Pokemon has spent much of 2026 celebrating a milestone that few video game franchises ever reach. The series officially turned 30 on February 27, with Pokemon Day serving as one of the biggest opportunities to look back at the history of the franchise. But the anniversary celebrations have not been limited to a single day, and The Pokemon Company, Game Freak, and Nintendo have continued finding ways to celebrate Pokemon throughout the year (like the release of Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen on Switch consoles).
That makes sense considering just how much history Pokemon has accumulated since the original Red and Green games. The franchise has gone through nine generations of games, numerous remakes and spin-offs, and countless changes to its Pokemon designs and overall presentation. Ahead of 2027 bringing in new content for the franchise, Game Freak is celebrating by looking back at all 9 generations.
Pokemon’s 30th Anniversary (December 2026)
Game Freak is preparing three massive art books dedicated to Pokemon’s 30-year history, with all three volumes releasing in Japan on December 18, 2026. Each book will cost 5,500 yen (roughly $35), and the complete collection will contain around 1,500 pages of material covering the visual development of Pokemon across three different eras. The books are being published by Overlap under the supervision of The Pokemon Company and Game Freak, with Motomiya Shusuke serving as editor-in-chief. For a franchise that has changed dramatically since its earliest Pokemon games, the books still feel like they barely scratch the surface.
-
Volume 1
- Pokemon Red and Green
- Pokemon Blue
- Pokemon Pikachu (Yellow)
- Pokemon Gold and Silver
- Pokemon Crystal
- Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire
- Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen
- Pokemon Emerald
- Pokemon Diamond and Pearl
- Pokemon Platinum
- Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver
-
Volume 2
- Pokemon Black and White
- Pokemon Black 2 and White 2
- Pokemon X and Y
- Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
- Pokemon Sun and Moon
- Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon
-
Volume 3
- Pokemon Let’s Go
- Pokemon Sword and Shield
- Pokemon Sword and Shield Expansion Pass
- Pokemon Legends: Arceus
- Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
- Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: Zero’s Treasure
- Pokemon Legends: Z-A
- Pokemon Legends: Z-A M-Dimensional Rush
New Questions Added!
GameRant Quiz
The first volume covers the earliest part of Pokemon’s history, starting with Red and Green and continuing through HeartGold and SoulSilver. The second moves into the DS and 3DS eras, covering Black and White through Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. The third volume focuses on the Nintendo Switch era, beginning with Pokemon Let’s Go and continuing through Pokemon Legends: Z-A and Mega Dimension.
Each Pokemon art book will be approximately 500 pages and printed in full color at B5 size. The books will include everything from sprites and 3D CG assets to illustrations, promotional artwork, and previously unpublished setting materials. Each volume will also feature a lengthy interview with a Game Freak creator, giving the collection some additional insight into how the series was developed across its three decades.
For Pokemon fans interested in the franchise’s visual history, there may not be a better release. Of course, Game Freak is not resting on its laurels, and it knows expectations are high for it to deliver with the next open-world games Pokemon Winds and Waves.
- Released
-
2027
- Multiplayer
-
Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer
