This Pokémon quiz covers the pocket monsters that have been part of pop culture since the late 1990s. You'll sort out types and evolutions, recall when the original games and the hit phone app arrived, and name a few legends behind the franchise. Whether you grew up trading Game Boy cartridges or catching creatures on your phone, there's something here for every trainer.
The name Pokémon is short for Pocket Monsters, and the idea behind it is simple: find creatures, catch them, raise them and swap them with friends. That loop started on a handheld screen, then spread to a long-running anime, a trading card game, movies, toys and phone apps. Few franchises have stayed this popular for so long, which is why so many grown-ups still know their favorites by heart.
The key to understanding the series is the type system. Every Pokémon has one or two types, and battles work a bit like rock, paper, scissors on a much bigger scale. Electric attacks hit Water types hard, for example, while Ground types shrug those same attacks off. Evolution is the other big idea. Many Pokémon change into stronger forms by gaining levels, while others need a special item, a trade or even a certain time of day.
A handy memory trick is to look closely at the names. Most are puns that blend an animal or object with a sound or a trait, so the name often tells you what the creature is like. New games add new regions and new creatures every few years, so fans of every age can find their own era to quiz on.