I've been a Pokémon fan for as long as I can remember, the idea of crazy, creatures existing in our world just there for the taking is fascinating. Pokémon came out in Japan in 1996. Since that time, it's become a global phenomenon  with many more games, tv shows, movies and of course the trading card game. So we're here to ask if there's any chance that these crazy, battling creatures could be out there in the woods and forests of the world ready to get captured?

The Origins of Pokémon

Pokémon was created by Satoshi Tajiri, he claims to have gotten the idea for the premise of the game from his childhood pastime of collecting and indexing insects. The game was aimed at the collectable nature of the creatures being a big draw for kids, but also the trading aspect all with a sci-fi twist.

The game was a huge success, millions of players around the world took on the role of a Pokémon trainer whowould catch and train the creatures and of course battle them against other players and in game trainers. The success of the game catapulted the franchise into the worldwide spotlight.

The Controversy Surrounding Pokémon's Reality

There are always going to be conspiracy theories that start to appear when something has the mega-worldwide fame that Pokémon has. Some people have speculated that Pokémon are in fact real creatures that have been hidden from the public. Whilst we want to believe there are Weedles crawling around our local woods, the sad truth is that Pokémon are purely fictional creatures. So be careful and wear long trousers if you head out into some long grass trying to catch a Pokémon, as the only thing you might catch is a tick on your leg.

Evidence Supporting the Existence of Pokémon

While there is no concrete evidence to suggest that Pokémon are actually real… we're not giving up hope just yet. It might be a stretch but scientists believe there to be 8.7 million species of plants and animals in existence, yet only 1.2 million species have been discovered and named. So, there’s a chance a thousand or so of those unidentified organisms are things like Pikachus, Flaaffys and Goldeens.

If we want to get really scientific, the concept of evolution is a central theme in the Pokémon franchise, and it is a well-established scientific theory in real-life too.

There's also the real possibility that some crazed billionaire has taken this concept and applied it to the idea of real-life Pokémon in a lab somewhere deep underground. Fingers crossed!

The Psychology Behind Our Love for Pokémon

The concept of catching and training creatures can be seen as a form of empowerment, as it allows the player to take control of their own destiny and the progression of levelling up a Pokémon, seeing the results in the improved skillset, move set and battling results gives little dopamine hits that keeps the players engaged. Finally, the social aspect of the game, including trading and battling with friends, can create a sense of community and belonging.

The Truth About Whether Pokémon Are Real and Their Significance in Our World

OK, we'll accept that Pokémon are not real creatures. There's no denying that Pokémon has left an indelible mark on pop culture and the gaming industry. In the end, we can only hope that there’s a secret bunker somewhere in the world where a billionaire is developing their own Pokémon.