers, what's the very best Pokémon spin-off? That's what we're here to find...
Thursday24th Jul 2025
Guide Where To Pre-Order Pokémon Legends: Z-A On Nintendo Switch 2 - Game & Hardware Bundle
And Switch 1, too
The next big Pokémon game is scheduled to launch on 16th October 2025, and it's coming to not one, but two Nintendo consoles. Pokémon Legends: Z-A will come out on the original Switch, but there's also a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition launching on the exact same day, which will have improved visuals and better frame rates. And if you...
Tuesday22nd Jul 2025
Watch Pokémon Presents July 2025 - Live!
From Z to A, and D to J...
For the second time this year, we're getting ready for a Pokémon blow-out. Hopefully! Announced earlier this year, 22nd July marks the second Pokémon Presents of 2025. While you're all jamming along to the DJ-ing Pikachu out there, what do we think we're going to see today? The stream kicks off at 6am PT / 9am ET / 2pm...
Monday9th Jun 2025
News Game Freak's Upcoming Action RPG Looks Awesome, But Don't Expect It On Switch 2 Yet
We're not in Kanto any more...
Game Freak has made games other than Pokémon before. It has also released games on non-Nintendo platforms before. Yet whenever it spices up a launch schedule with either of these curveballs, it never fails to catch us off guard. Yesterday, the Pokémon dev popped up at the Xbox Games Showcase to reveal Beast of...
Monday2nd Jun 2025
Random It Turns Out That AI Isn't Very Good At Pokémon Red
Shocker
OpenAI's o3 model, which is reportedly the "smartest model to date" of AI, can play Pokémon Red — but it's taken 80 hours to get two Gym Badges. Two. And it's rightfully being roasted online. The story was originally published by Dexerto, and the playthrough is being streamed on Twitch
News Pokémon Scarlet & Violet Footage Shows 60fps Gameplay For Switch 2
Smooth surfing
Pokémon Scarlet & Violet is one of the big headlining games getting a free performance update when the Switch 2 launches this Thursday, 5th June. And now Nintendo has shared some gameplay footage showcasing that new, buttery-smooth frame rate. And it is indeed buttery-smooth, and at 60fps. The footage was shared on the Nintendo...
News Amphie's First Pokémon Video Delves Into A Haunting Gold & Silver Memory
Update: First vid is now live
Pokémon, eh? Great, isn't it? Naturally, we're big Pocket Monster fans around these parts, but we can also say without fear of contradiction that certain corners of the Pokéfandom can get a bit, well, heated. A bit het up. A bit much sometimes. What's that noise? Sounds like pitchforks being sharpened... Fortunately,...
Wednesday28th May 2025
News The Next Pokémon Presents Is Coming In July
More details on Z-A, surely?
Yes, we will indeed be getting a second Pokémon Presents showcase later this year. Announced by The Pokémon Company, more Pokémon news is coming our way on 22nd July 2025 (thanks, Serebii!). Right now we have no other details — not even a time — but we can make a few guesses on what to expect. Especially given...
Tuesday20th May 2025
News The Iconic Pokémon Logo Took One Month To Create
“We were given nothing but paper and toys”
Big, bold yellow text, with a thick blue outline, shaped in a gentle arc. This is the Pokémon logo, which is one of the most recognisable logos in the gaming industry — and media as a whole. It's bright and simple, eye-catching and easy to read. And the logo's creator, Chris Maple, revealed that he...
Thursday8th May 2025
News Pokémon Scarlet & Violet Is Now The Second-Best Selling Game In The Series
Overtaking Sword & Shield
We all knew it was coming, but with Nintendo's latest financial results, the inevitable is here; Pokémon Scarlet & Violet has overtaken Sword & Shield to be the second best-selling Pokémon game in the franchise. During the previous financial results, Scarlet & Violet was a mere 220,000 copies behind the...
Thursday20th Mar 2025
Opinion We'll Never Get A Final Boss As Good As Pokémon Legends: Arceus Again
God-like
Editor's note: As the headline suggests, this article discusses late-game spoilers for Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Ask me what my favourite thing about Pokémon Legends: Arceus is, and I can give you a non-exhaustive list. Being able to catch Pokémon without engaging them in battle. Having actual, proper sidequests with rewards. Shiny...
Friday7th Mar 2025
Opinion Legends Z-A's Xenoblade-Style Battles Are Pokémon's Most Exciting Evolution In Years
What? Pokémon is evolving!
I'm going to go out on a limb here and say something crazy: I like the look of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. I reckon I have about five minutes before the torches are lit and an angry mob appears outside my house, so let me throw another bombshell out there. I think the series' turn-based battles have grown stale, and no amount...
Friday28th Feb 2025
Guide Best Pokémon Games Of All Time
Gotta rank 'em all
Ranking the best Pokémon games is no easy feat given that many of them are considered among the best games of their particular hardware generation. Then you have to consider just how many spin-off Pokémon games have come out over the last 30 years or so, too! To make things a little simpler for everyone, we're going to focus on...
Poll Which Starter Pokémon Will You Choose In Legends: Z-A?
Choices, choices...
What's the most important part of a Pokémon game? The roster of 'mons? The setting? The story? Well, sort of the first, but tangential — it's the starter Pokémon. We now know just who the starter trio of Pokémon Legends: Z-A will be. And, similarly to Legends: Arceus, it's a triple threat of returning favourites. Chikorita,...
Guide Pokémon Legends: Z-A - Release Date, Starters, Everything We Know So Far
All details, updates, release dates, and more
Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the second Pokémon game to bear the Legends moniker, was announced at the February 2024 Pokémon Presents. Taking the Legends formula to new heights, Legends: Z-A takes a more modern-day approach to the world compared to its predecessor, Legends: Arceus. As more details emerge...
Thursday27th Feb 2025
Opinion Pokémon Legends: Z-A Looks Cool, But It's Lacking Arceus' Unique Style
We're getting Scarlet and Violet vibes
One year after its initial announcement, Pokémon Legends: Z-A has finally been showcased properly during the most recent Pokémon Presents, giving us a good look at the upcoming title's gameplay and features. It wasn't quite the deep dive many of us were hoping for, but it was certainly enough to whet our...
Guide Pokémon Legends: Z-A Pokédex - Every Confirmed Pokémon So Far
Time to catch 'em all?
With a return to Kalos and Lumiose City coming in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, that means we'll have another set of Pocket Monsters to catch and collect. With the game set to launch in October 2025, we've been keeping an eye on all of the trailers and promotional material for the game to round up every single Pokémon coming to...
News Pokémon Legends: Z-A Trailer Confirms Starters And Mega Evolutions, Coming Late 2025
Illuminating
Pokémon Legends: Z-A made a not-unexpected appearance during today's Pokémon Presents, and while it stopped short of getting a solid release date, it has been confirmed for a late 2025 release date — likely in time for the holidays. In the new footage, we got a look at many of the Pokémon you'll be running into, a detailed look at...
Watch Pokémon Presents February 2025 - Live!
Will it be super effective?
Hello there! Welcome to the world of Pokémon Presents! My name is Oak. What up. Anyway, we've got a new Pokémon Presents to watch. Kicking off at 6am PT / 9am ET / 2pm GMT / 3pm CET / 12am AET (Friday), online sleuths have seemingly discovered that the showcase will last roughly 19 minutes. That means it's...
Wednesday19th Feb 2025
Talking Point Should We Actually Get Excited For Pokémon Day This Year?
Is it all Sleep Talk?
Next week, on 27th February 2025, Pokémon will be celebrating its 29th birthday. And you know what that means? It's time for some Pokémon Presents. After a relatively 'muted' 2024, there's a lot on people's minds. Inverted commas there because, come on, if muted means releasing a brand new mobile game which has taken the...
Tuesday31st Dec 2024
Feature A Trip To Machida, The Real-Life 'Pallet Town' That Inspired Pokémon
Pokén around
The first generation of Pokémon games features some of the most iconic locations in the entire franchise. The eerie Lavender Town, the winding Viridian Forest, and the quaint Pallet Town where all players start their journey. Pallet Town isn’t just a fanciful creation, but draws real-life inspiration from Pokémon creator Satoshi...
Monday18th Nov 2024
News Shiny Rayquaza Is Coming To Pokémon Scarlet & Violet
Alongside a whole slate of events
Pokémon Scarlet & Violet is celebrating its two-year anniversary with a bumper list of in-game events, all of which culminate in the arrival of shiny Rayquaza, which you'll be able to get for a limited time via Tera Raid Battles. The black-coloured Rayquaza will be available in Scarlet & Violet from 20th...
Saturday16th Nov 2024
News Pokémon's Major Game Freak Leak Is Apparently Over (For Now)
But the leakers intend to share more "at a later date"
Last month, Pokémon developer Game Freak confirmed a third-party gained unauthorised access to a company server earlier this year - leaking personal information and reportedly all sorts of details about past and present projects. Now that the damage has been done, the leakers have shared an...
Tuesday22nd Oct 2024
Feature What Pokémon Could Learn From Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom
Ekans of Wisdom
In my first few hours playing Echoes of Wisdom, every new enemy I stumbled across gave me a familiar thrill: Ooh, I haven’t seen that one yet! I can’t wait to have its power! I’d flick through my Echoes, discerning the best one to fight the newbie. A Spark defeated a Hydrozol, a team of Ignizols set a Mothula on fire. And when...
Tuesday15th Oct 2024
Talking Point Just How Damaging Is This Big Pokémon Leak?
Typhlosion of interest
As the dust settles and details emerge following the latest round of internal video game company material finding its way onto the World Wide Web, it's a stark reminder that those monolithic companies we follow are made up of regular, ordinary people. Talented, yes — and erm, imaginative, to say the least — but still just...
Sunday13th Oct 2024
News Pokémon Developer Game Freak Reportedly Hacked, Massive Amounts Of Data Allegedly Leaked
Update: Game Freak releases official statement
Updated [Sun 13th Oct, 2024 15:55 BST]: Game Freak has acknowledged the leak in an official statement. A third-party apparently gained unauthorised access to a company server earlier this year - accessing personal information including names and email addresses of current and former employees. Source...
Rumour Switch 2's Codename Believed To Be In Latest Pokémon Data Leak
From 'NX' to... [redacted]
There's been a massive Pokémon leak and it seems details related to the Switch "successor" have been uncovered. According to the latest reports and findings circulating online, here's what Nintendo's 'Switch 2' is internally known as (via Nintendo Everything): "The new [Pokémon] gen is apparently being developed for...
Monday2nd Sep 2024
Soapbox The Next Pokémon Game Should Rework Old Critters, Not Just Add Dozens More
Gotta not forget 'em all
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, Lowell considers how future Pokémon games could do justice to old Pocket Monsters who got lumped in with the also-rans... We’re still a little far out from Pokémon...
Wednesday31st Jul 2024
News Pokemon Developer Game Freak Seeking New Talent For Future Projects
Pokémon Legends: Z-A is due out in 2025
The famous Pokémon developer Game Freak is gearing up for a new era with titles like Pokémon Legends: Z-A, and with this in mind, it appears to be on a recruitment drive. As highlighted by DenFamiNico Gamer (thanks, Siliconera), the developer is holding a new recruitment campaign on 30th August 2024. Some...
Tuesday16th Jul 2024
News Alternative Titles For Pokémon Ruby And Sapphire Reportedly Discovered
No, not Pokémon: Too Much Water
Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire launched over two decades ago on the Game Boy Advance, but according to a couple of Pokémon fans, the third-gen titles may have been called something completely different during development. As highlighted by farore.gba and wobb on social media (thanks, VGC), after looking through data...
Monday8th Jul 2024
News Pokémon Scarlet And Violet Kick Off Four Seasonal Events This Week
Tera raids and mass outbreaks galore
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are hosting four new seasonal events starting this week, including Tera Raids and Mass Outbreaks. The first kicks off this week on 11th July 2024 and is headlined by a black crystal Tera Raid featuring Pikachu with the Mightiest Mark. This is then supplemented by a 'Pikachu and...
Thursday22nd Feb 2024
Talking Point Pokémon Presents Predictions - What Are You Expecting?
'mon Dieu
Following hot on the heels of the February 2024 Nintendo Direct, the inevitable announcement of a Pokémon Presents broadcast to coincide with Pokémon Day on 27th February came along. It's traditional to have a broadcast on this date — the anniversary of the first Pokémon games' Japanese debut way back in 1996 — and it's been a busy...
Wednesday21st Feb 2024
News Pokémon Developer's Brilliant 'Pocket Card Jockey' Bolts To Switch Today
Ride on time
Following on from its non-Nintendo debut on Apple Arcade in January 2023, the sublime horse-racing-solitaire game for 3DS, Pocket Card Jockey, has finally made the jump to Nintendo Switch as Pocket Card Jockey: Ride On! Developed by Game Freak of Pokémon fame, this curious mash-up of puzzling with breeding and racing horses was one of...
Tuesday20th Feb 2024
News Pokémon Presents Announced For 27th February 2024
And another one
The next Pokémon Presents showcase has been announced by The Pokémon Company for the end of the month, on Pokémon Day no less. On Tuesday 27th February at 6am PT / 9am EST / 2pm GMT / 3pm CET / 12am AEST (Wednesday), we'll be getting a presentation on the latest Pokémon news over on the official Pokémon YouTube channel. It's...
Monday22nd Jan 2024
Soapbox Game Freak Could Actually Learn A Thing Or Two From Palworld
No, Pikachu doesn’t need an assault rifle
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, Lowell locks and loads up the Pokémon-inspired game that's been the talk of the town since it launched on Steam and Xbox Game Pass last week... You...
Friday12th Jan 2024
News Pokémon Developer Game Freak Trademarks 'PAND LAND'
What could it be for?
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet might not be the only project Game Freak has been busy with in recent times. As highlighted by Gematsu, the Japanese developer recently filed logo trademarks for "PAND LAND". Two variations of the logo have been trademarked. According to the source, "PAND LAND" was originally trademarked late last...
Friday22nd Dec 2023
PSA Pokémon Scarlet & Violet Celebrate Holidays With Delibird-Themed Events
Outbreaks, Tera Raids - it's a holiday special!
The holidays are very close right now, but there's no need to wait for Delibird to come down the chimney and deliver your presents — you can go catch them right now in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. There are actually two different Delibird-esque events going on right now in Paldea. First up, let's...
Thursday21st Dec 2023
Soapbox Kieran’s Hatred Of You In Pokémon Scarlet & Violet's DLC Almost Makes It Good
Fumbled PokéBalls
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, Lowell laments the Scarvi DLC, but finds a diamond in its rough. The following article contains story spoilers for The Teal Mask and The Indigo Disk... Pokémon stories suck...
Thursday7th Dec 2023
Guide Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: All Returning Pokémon, Including DLC
The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero will add another 230
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are the newest Pokémon games on the block, and the first new mainline entry in the series since Pokémon Sword and Shield came out in November 2019. Both Scarlet and Violet are out now, and players all over the world are discovering a brand new generation 9 Pokédex...
News Pokémon Scarlet & Violet - The Indigo Disk Final Trailer Reveals Return Of Old Legendaries
The DLC is out next week
The Pokémon Company has shared the final trailer for The Indigo Disk, part 2 of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet's Expansion Pass, The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero, which is out on 14th December. The trailer is jam-packed full of new details, such as returning Gym Leader fights, a new look for a certain character from The...
Wednesday29th Nov 2023
Guide Pokémon Nintendo Switch Games
Every Pokémon game for Nintendo Switch
The Pokémon franchise began way back in 1996 on Nintendo's Game Boy and sparked a catch 'em all craze that soon engulfed the entire planet. These days the Pocket Monster-collecting-and-battling series series is as strong as ever, with mobile sensation Pokémon GO still attracting a huge number of players,...
Saturday18th Nov 2023
Soapbox 20 Years On, It's About Time These Pokémon Games Got Switch Remasters
Gotta snag em’ all
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, ahead of its 20th anniversary on 21st November, Nathanial looks back on a Pokémon region that's been pretty much ignored for two decades... A common mislabelling seen online...
Monday13th Nov 2023
Random Pokémon Gold & Silver's Male Protagonist Was Apparently A Ninja In The DS Remakes
Hyaaah!
Pokémon HeartGold & SoulSilver are widely considered to be one of the greatest entries in the long-running franchise, but did you know that the games' male protagonist was actually altered to look more like a ninja for the DS remakes? That's according to a magazine translation discovered as part of DidYouKnowGaming's comprehensive dive...
Thursday2nd Nov 2023
News Pokémon Scarlet & Violet DLC The Indigo Disk Gets December Release Date
A blue winter
In a bit of a low-key announcement, The Pokémon Company has announced that part two of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet's The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero, The Indigo Disk, is launching on 14th December — just in time for the Holiday season, then!' The story of The Indigo Disk will take place at The Blueberry Academy, where you'll...
