Pokemon’s Two-Game Tradition Started As A Way To One-Up Mario

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As a longtime Pokémon fan, I’ve noticed something pretty consistent with each new generation of games: they always release two versions! Honestly, it seems like Nintendo’s main reason for doing that is to boost sales and make Pokémon as popular as Mario – and who can blame them? It’s a smart way to keep the hype going and get more people collecting!

Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto recently shared a story from a conversation with Pokémon creator Satoshi Tajiri. Tajiri jokingly suggested that the only way to outsell Mario Kart would be to sell two copies of Pokémon to every customer. Miyamoto explained that this playful challenge inspired the release of the first Pokémon games as both Pokémon Blue and Pokémon Red – a practice that has continued with most of the main series games ever since.

Miyamoto explained that the simultaneous release of Pokémon Red and Blue was intentional. He feels that truly innovative concepts often come from individuals who strive to improve upon existing work.

Pokemon games usually include unique Pokemon to catch, and starting with Silver and Gold, each version has its own special legendary Pokemon. Trading Pokemon with friends is a key part of the fun, and newer games have made completing your Pokedex easier with online trading features. Some dedicated fans still buy both versions of a Pokemon game to collect everything, and Nintendo recognizes this by offering special bundles with both games.

This year celebrated 30 years of Pokémon! While we didn’t get a brand new generation of games, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet were enhanced for the new Switch 2 console, making them play much better. Plus, Pokémon Legends: Z-A came out, letting players revisit Lumiose City – a location fans haven’t seen since the original Pokémon X and Y games on the 3DS.

Nintendo announced that as of September 30th, they’ve sold 10.36 million Switch 2 consoles and 9.57 million copies of Mario Kart World. The company also shared that most Switch 2 owners—84%—previously owned an original Switch. While the older model will still be available, Nintendo plans to concentrate its efforts on the Switch 2 moving forward.

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2025-11-07 18:11