When Pokémon Go launched in July, the augmented reality app accomplished what few other games had managed before: it got millions of people out into the real world, exploring their surroundings and working together. The communal experience was part of what made the game such a massive, if short-lasting, phenomenon. One might argue that the events of 2016 call for games, and other entertainment, to force us into the public space, and invite us to meet the people with whom we share this planet.
But maybe you want something that lets you forget the world for a bit. Something that’s comforting like a warm blanket. A game that offers a safe and familiar place to explore, with just enough refreshing new ideas to keep your interested. Something where you can become friends with adorable monsters and hang out at the beach. Something like Pokémon Sun and Moon.
The latest main entries in the Pokémon series share little in common with Pokémon Go beyond the familiar roster of characters. Rather, the pair are a humble but important update for the 20-year-old series. You still play as a young kid on a quest to catch pokémon and unlock their mysteries. You still throw balls to capture creatures, and feed them berries to make them healthy. There’s still an evil band of pokémon thieves that needs to be stopped.
But for a series like Pokémon, one that moves forward at a glacial pace, even seemingly minor shifts can change the experience in important ways. In the case of Sun and Moon, these changes make the games more approachable and streamlined, while also introducing a much more chill vibe with a new Hawaii-inspired setting. Playing is almost like going on a brief vacation filled with Slowpokes and Pikachus.