Google’s Pokémon game is back with a vengeance

While looking up the release date for Legends: Arceus, I was greeted by a large Poké Ball at the bottom of my screen and an immediate urge to play. The Pokémon franchise has surprised me before, but this was the first time a search result felt like an active jump scare.

Google’s Pokédex first launched in 2025 as a mobile minigame that lets players “catch” the original 151 Pokémon by searching for them. It wasn’t always so prominent: players originally had to search for a Kanto region Pokémon to trigger the game, and several colleagues who search for Pokémon-related terms say they haven’t seen it presented so front-and-center before.

The game is straightforward and nostalgic. As users find Pokémon they’re added to a Pokédex, with Master Balls awarded at milestones to catch Legendary or Mythical creatures such as Zapdos and Mewtwo. Google offers silhouette hints that recall the old “Who’s that Pokémon?” segment, and the only reward for completing all 151 is bragging rights.

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