I randomly fell back into Pokémon after *years*, and I didn't expect it to feel this good, yaar.
Back in school, I used to grind Pokémon FireRed on a super laggy Android 4.4 phone. Fast forward to now - I'm playing Pokémon Platinum on MelonDS while watching the Diamond & Pearl anime on split-screen, and it just hits different.
Yeah, the games are slow compared to modern stuff, but there's something really comforting about that pace. It almost feels intentional - like you're meant to just chill and enjoy the journey.
Right now I'm just going with the flow - finishing Platinum alongside the anime, then probably moving on to Black & White and eventually X & Y. Low-key turning this into a full nostalgia run.
Am I the only one still this obsessed with Pokémon, or are there more of you out there?
(For context, I also play other games - Deep Rock Galactic, Cyberpunk 2077, Moonlighter, Batman Arkham series, LEGO games, Watch Dogs, Ghost Recon Wildlands & Breakpoint, A Plague Tale: Requiem, Borderlands 3, Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, and Assassin's Creed Origins - but Pokémon just gives a completely different vibe.)
(https://preview.redd.it/n6fo16ccwirg1.jpeg?auto=webp&s=c99972d09a97bc3748ed499598a8808ef712fc0b)
I used to play Pokémon Ash Grey; it's the best Pokémon game I've ever played.
I still dabble in ROM hacks now and then. My favourite mainline title is Pokémon Crystal on the Game Boy Color.
I used to play Platinum, FireRed and Emerald on an Android phone using an emulator.
I've played every version from Platinum up to Ultra Moon on my phone, and before that I caught all the Pokémon in Sapphire on my Game Boy.
My first game was Pokémon Red, and I've played almost every Pokémon title except Sun and Moon, plus I've tried a bunch of ROM hacks.
I'm replaying Emerald right now.
I've gone through all the official games and also played tons of ROM hacks.
I used to play a lot on a GBA emulator; might go back to it soon.
I just got a Miyoo Mini to play games like Pokémon.
Pokémon is my favourite escape from reality. I'm a fan of the anime, recently got into the games and I'm loving them. I'm still a noob with the trading cards, but I truly live and breathe Pokémon.