Pokémon: The Ultimate Fan Guide celebrates the franchise’s 30-year anniversary with an in-depth look at its legacy, evolution, and biggest moments. This special issue ranks the best games and wildest spin-offs, explores whether Ash could return in Pokémon Horizons, and highlights the most valuable trading cards. Packed with expert tips, tricks, and features like Pokémon Concierge, it’s the perfect collector’s guide for lifelong fans and new Trainers alike.
I CHOOSE YOU! • We’re celebrating all things Pokémon and looking to the future as the franchise turns 30.
30 YEARS OF FUN & GAMES • Pokémon is commemorating a landmark anniversary in 2026 with special releases and plans for more games and new characters.
THE FATHER OF POKÉMON • Satoshi Tajiri was inspired by collecting critters in the woods near his Japanese home.
THE 12 BESTSELLING POKÉMON GAMES OF ALL TIME • Fans will always have a favorite title, but these sales figures don’t lie.
THE BEST GAMES EVER? • Why many fans think Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver stand head and shoulders above the rest.
BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL • Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl and Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! are among the top-selling Pokémon games of all time (see page 14), but how do the other remakes hold up?
THE CRAZIEST SPINOFFS • While these side games aren’t part of the core series, they show that when it comes to Pokémon, your imagination can run wild.
PREPARE FOR TROUBLE • Here are a few pointers to improve your competitive battling skills.
ALL ABOUT THE STATS • Get to know the Pokémon with the highest and lowest stats.
ALL HAIL MAGIKARP • It may be one of the weakest creatures, but it’s the only Pokémon that appears in every game. That’s gotta count for something, right?
WEIRD & SCARY • These Pokémon are the stuff of ghost stories—and they’re not even all Ghost-types.
A GLITCHY URBAN LEGEND
THEY CAN TALK • Being able to speak is not a common ability in Pokémon, but these guys can loudly communicate their thoughts.
ANOTHER POKÉMON LIVE-ACTION MOVIE? • Will we ever see our favorite characters back on the big screen?
WHY HORIZONS IS THE BEST POKÉMON SERIES EVER • Season 3 of the Netflix series saw the trainers grow up—something Ash Ketchum never got to do.
THE SCENES THAT MADE US LAUGH & CRY • The Pokémon anime has been full of thrilling battles, but there have been moments that have made us feel things we weren’t expectin
‘LET’S FINISH THIS!’ • We’re taking a look back at Ash’s epic league battles.
TOP 5 POKÉMON SHIPS • It’s not all about battles in the animated series; plenty of fans think there’s love in the air. These are the relationships we wanted to see.
WHY WE LOVE POKÉMON CONCIERGE • Fans waited two long years for more episodes of the stop-motion Netflix series set at a Pokémon resort.
POKÉMON CARDS THAT TELL STORIES • As if you needed more incentive to collect these trading cards! Some have artwork that references other cards—or even tells a continuous tale, like a comic strip. Here are a few of the best sets.
GOTTA SMELL ’EM ALL
THE MOST VALUABLE COMMON CARDS • If your budget can’t stretch to the Pikachu Illustrator card, these more widely available examples will give you some bang for your buck.
WHAT’S UP WITH THE POKÉMON TRADING CARD GAME POCKET?
POKÉMON IN POP CULTURE • Pokémon caught the attention of the world, and as a result, there have been countless parodies or references in other TV shows, movies and video games.
10 MOST POPULAR POKÉMON OF ALL TIME • Did your favorites make the...