The Pokémon franchise has been around for over twenty years now, spreading the joy of Pocket Monster collection and battle to the masses. We've seen many different games release, each with new Pokemon to capture and new locations to explore. The world of Pokémon is rich and vibrant with lore-based Pokédex entries and enthralling storylines for each locale.

Most long-running franchises have gone through the theory ringer and Pokémon is no exception. With each subsequent release, game theorists and Pokémon lore-lovers flood the scene with various theories and ideas. Some of these suggestions are a bit Farfetch'd (sorry, we had to), but some of them create cause for suspicion.

Pokémon is especially rich in conspiracy, thanks to its open-ended legends and curious Pokédex entries. There are numerous gaps in Pokemon's history, just waiting to be filled, and we have an abundance of questions that have yet to be answered. Each new release simply adds fuel to the fire, creating more questions and larger gaps. Because of this, we've scoured the net to find some of the most interesting Pokémon Fan Theories that could very well be true.

Do you have a particular favorite fan theory or one that isn't featured on this list? Let us know!

15 Digimon Are Corrupted Pokémon

Via: Amazon

Digimon showed up soon after Pocket Monsters made their debut, leading many to question if the new iteration from Bandai was simply a copy-cat cash grab. This was not the case, although it's safe to assume that Pokémon was a direct influence to the Digimon franchise.

One Redditor believes that the Pokémon and Digimon connection goes much further than that. According to this elaborate fan theory, Digimon are actually Pokémon that have become corrupted via cyberspace. This seems like a wild accusation but the evidence is pretty convincing.

Pokémon that are stored for later use are placed into a specialized box on Bill's computer network. It's possible that Bill created a specialized file extension (.mon) to help quickly and effectively transfer Pokémon into the digital world. If that's the case, it's entirely possible that some Pokémon could become corrupted due to a computing error. That certainly would explain why all Digimon names end with the "mon" tag.

14 Ghost Pokémon Used To Be Human

Via: Pokemon Wiki

Every family-friendly game has at least one rather morbid fan theory. Pokémon has quite a few and one of the most prominent revolves around the origin of Ghost-type Pokémon. We have yet to see a Pokémon release that gives players adequate explanation as to where and how these creatures are created.

Some theorists believe that Ghost Pokémon used to be human. It's easy to pass this off as just another morbid fantasy, but some Pokédex entries seem to corroborate this spooky theory. Yamask provides a good example. This Spirit Pokémon's Pokédex Entry (Black & White) reads as follows;

"Each of them carries a mask that used to be its face when it was human. Sometimes they look at it and cry."

A lot of Pokédex entries are a bit wild and it's important to note that one such entry doesn't prove that Ghost Pokémon are in fact (all) human. Still, it's a creepy and interesting thought nonetheless.

13 Pokémon Healthcare Woes

Via: Pokemon Wiki

We don't see a lot of adult themes in the Pokémon universe. Many of these adventures revolve around a child's quest to become the next great Pokémon Master. Along the way, you'll run into some arrogant people or even those with ill intent. In fact, there are quite a few depressing moments in the Pokémon universe.

There's also the majorly depressing things we never think about, after all, we're just kids on a grandiose adventure. Many of the Pokémon titles start with a young protagonist leaving home at a young age, usually from a one parent home (we'll get into that later). Soon after you start snagging Pokémon, you're introduced to the Pokémon Center, a magical healing station that takes care of your sick battle buddies without ever charging a service fee.

Or so we think. Some theorists have suggested that the Pokémon Center actually sends bills for each and every service to your home address. That's right, each time you walk through those doors, you're putting your single-parent deeper in debt. If this is true, you might want to rethink those frivolous trips to heal your lightly scuffed level 100 Charizard.

12 Origins Of Mt. Moon

Via: Youtube

Mt. Moon is one of the most prevalent areas within the Kanto region. You're severely missing out if you decide to simply power through this location during your journey. Mt. Moon is one of the best places to snag a Clefairy and the mountainside is filled to the brim with Pokémon fossils.

You can also find valuable Moon Stones. These falling meteorites land across the hillside, where they mysteriously turn into pricey pebbles. Most assume that Mt. Moon is just another wonder of the world, but theorists believe that the magical mountain hides a Sci-Fi secret.

Clefairy are classified as Fairy-type Pokémon, but what if they're not actually Pokémon at all? Some speculate that the Clefairy are actually an alien race, which landed on Mt. Moon and claimed it as their home. It's also suggested that these playful puffballs brought Moon Stones with them, to make the area feel more like their natural habitat.

11 The Butterfree-Venomoth Mistake

Via: Youtube

This is one of the most interesting Pokémon theories to date because it seems completely plausible. A lot of work has gone into the creation of Pokémon and their evolutions, and it's a wonder how developers can keep up with all of the different names and types. One theory suggests that the creator's made a pretty monumental mistake when designing the original 151.

The theory states that Butterfree and Venomoth are switched from their originally proposed evolutionary chains. Under the proposed structure, Butterfree should evolve from Venonat, while Venomoth belongs as part of the Caterpie and Metapod evolution. This doesn't make much sense from a named perspective, but the visual clues are pretty shocking.

Butterfree looks like a flying version of Venonat, featuring the same eyes, antennae, and feet. Likewise, Venomoth looks eerily similar to Caterpie (and Metapod), as it possesses the same eyes and forehead structure. It definitely appears that someone on the development team got these two evolutions mixed up.

10 The Great Pokémon War

Via: Youtube

Most Pokémon releases see the protagonist leaving home on an epic journey to fulfill their destiny. Have you ever noticed that each home you leave seems to be occupied by only your mother? We don't see many father figures in the Pokémon universe and, oddly enough, it seems that most of the populace is made up of either children or the elderly.

Theorists have a suggestion as to why most of the middle-aged men and women are missing from this world. The massive age gap may be a product of something called The Great Pokémon War. This prevalent part of Pokémon history was a large-scale battle that saw the demise of many soldiers and Pokémon.

One popular Gym Leader even makes reference to the war in FireRed or LeafGreen. Lt. Surge of Vermillion City Gym boasts that Electric-type Pokémon actually saved his life during the war. This isn't necessarily concrete information on whether or not all of the "adults" perished in this war, but it does shine and interesting light as to why the Pokémon franchise has a lack of middle-aged characters.

9 Gym Guide Is Your Dad

Via: Just Push Start

Here we have more on the subject of why your dad is missing in each Pokémon release. One theory points out that our beloved protagonists may have all come from broken homes. It's entirely possible that each father wasn't the best individual and decided to skip out of town before our young Pokémon Master was born.

Perhaps this is why your mother puts so much effort into raising you right and giving you the opportunity to become something truly astonishing. She simply can't bear to see you turn out like your father. Depressive thoughts aside, there is one interesting point that stems from this theory. It's possible that your dad isn't actually "gone" and has always been there, rooting for you on every step of your journey.

Some believe that the Gym Guide, which you meet at the beginning of each Gym challenge, is actually your deadbeat dad.  After succumbing to the guilt of leaving walking out on his family, this loner now prowls each Gym, waiting for just a few moments with the child he never knew.

8 The Creation Of Koffing And Wheezing

Via: Youtube

Clever names aside, Koffing and Wheezing are two of the most curious Pokémon to ever grace the series. We've seen garbage and poison types before but these two Team Rocket mainstays look rather "off" in their design. Have you ever wondered about the origins of these particularly gaseous creatures?

It isn't far-fetched to think that Koffing and Weezing aren't simply industrial-themed Pokémon. After all, we do have a walking garbage pile (Trubbish) and a slippery mass of ooze (Grimer). Yet, there are some who think that Koffing and Wheezing weren't naturally formed by the great Pokémon Gods. Instead, they believe that these two toxic critters are the end result of a Team Rocket experiment gone wrong.

The theory suggests that Koffing and Wheezing are a byproduct of a failed experiment in which Team Rocket attempted to create clones of Ghastly and Haunter. The group was hoping to breathe life into these clones by using their gaseous forms as a starting point. Koffing and Wheezing were the end result, which may explain why they have a skull and crossbones (signifying poison danger) plastered on their bodies.

7 Voltorb Are Possessed Poké Balls

Via: Pokemon Wiki

On the subject of ghostly creatures, we have a theory suggesting the origins of Voltorb. It's entirely possible (and probable) that these strikingly simple ball-based Pokémon were created to fill the Electric-type void of the original 151.  That hasn't stopped some diehard Pokémon theorists from developing an origin story that is both frightening and hilarious to think about.

It's possible that Voltorb wasn't created as an original Pokémon. Have you ever noticed that Voltorb has the exact same color scheme and shape as a Poké Ball? The theory states that this hot-headed Pokémon is actually a Haunter-possessed Poké Ball, which would explain why Voltorb features the same eye structure and shape. When a Haunter manages to take over a Poké Ball's form, the button clasp on the front disappears, leaving the specter trapped.

Each Voltorb is capable of activating a devastating self-destruct attack. It's possible that this attack is simply pent-up energy from a Ghost-type that is enraged by the prospect of being trapped in such a small space.

6 The Origin Of MissingNo.

Via: My Nintendo News

By now you've probably heard the story of the infamous MissingNo. This programming glitch began in Pokémon Red and Blue. This particular "Pokémon" stands as Missing Number (there was a ten-character name limit in the first game) and is one of the best-known glitches in Pokémon history.

Although MissingNo. itself isn't very special, it is capable of doing some very interesting things in-game. Most players used this Pokémon as part of an item duplication exploit, which would allow you to gain access to 99 of any item (including Master Balls and Rare Candy). It's obvious that this glitch is a simple programming error, but some believe MissingNo. has a much more depressing origin.

It's said that this clouded array of numbers and broken graphics is what happens to a Pokémon when it is left inside of a Poké Ball for too long. We do know that Pokémon are stored onto computer networks and there must be something data-like for larger Pokémon to fit inside such small containers. You may want to think about this the next time you catch a Bidoof (we still love you) and hastily toss its Poké Ball-and-all into the nearest storage bin.

5 Cubone Are Baby Kangaskhan

Via: Youtube

Cubone has a depressingly morbid Pokédex entry. Pokémon Silver states that it "always wears the skull of its dead mother, so no one has any idea what its hidden face looks like." Many have speculated that Cubone are actually the children of Marowak (its evolution), but that doesn't adequately explain how these little ones obtain such pointed skulls (after all, a Marowak is simply an evolved Cubone). The chain would have to start somewhere.

A much more interesting and plausible connection is that Cubone were once baby Kangaskhan that lost their mothers at a young age. Visually, Kangaskhan are much more likely to have pointed skulls, similar to what Cubone is seen wearing in each Pokémon release. It's also curious how similar Cubone and baby Kangaskhan look. They both feature a similar shape and body pattern, with a flat head that would easily fit within the larger skull of their parent (it felt wrong writing that).

As for Marowak, it's possible that the skull physically fuses with the head of the Cubone during evolution.

4 Ditto Is A Failed Clone

Via: Pokemon

Ditto is quite the mysterious pink jelly blob. You can find these amorphous little critters in the famed Pokémon Mansion (Pokémon Yellow) on Cinnabar Island. Ditto are incredibly useful thanks to their transform skill (which allows them to mimic any Pokémon) and can even be bred with any Pokémon type to produce an egg. Upon first glance, Ditto seems like any other blobular Pokémon but theorists think this Normal-type is actually a clone.

Not just any clone either. It's said that Ditto is a failed Mew cloning attempt. There are a few unique clues that point to this possibility. For one, the mansion in which you find Ditto was home to a famous Pokémon Researcher, the same researcher who ended up cloning Mewtwo from Mew's DNA. It's not so far-fetched to think that a few cloning failures occurred before Mewtwo was brought to life.

There are a few similarities between Mew and Ditto. For one, they're both the same color. They're also the only two Pokémon capable of naturally learning the Transform move. Stranger still, they both weight approximately 8.8 pounds.

3 Gengar Are Clefable Shadows

Via: Youtube

Those alien-like Clefairy land another spot on this theory-based list. Assuming the little Mt. Moon residents aren't from Earth, would it be so far-fetched that their shadows could develop their own identities? Not according to theorists.

Much like the Poké Ball versus Voltorb conundrum, this theory strikes out at the visuals of two particular Pokémon. The idea goes that Gengar were formed from the shadows of Clefable (the evolution of those adorable Clefairy). This is a pretty wild accusation but there are a few minor details that make it plausible.

Gengar and Clefable share very similar body types. There are a few differences, mainly between the hair and tail. It's also important to note that Clefable has a rather noticeable set of wings on its back, while Gengar only has spines. One could argue that some of these features changed to give the Ghost-type a fearsome look. It's also curious that Gengar is known explicitly as the Shadow Pokémon, suggesting that it was perhaps, once a shadow.

2 Komala Isn't As It Seems

Via: WWG

Those of you that have played Pokémon Sun And Moon have probably come across this adorable little Koala Pokémon. The sleepy little fellow is a brand new addition to the franchise and is classified as a Normal-type Drowsing Pokémon.

There doesn't seem to be much wrong with this little marsupial, aside from its crippling cuteness, but some theorists are suggesting that Komala isn't exactly as it seems. The charming little critter can be seen clutching onto a log, which it peacefully snoozes against during battle. We don't see Komala wake up, even to attack, which has some claiming that the koala-like shape of this creature is simply a decoy.

The actual Pokémon is the log itself, which is both confusing and a bit creepy. There isn't much to determine if this particular theory is sound, but one unique sprite variant has some people scratching their heads. The shiny version of Komala sees no changes to the marsupial shape itself, and instead only changes the color scheme of the log. Perhaps this theory is on to something after all.

1 You Killed Blue's Raticate

Via: Youtube

This is one of the best Pokémon theories to date. It's also incredibly depressing. In Pokémon Red, you'll meet Professor Oak's grandson, Blue (although some will call him Gary and a few of you probably gave him some pretty vulgar names). You'll battle this cocky rival on numerous occasions throughout your journey across Kanto. Each time, his stable of Pokémon will grow.

That being said, Blue always seems to have some favorites. When you meet him aboard the SS Anne, you'll battle against some evolved variants of his original starters. One of those Pokémon, a Raticate, goes mysteriously missing the next time you battle against Blue. This has led many gamers to question where the rodent Pokémon has gone.

It's likely that Blue simply traded the Pokémon for something with a little more versatility but that hasn't stopped some people from speculating that Blue's Raticate actually perished aboard the SS Anne. To make matters worse, you meet Blue within the Pokémon Tower of Lavender Town. This particular tower is dedicated as a Pokémon graveyard which further fuels the idea that Blue's Raticate is gone.