Pokémon fandom

The Pokémon fandom, often referred to simply as "the fandom", is a term that refers collectively to fans of the Pokémon franchise. The fandom is as vast and diverse as the series itself, engaging with the Pokémon series in a number of unique and creative ways, with numerous fan communities devoted to various aspects of the franchise.

Since the early days of the Pokémon fandom, hundreds of fan sites and organizations have formed centering around all corners of the Pokémon franchise. Within these communities, certain fans have become quite well known for their contributions and impact on the fandom. Additionally, a number of fans have won Guinness World Records awards.

Gaming

Competitive battling

Tournaments

See also: Video game tournaments

A wide range of official and unofficial tournaments have been held where players compete in Pokémon battles under specific rules, often involving a tournament bracket where there will ultimately be a single winner.

Battle simulators

See also: Battle simulators

Various battle simulators are used by competitive fans to practice and compete against other players in simulated Pokémon battles.

Fan challenges

The two basic rules of the Nuzlocke Challenge from the Nuzlocke comic strip

Many fans engage in a variety of self-imposed limitations, rules, or challenges, which sometimes involves playing the Pokémon games in unique and unintended ways. Some of these challenges include:

Speedrunning, in which players try to beat a game as fast as possible within a set of rules.
The Nuzlocke Challenge, designed to increase the difficulty of Pokémon games.
Filling out a living Pokédex by obtaining and storing one of every available Pokémon in the PC.
Shiny-hunting, where players use various methods to increase their chances of encountering and obtaining Shiny Pokémon.

Exploits and cheating

Main article: Cheating

Glitches and RNG are sometimes exploited by players to circumvent the restrictions of normal gameplay. Additionally, some players use third-party devices to alter game data, often to give them an advantage that would not usually be available. This action, often referred to as cheating, is most frequently used to obtain or duplicate rare Pokémon or items, particularly those which would otherwise require attending an event.

Game modification and fan games

ROM hacks

Main article: ROM hack

ROM hacks are video games altered or edited by enthusiasts who modify the code of a published video game to create something new. They allow for a wide range of modifications and fan-made games, ranging from minor adjustments of existing games to the creation of entirely new fan-made Pokémon games. Simple modification of existing games is often referred to as "modding", with individual modifications referred to as "mods".

Bootlegs

Main article: Bootleg

Bootlegs are unauthorized copies of games sold to players under the pretense of being official, often for monetary gain. Unlike ROM hackers, who distribute their work for free, bootleggers illegally sell unlicensed ROM hacks, often flashing them onto third-party cartridges.

Standalone games

Main article: Pokémon fan games

Pokémon fan games built using pre-existing development tools and game engines are usually created by fans attempting to emulate the formula of the Pokémon games such as the core series or specific spin-off games.

Let's Plays

Main article: Let's Play

Let's Plays of Pokémon games are popular amongst content creators and their fans, and are often posted to sites such as YouTube. These videos range from simple walkthroughs of the game to in-depth guides on where to find certain Pokémon, items, and secrets, as well as sharing strategies and tips for completing and enjoying the games' various challenges. Fans of Let's Plays often enjoy the commentary of the video creator or use the videos to guide them as they play through the game. Each Let's Play tends to be unique, due to the variety of Pokémon that can be caught, moves that can be learned, among other variations in gameplay during individual playthroughs.

Twitch Plays Pokémon

Main article: Twitch Plays Pokémon

Twitch Plays Pokémon logo

Twitch Plays Pokémon was a social experiment and Twitch channel involving a playthrough of Pokémon games as controlled by users of the Twitch chat. Via Twitch's built-in chat, Twitch users can play the game being streamed by entering inputs such as "A", "B", "left", or "right". This streaming format is known as Twitch Plays, of which Twitch Plays Pokémon was the originator. The channel went live with a playthrough of Pokémon Red in February 2014, which received widespread media attention internationally for its chaotic nature and unique concept. Twitch Plays Pokémon became a notable source of fan-generated lore, spawning thousands of stories, images, videos, and Internet memes.

Pokémon GO

Main article: Pokémon GO

Pokémon GO, due to its unique gameplay involving real-world exploration and interaction, has generated a large community of fans. There have been several real-life events involving the game, including both unofficial gatherings and official events hosted by Niantic. The game also hosts regular Community Days, where a large number of specific Pokémon with exclusive moves will spawn, encouraging players in cities and other highly populated areas to gather and enjoy the game together.

Anime

Anime-style battling

Main article: Anime-style battling

Anime-style battling was a forum-driven game involving two or more Trainers engaging in roleplay battle in the vein of Pokémon the Series, including a referee. The ASB fan community started forming in 2000 and the game expanded in popularity until around 2009.

TCG

Fake cards

Main article: Fan-made card

Main article: Counterfeit card

Many TCG fans enjoy creating their own versions of Pokémon cards through a variety of methods. There also exists counterfeit cards which are often bought by unsuspecting fans and collectors who believe them to be legitimate.

Alternative play formats

Some TCG fans have created alternative formats to play the game, with their own sets of rules and allowed cards. One such format is the Gym Leader Challenge format, a singleton format created by Andrew Mahone in which players may only have one type of Pokémon and one of each card in their decks.

Other fan activities

A Jessie cosplay at the Pokémon 2000 Stadium Tour

Creation of original Pokémon

Main article: Fake Pokémon

Pokémon fan artists often enjoy creating their own original fanmade Pokémon, types, and moves, either to be enjoyed of their own merits or as part of a fan game, while some fake Pokémon have been created as parts of pranks and hoaxes. Additionally, many fake Pokémon have been created after the release of official silhouettes of new Pokémon in an attempt to guess what the Pokémon will end up looking like. There have also been many other speculative Pokémon or forms created in relation to existing Pokémon.

Shipping

Main article: Shipping

There exists an entire section of the fandom dedicated to pairing Pokémon characters together as a couple or believing that two characters have feelings for eachother and looking for clues in official materials to support their preferred ships. Fans of shipping frequently explore ships through fan art, video edits, and fan fiction.

Cosplay

Main article: Pokémon cosplay → In the fandom

Cosplay is common within the Pokémon fandom, particularly at events such as conventions, as well as for posting on social media. Many fans enjoy dressing up as human characters or Pokémon from the franchise. Some fans like to crossplay as characters of a different gender.