Having trouble pre-ordering the Nintendo Switch 2? Frustrated by expensive game costs? While this free new browser-based Pokémon game may not replace the excitement of the upcoming Switch 2 titles, it will give you a distraction for about thirty minutes.
On April 4, Google unveiled a complimentary pseudo-game that challenges you to locate and collect the original 151 Pokémon, but you need to know how to get started. Begin by ensuring you’re using Google on a mobile device. Next, search for any one of the classic 151 Pokémon and click on the Poké Ball icon located at the bottom of the screen.
Once you’ve completed that step, the Pokémon you searched for will appear with a charming graphic and will be added to your growing Pokédex. This will also display the silhouette of a Pokémon you have yet to find, along with a hint in the style of ‘Who’s that Pokémon?’ As you reach certain milestones, you’ll receive a Master Ball and will need to correctly identify the silhouette of a Legendary Pokémon to catch it, too. (Be sure to log in with your Google account if you want your progress saved.)
This game can be an enjoyable memory challenge if you choose to follow the clues and silhouettes carefully. However, this is Pokémon we’re talking about! There’s always a way to game the system, and I took advantage of the ‘People Also Searched For…’ feature to quickly browse through Generation One Pokémon that I wasn’t as familiar with.
While Google’s Pokémon experience may not provide the complete Catch ‘Em All adventure that you might be yearning for, you won’t have to wait too long for Game Freak’s next major installment. Pokémon Legends: Z-A is set to release later this year for both the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2.
As per Nintendo, pre-orders for the Switch 2 have been postponed in the US “to evaluate the potential effects of tariffs and fluctuating market conditions.”