Summary
- Pokemon has seen a significant increase in the number of creatures over the years, growing from the original 151 to over 1,025 in the latest games.
- Each generation introduces a varying number of new Pokemon, ranging from 72 in Generation 6 to 156 in Generation 5.
- The decision to switch to 3D models permanently and the removal of the National Dex affected the addition of future Pokemon, but the latest games have brought the number of new creatures back to over 100.
From the very beginning, Pokemon was always about having to catch all the titular creatures the series is known for. As a result, sequels always added a number of different pocket monsters to the franchise's growing roster to where what once was a special surprise for returning players is now an expectation with every new mainline game. What once was the iconic original 151 Pokemon introduced in generation 1 has now risen to a whopping 1,025 as of the release of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, and this number won't stop growing anytime soon.
Looking back at the series' history may make this large number feel like it suddenly appeared overnight, but in reality, it took 26 games over 27 years for this total to reach as high as it currently has, counting all the additional versions with each generation. However, veteran Pokemon fans are most likely aware that the number of pocket monsters differs between each generation, as the series most certainly doesn't add 151 creatures every single time games like Pokemon Emerald, Ruby, and Sapphire release, and for good reason.
How Many Pokemon Are Added In Each Generation
The Varying Numbers of New Pokemon Between Generations
- Generation 1: 151 (Pokemon Red, Blue, Yellow)
- Generation 2: 100 (Pokemon Gold, Silver, Crystal)
- Generation 3: 135 (Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald)
- Generation 4: 107 (Pokemon Diamond, Pearl, Platinum)
- Generation 5: 156 (Pokemon Black, White, White 2, Black 2)
- Generation 6: 72 (Pokemon X and Y)
- Generation 7: 88 (Pokemon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, Ultra Moon)
- Generation 8: 96 (Pokemon Sword, Shield, Pokemon Legends: Arceus)
- Generation 9: 120 (Pokemon Scarlet and Violet)
Why Some Pokemon Generations Have More New Creatures Than Others
Among the first few generations, there's quite an easy trend to spot without much trouble. In the early days of the franchise, it's rather clear that Game Freak set out to have at least a hundred or more Pokemon added to the roster, likely to mimic the marketing success that was the concept of Pokemon Red and Blue's "150 or more to see" mantra. This is why Generation 5's new critters total at 156, aiming to capture that feeling once again.
During the development of Pokemon X and Y, trouble began to arise. As it was becoming abundantly clear that the franchise wasn't going anywhere anytime soon, and the Nintendo 3DS could handle 3D models, it was decided that the series would switch to 3D permanently. With models that could easily be upscaled, remastered, and brought to future games, Game Freak and its contracted partners focused on making the models for the many Pokemon found in the series so fans could continue to experience the games with every creature known thus far.
How the National Dex Affected the Addition of Future Pokemon
With Generation 7's development, balancing the number of creatures available with the use of Pokemon Bank became a daunting task for the developers. As Pokemon moved on to Generation 8, it was announced that the National Dex would be cut going forward, limiting what critters could be found and brought over between games. It wouldn't be a stretch to say adding the previous 721 creatures is why Alola only has 88 new Pokemon of its own.
The removal of the National Dex left a mark on many series loyalists, but the results speak for themselves after Pokemon Legends: Arceus became one of the highest-rated Pokemon games in years, and Pokemon Scarlet and Violet bolstered the new creatures it had back to over a hundred for the first time since Pokemon Black and White. With Generation 9, the total number of pocket monsters finally reached over a thousand, marked with Gholdengo specifically. While Generation 10 is still a far bit away, fans can most certainly expect more Pokemon to catch whenever it arrives.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
- Released
- November 18, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
Pokemon Scarlet & Pokemon Violet are the main entries in the series for Generation IX. They introduced over 100 new Pokemon and brought players to the Paldea region.
- ESRB
- E For Everyone Due To Mild Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
- Game Freak
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo, The Pokemon Company
- Franchise
- Pokemon
- Platform(s)
- Switch
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- How Long To Beat
- 32 Hours
- Metascore
- 72
