Home papers 10.0

GC Insights: The Anthro-Pokécene – environmental impacts echoed in the Pokémon world

First author: Alcott
Year: 2025


Abstract

Public perception of anthropogenic environmental impacts, including climate change, is primarily driven by exposure to different forms of media. Here, we show how Pokémon, the largest multimedia franchise worldwide, mirrors public discourse in the video games’ narratives with regard to human impacts on environmental change. Pokémon demonstrates a trajectory towards greater acknowledgement of climate change and anthropogenic impacts in each released game and presents a hopeful vision for how society can adapt.


Details

Language: English
Country of affiliation: United Kingdom


Published in: Geoscience Communication
Publication type: Journal article


Source: https://doi.org/10.5194/gc-8-47-2025


Games
No Results

Franchises
No Results


Studies

Description: Played/read transcripts for mainline games, referred to Bulbapedia database, compared observations of ecology and conservation-related terms within games and IPCC/UN documents

Research type: Non-experimental
Data type: Qualitative


Comparator: none
Control group: no
Pilot study: no
Pre/post measures used: no
Follow-up: no


Sample type: Games (main series)
Sample size: 26
Power analysis: no
Sample countries: null


Games studied: Pokémon Yellow, Pokémon X, Pokémon White 2, Pokémon Violet, Pokémon UltraMoon, Pokémon Sword, Pokémon Sun, Pokémon Shield, Pokémon Sapphire, Pokémon Ruby, Pokémon Silver, Pokémon Platinum, Pokémon Moon, Pokémon Pearl, Pokémon Scarlet, Pokémon Black, Pokémon Gold, Pokémon Crystal, Pokémon Emerald, Pokémon Diamond, Pokémon Y, Pokémon White, Pokémon UltraSun, Pokémon Red, Pokémon Black 2, Pokémon Blue


Franchises studied: Pokémon (F)


Study outcomes: Reflecting ecological issues