Pokémon is celebrating its 30th anniversary! Over the years, it has touched the lives of many a fan, including the App Store Editors. Here are some of the fondest Pokémon memories from our teams around the globe.

“I’m probably the App Store’s newest Pokémon fan, and it’s all thanks to my seven-year-old son and the release of Pokémon TCG Pocket on the App Store. We love sitting down every day, usually after dinner, to open our packs and see what we get! When I was young I’d collect sports cards with my dad, and now I get to continue that tradition with my son, but this time it’s with Pokémon.”

My Favourite Pokémon:

“My first encounter with Pokémon as a kid was actually the anime, not the games. Then followed the caps. Then, many years later, I finally played my first game, which was Pokémon LeafGreen and there was no going back after that. I’ve always loved the flying Pokémon, Zapdos, and Pidgeot, above all. Ash’s Pidgeot has the saddest story arc and Zapdos is simply one of the best designs. Now, as an adult, I’m on a multi-year quest to collect every single Zapdos TCG card in existence.”

My Favourite Pokémon:

“Like many Hongkongers, the Pokémon anime was my gateway. I then begged my mom for a Game Boy (despite our “no video games” household!) for Pokémon Gold and Pokémon Silver. In the small, close-knit community that I grew up in, Pokémon was deeply communal. From the game to Pokémon cards, my childhood memories revolved around coming together with other kids in the parks, trading cards, and battling—a sight we rarely see nowadays. That’s why Pokémon GO resonated so strongly for me; it rekindled that sense of community and brought back so many fond childhood memories.”

My Favourite Pokémon:

“Pokémon Blue was my first game and Wartortle has been my favourite to this day. My fondest memory is from when my family decided to move from the city to the countryside when I was 10. Before I moved, my friends helped me complete my Pokédex and I was able to collect every Pokémon except for Omanyte, which felt bittersweet at the time. Ever since, Pokémon has always connected me with friends, family, and colleagues, wherever I went. Now, my young son is starting to show love for Pokémon and I’m excited to go on new journeys together.”

My Favourite Pokémon:

“I’ve played every game in the Pokémon series since Pokémon Green, and my partner or son always played the paired version I didn’t choose. One of my strongest memories is from Pokémon Gold and Pokémon Silver. I gave my then-long-distance girlfriend—now wife—a Game Boy and Gold, asking her to catch some Pokémon before we met again. There was also a time in Japan when a new Pokémon movie came out every summer, and my son and I went to the theatre for the Legendary Pokémon gifts. With Pokémon TCG Pocket, I’m excited to collect different versions of the Pokémon tied to those memories.”

My Favourite Pokémon:

“Back in March 2017—two years before I joined Apple—I was in Paris covering Fashion Week. But I was honestly more excited about Pokémon GO than the runway. The game had launched only about eight months earlier, and every car ride between shows became my little catching session as I played from the back seat. One afternoon, while passing a Paris landmark, I caught the special Pikachu wearing a festive party hat celebrating Pokémon Day. I loved its unevolved form so much that I never evolved it, and I still have the original screenshot from that moment. Catching that Pikachu remains one of my most treasured Pokémon GO memories.”

My Favourite Pokémon:

“My older sister and I got Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue as Christmas presents in 1999, both becoming lifelong fans who are still playing to this day. The charm of these games changed the course of my life forever: I started learning Japanese just three years after playing the first game and I was dedicated to working in the video games industry myself. I eagerly look forward to every new Pokémon release, along with the inventive new designs. I particularly like Pokémon that look like food—Alcremie, Tatsugiri, Poltchageist, and many others!”

My Favourite Pokémon:

“Like Pikachu to Ash, Pokémon has been a beloved companion of mine almost my whole life. My grandma—who had never held a Game Boy before—showed me how to exit the starting house in Pokémon Yellow on Christmas Day. At school, I played and traded Pokémon cards with friends between classes. In my adult career as a magazine writer, I covered the explosive arrival of Pokémon GO and spoke with famous fans to celebrate the Trading Card Game’s 25th anniversary. Between the games, TCG, and anime, I know Pokémon will bring me joy for the rest of my life!”

My Favourite Pokémon:

©Pokémon. ©Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc.