The eighth generation (Generation VIII) of the ''Pokémon'' franchise features 96 fictional species of creatures introduced to the core video game series, including 89 in the 2019

Nintendo Switch The is a video game console developed by Nintendo and released worldwide in most regions on March 3, 2017. Released in the middle of the Eighth generation of video game consoles, eighth generation of home consoles, the Switch succeeded the ...

games ''Pokémon Sword'' and ''Shield'' as of version 1.3.0 and 7 further species introduced in the 2022 Nintendo Switch game '' Pokémon Legends: Arceus''. The temporary Dynamax and Gigantamax transformations were also introduced. The ''Pokémon Sword and Shield'' starter Pokémon were the first Pokémon of the generation to be revealed on February 27, 2019. A notable change in the eighth generation compared to previous ones is that new Pokémon and forms were introduced via game patches rather than new games.

Design and development

Pokémon are a species of fictional creatures created for the ''

Pokémon is a Japanese media franchise consisting of List of Pokémon video games, video games, Pokémon (TV series), animated series and List of Pokémon films, films, Pokémon Trading Card Game, a trading card game, and other related media. The fran ...

'' media franchise. Developed by

Game Freak is a Japanese video game developer, best known as the primary developer and co-owners of the ''Pokémon (video game series), Pokémon'' series of role-playing video games. History Predating the video game company, ''Game Freak'' was a self- ...

and published by

Nintendo is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational video game company headquartered in Kyoto. It develops, publishes, and releases both video games and video game consoles. The history of Nintendo began when craftsman Fusajiro Yamauchi ...

, the Japanese franchise began in 1996 with the video games ''Pokémon Red'' and ''Green'' for the

Game Boy The is a handheld game console developed by Nintendo, launched in the Japanese home market on April 21, 1989, followed by North America later that year and other territories from 1990 onwards. Following the success of the Game & Watch single-ga ...

, which were later released in North America as ''Pokémon Red'' and ''Blue'' in 1998. In these games and their sequels, the player assumes the role of a Trainer whose goal is to capture and use the creatures' special abilities to combat other Pokémon. Some Pokémon can transform into stronger species through a process called evolution via various means, such as exposure to specific items. Each Pokémon have one or two elemental types, which define its advantages and disadvantages when battling other Pokémon. A major goal in each game is to complete the Pokédex, a comprehensive Pokémon encyclopedia, by capturing, evolving, and trading with other Trainers to obtain individuals from all Pokémon species. The development of ''Pokémon Sword'' and ''Shield'' began in 2016, immediately following the development period of ''Pokémon Sun'' and ''Moon''. The conceptual phase lasted approximately a year, and the debugging process continued into 2019. With the Galar region based in

Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-west coast of continental Europe, consisting of the countries England, Scotland, and Wales. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the List of European ...

, some of the native Pokémon draw inspiration from British fauna, folklore, and mythology. The legendary Pokémon Zacian and Zamazenta resemble real-world wolves, drawing inspiration from wolves that frequently appear in British mythology. Shigeru Ohmori, the director for Sword and Shield, stated that the design team keeps a Pokémon's habitat in mind when coming up with its design so as to make the Pokémon believable. ''Pokémon Legends: Arceus'' introduces the Hisui Region, based on the real-world Japanese island of

Hokkaido is the list of islands of Japan by area, second-largest island of Japan and comprises the largest and northernmost prefectures of Japan, prefecture, making up its own list of regions of Japan, region. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaidō fr ...

. The Hisui Region is a reimagining of the Generation IV games' Sinnoh Region set in the past prior to the events of those games. Like the previous generation, redesigned versions of previously released Pokémon ("Galarian Forms" and "Hisuian Forms") were included alongside brand-new creatures. For the first time, many new Pokémon and regional forms were added to the generation through game patches rather than through the release of a new game. Acquiring these Pokémon requires purchasing an add-on downloadable content pass separate from the base game or utilizing the in-game trade feature. Further patches added other new species, including legendary and mythical Pokémon Kubfu, Urshifu, and Zarude in June 2020 and Regieleki, Regidrago, Glastrier, Spectrier, and Calyrex in October 2020.

List of Pokémon

* Grookey * Thwackey * Rillaboom * Scorbunny * Raboot * Cinderace * Sobble * Drizzile * Inteleon * Skwovet * Greedent * Rookidee * Corvisquire * Corviknight * Blipbug * Dottler * Orbeetle * Nickit * Thievul * Gossifleur * Eldegoss * Wooloo * Dubwool * Chewtle * Drednaw * Yamper * Boltund * Rolycoly * Carkol * Coalossal * Applin * Flapple * Appletun * Silicobra * Sandaconda * Cramorant * Arrokuda * Barraskewda * Toxel * Toxtricity * Sizzlipede * Centiskorch * Clobbopus * Grapploct * Sinistea * Polteageist * Hatenna * Hattrem * Hatterene * Impidimp * Morgrem * Grimmsnarl * Obstagoon * Perrserker * Cursola * Sirfetch'd * Mr. Rime * Runerigus * Milcery * Alcremie * Falinks * Pincurchin * Snom * Frosmoth * Stonjourner * Eiscue * Indeedee * Morpeko * Cufant * Copperajah * Dracozolt * Arctozolt * Dracovish * Arctovish * Duraludon * Dreepy * Drakloak * Dragapult * Zacian * Zamazenta * Eternatus * Kubfu * Urshifu * Zarude * Regieleki * Regidrago * Glastrier * Spectrier * Calyrex * Wyrdeer * Kleavor * Ursaluna * Basculegion * Sneasler * Overqwil * Enamorus

Galarian Forms

Meowth Meowth, known in Japanese as , is a List of Pokémon, Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon, ''Pokémon'' media franchise, and the first stage of its Gameplay of Pokémon#Pokémon evolution, evolved form, Persian (Pokémon), Pers ...

* Ponyta * Rapidash *

Slowpoke The SLOWPOKE (acronym for Safe LOW-POwer Kritical Experiment) is a family of low-energy, swimming pool reactor, tank-in-pool type nuclear research reactors designed by Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) beginning in the late 1960s. John W. H ...

* Slowbro * Farfetch'd * Weezing * Mr. Mime * Articuno * Zapdos * Moltres * Slowking * Corsola * Zigzagoon * Linoone * Darumaka * Darmanitan * Yamask * Stunfisk

Hisuian Forms

* Growlithe * Arcanine * Voltorb *

Electrode An electrode is an electrical conductor used to make contact with a nonmetallic part of a circuit (e.g. a semiconductor, an electrolyte, a vacuum or a gas). In electrochemical cells, electrodes are essential parts that can consist of a varie ...

* Typhlosion * Qwilfish * Sneasel * Samurott * Lilligant * Zorua * Zoroark * Braviary * Sligoo * Goodra * Avalugg * Decidueye

Gigantamax Forms

* Venusaur *

Charizard Charizard ( ), known in Japan as , is a Pokémon in Nintendo and Game Freak's ''Pokémon'' franchise. Created by Atsuko Nishida, Charizard first appeared in the video games ''Pokémon Red'' and ''Blue'' ( ''Pokémon Red'' and ''Green'' in Ja ...

* Blastoise * Butterfree *

Pikachu Pikachu (; Japanese: , Hepburn: ) is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's ''Pokémon'' media franchise, and the franchise's mascot. First introduced in the video games ''Pokémon Red'' and ''Blue'', it was created by Atsuko N ...

* Machamp * Gengar * Kingler * Lapras * Eevee * Snorlax * Garbodor * Melmetal * Rillaboom * Cinderace * Inteleon * Corviknight * Orbeetle * Drednaw * Coalossal * Flapple * Appletun * Sandaconda * Toxtricity * Centiskorch * Hatterene * Grimmsnarl * Alcremie * Copperajah * Duraludon * Urshifu

Notes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:List of generation VIII Pokemon Generation 8 Video game characters introduced in 2019