Why Pokémon GO is a Great Game

 Imagine taking your morning walk and catching a creature with awesome powers from a make-believe world. That is what Pokémon GO is like. Pokémon GO is a mobile game that uses AR (augmented reality) to make Pokémon come to life while you walk around the real world. Pokémon GO is a great game because it is innovative, fun, and good for you.

    In order to understand why Pokémon GO is a great game, it is important to know its basic rules. Here are the basic rules of Pokémon GO: Pokémon GO is a game where the player walks around in real life to catch virtual Pokémon. To catch a Pokémon, the player taps on it and throws a Poke Ball at it. If you catch it, it goes to the player’s Pokémon storage. While the player is walking, they might see some small blue cubes in the app. Those blue cubes are called Pokestops; players can spin them to get useful items, such as healing potions. The player might see some big structures that are either blue, yellow, or red–those are gyms. If the gym is not full and is the color the player chooses at the start of the game, the player can put a Pokémon in it. If it is not the color the player chooses at the start, the player has to battle the Pokémon in the gym. Depending on how long the Pokémon stays in a gym, the player will earn Poke coins to buy items.

  First, Pokémon GO is an innovative game. According to an article in Forbes, Pokémon GO has “Innovative, award-winning gameplay mechanics that use Augmented Reality (AR) technology -- superimposing computer-generated information over your physical surroundings -- to put virtual creatures at real-world location” (Chamary). This shows that Pokémon GO is very unique and new.  According to the informational book series, A Great Game!, Lowe agrees: “Pokémon GO’s developers have worked hard to be innovative since the game's creation” (37). This shows that Pokémon GO is always figuring out new ways to keep people engaged. Also from Pokémon GO, which is in the series A Great Game!, Lowe says, “Pokémon GO is already a trendsetting game. The huge popularity of Pokémon GO played a role in the growth of AR” (37). Pokémon GO sets trends, which is another way that it is innovative. Because of its new AR technology, continual improvements, and trendsetting ability, Pokémon GO is an innovative game.

   Second, Pokémon GO is good for you. According to Forbes, “Several scientific studies have shown that Pokémon GO increases physical activity”(Chamary). This shows that Pokémon GO is good for the body. Also according to Forbes, “So far there hasn't been much research, but one study found that, after playing for two months, teenagers had greater social intelligence and cognitive performance (including selective attention and concentration levels)”(Chamary). This shows that Pokémon GO can give people stronger social intelligence. Based on my insights as a Pokémon GO player, Pokémon GO helps you make new friends. When you play, you might see other people walking around outside doing the same thing that you are, and you can talk to them and become friends in the game and in real life. Also, there are big events like GO Tour and GO Fest that bring thousands of people from around the world to different cities just to play Pokémon GO. During the events is a great time to make friends. Pokémon GO is good for you because it increases physical activity, grows social intelligence, and helps with socializing.

   Lastly, Pokémon GO is fun. Based on my insights, Pokémon GO is fun because there are so many different types of Pokémon to catch. It makes it fun because whenever there is a rare Pokémon, you really want to catch it. Plus, you don’t usually see the same Pokémon a lot. This is only one reason why Pokémon GO is fun. Pokémon GO is also fun because you get to play as a Pokémon Trainer in the real world. Playing as a Pokémon Trainer is fun because you feel like you are in the real Pokémon world. Playing as a Pokémon Trainer is fun, but it is not as fun as cooperating with other Trainers to defeat raid bosses and battling against them in PvP (player vs player) battles. Not only do you get to be a Trainer, but you also get to compete and work with other Trainers. It is fun because feeling like there are so many other people that play feels good, and you get cool rewards for winning. Pokémon GO is fun because there are a variety of Pokémon, you get to become part of the game, and you get to work with other people. 

Because Pokémon GO is innovative, good for you, and fun, it is a great game. People might think that Pokémon GO is bad for you because it is a video game, but the evidence and my experience as a player prove the opposite, so if you don’t play Pokémon GO right now you might want to start. 

Works Cited

Chamary, JV. “Why ‘Pokémon Go’ Is The World’s Most Important Game.” Forbes, Forbes Media, 21 Feb. 2018, www.forbes.com/sites/jvchamary/2018/02/10/pokemon-go-science-health-benefits/. 

Lowe, Alexander. Pokémon Go. Norwood House Press, 2021.