There are now over a thousand Pokemon in existence, with 1025, to be exact, and the number continues to climb. The roster started at a mere 151 but has since evolved into a massive collection of Pokemon, so it is easy to see why even some of the most avid fans struggle to remember all the names of Game Freak's creations.
With Pokemon Legends ZA on the horizon and rumors of Generation 10 spreading around, that number is only set to grow. The question now hangs in the air like a Zubat on a Mt. Moon ceiling. Are there simply too many Pokemon?
There's really not a simple answer for this. For the more devoted fans, more Pokemon means more chances to experiment with teams, more freedom to be creative, and more experiences, but for casual players, the large and growing volume has started to feel too overwhelming.
The series is now facing an identity crisis that forces its players to accept that what was once “Gotta Catch ’Em All” now feels like “Gotta Remember Who They Are.”
The catchphrase we all saw on the TV, or card packs, or game boxes, “Gotta Catch ’Em All,” used to be the spirit of Pokemon, and it was a mantra that helped shape the collector and the completionist in us. But recently, that little digital goal is just becoming too unrealistic. Fitting more than a thousand Pokemon into one cartridge, all coming with their own animations, cries, and interactions, is not going to be easy.
Every title now makes sacrifices. The idea of catching them all is wonderful until you realize it'll require having access to multiple games, paying for online subscriptions, and constant, sometimes tedious, transfers between generations. For true collecting fans, it has become a logistical nightmare.
Then comes the issue of creative fatigue. Honestly, we get a Normal-type rodent in every generation, an early-game bird, and a bug you evolve by the time you get to the second or third town. These archetypes are part of the franchise’s formula, sure, but over time, it has made some new Pokemon feel like shadows of what we already had.
Different names, different designs, but the same purpose. You may call it consistency, but it can also be seen as a lack of innovation. There is safety in familiarity, but too much of it risks turning excitement into repetitiveness.
The result? Many Pokemon are slowly thrown into obscurity. For every Pikachu that becomes a mascot, there is a Maractus, Lumineon, or Grapploct abandoned in the Pokedex, and you probably forgot about them until we mentioned them now. It is not that their designs are bad, but they are lost in the ever-expanding crowd.
This is why the infamous “Dexit” controversy during the release of Pokemon Sword and Shield divides a lot of gamers. Dexit, short for Pokedex Exit, was when Game Freak confirmed that not every Pokemon would be available in the games. The idea that their favorites might be permanently left behind felt like losing old pals or combat partners. But when you have over a thousand Pokemon, how can anyone expect all of them to fit into a single game?
Still, the solution should not be to stop making new Pokemon. Instead, the franchise needs to dip its toes into giving existing ones more function and personality. Quality over quantity. It would give them new life without making the roster feel bloated.
The joy of discovering a new Pokemon does not just come from its design but from how that Pokemon fits into the world and what it contributes to your experience.
This delicate balance of honoring the old while embracing the new is something Game Freak has started to experiment with recently, with games like Pokemon Legends: Arceus, Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee, and DLC expansions that have reintroduced older Pokemon with fresh twists or whistles.
Legends Arceus, for one, made "meh" Pokemon like Ursaring and Basculin feel relevant again with brand-new evolutions and deep lore. These re-visitations prove that nostalgia can be a tool for innovation and not just for sales. When done right, re-visiting the past enriches the Pokemon world!
Pokemon has always been about evolution, both figuratively and literally. From pixel art to fully 3D, from handheld systems to massive worlds, the series has grown bigger than what anyone imagined in the 90s. But like a sun-soaked Alolan Exeggcutor, growing needs to have direction. Redefining the roster is a must, especially now that it seems the 1025 Pokemon count isn't showing any signs of slowing down.
Every Pokemon, old or new, must have depth to be explored with its lore, gameplay, or design. I mean, isn't that what made Pokemon so special and replayable? The magic of having endless meaningful choices.
The future of Pokemon is for children, teens, and adults, and it doesn't rely on pure numbers. That's why we have favorites, because we are able to celebrate the friendships we make along the way. We don't need five more regional rodents or birds in every generation; what we need are memorable stories and ways to reconnect with the Pokemon we already love.
As Generation 10 looms and new species prepare to take the stage, let’s hope Game Freak remembers that in a world of thousands, every Pokemon deserves to be someone's favorite. After all, no matter how many there are, they all started with the same dream. To be caught, trained, and loved by us.
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