Highlights
- Pokemon games have been implementing the concept of version exclusives since Pokemon Red and Blue, suggesting the existence of a Pokemon multiverse.
- Remakes of past Pokemon games, like Alpha Sapphire and Omega Ruby, introduce significant changes in gameplay and story, supporting the idea of a Pokemon multiverse.
- While never confirmed, the idea of a Pokemon multiverse makes sense given the different iterations of the same journey and the franchise's long history of version-exclusive content.
The concept of multiverses in fiction has become quite popular in recent years, but Pokemon introduced the idea to video games well ahead of the curve. While the Pokemon series more often revolves around the protagonist's journey to get stronger than any interdimensional shenanigans, that doesn't keep them from hiding plenty of surprises. Despite not being especially dramatic compared to many other gaming franchises, Pokemon has been a trailblazer in many ways. As it turns out, one of those just happens to involve one especially popular trope. Not only that, it's been doing so for two decades.
As one of the most popular video game franchises of all time, Pokemon is one of the biggest franchises in Nintendo's vast library. Ever since the original Pokemon Red and Blue, the series has featured some of the highest-selling titles for every console it has appeared on. From the mainline games to spinoffs such as Pokemon GO, its reach stretches far and wide across Nintendo's landscape. While the games are accessible and easy to learn, the high amount of strategy involved has given it a remarkable competitive scene as well. All of this started with the very first Pokemon titles, and would only expand from there.
Pokemon Games Have Long-Held Evidence of a Multiverse Theory
One of the franchise's primary gimmicks is version exclusives in Pokemon games. The reason why each main series Pokemon generation releases two titles simultaneously is that each game will have slight differences from its counterpart. The most common difference is that some Pokemon will only be available in one version, but not the other. This feature started in Pokemon Red and Blue, with players needing to trade between both games if they wanted to collect all of the original Pokemon in their Pokedex. While versions would get more distinct early on, these version-exclusive Pokemon were the first argument towards a Pokemon multiverse.
Later games provided more prominent version differences, such as Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's two professors. Not only that, but Scarlet and Violet's academy color theme and name changed as well depending on the version. There was also the case of Pokemon Sword and Shield having a couple of version-exclusive gym leaders. These discrepancies could be explained by the Pokemon universe existing in a multiverse, where the different versions occur in different timelines or different versions of the world. This would explain why the same stories could take place in the same regions at the same time, but still be so different depending on the game.
Another piece of evidence for a Pokemon multiverse could be found in Pokemon's remakes of past games. Whether they follow shortly after the original like Pokemon Platinum or come generations later like Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver, they offer significant changes to the story. Some can be simply story-wise, like Pokemon Crystal's Suicune subplot. However, games like Alpha Sapphire and Omega Ruby offer scores of new Pokemon and moves that weren't present in the original games, creating a dramatically different experience. With how different two iterations of the same journey can be, the idea of a Pokemon multiverse makes perfect sense as an explanation.
While it has never been confirmed that Pokemon takes place in a multiverse, it certainly would make sense, especially in the context of Gen 7 games and Pokemon Legends: Arceus. A new Pokemon game in Unova could provide further evidence, depending on when it takes place, although the series has already offered enough reason to believe it. Multiverses are huge in fiction, whether it involves the DC Universe's many timelines or the way that Mortal Kombat 1 recently weaved it into its storyline. Pokemon may not make references to its own multiverse, but it was creating one well before most series experimented with the idea.