Pokémon Go. It’s hard to remember a time when it was not in our lives. While the hype has settled down over the last year or two, many people still play the game. While it was at its peak, did anyone else feel like a kind of peace fell on society? So many people were playing, battling, hanging in parks, and helping each other out; it was a really nice vibe. It was great to drive around at night with friends catching Pokémon or spotting other players wandering around. The world was a little more chill for once, which was great. I miss it, to be honest. We could do with that kind of vibe again. So many people were brought together and bonded over one thing; it was so big that I honestly feel that Pokémon Go will be written into the history books as an iconic moment in human history. Look forward to seeing our memes in textbooks, friends.

That being said, it has also had some crazy stuff happen to it. There were bad events, mass hysteria, crimes were solved (and caused) because of Pokémon Go. People are really into Pokémon and Nintendo underestimated how huge a little prank would become; not that they are bothered since it made them bank. It was a crazy trend that made crazy things happen all over the world. People were really into this game, so things were bound to happen. Also, I was a proud member of Team Instinct, so get wrecked.

31 Weird Location Much?

One neat feature that Pokémon Go has is the Pokéstop feature. Pokéstops often pop up in historic locations or tourist spots to encourage you to explore. The White House, the MI5 building, and the Pentagon have all had Pokéstops on them. However, Pokéstops sometimes plant themselves in weird places and call them strange things. From a grave it labeled ‘mother’ to a park called ‘young human entertainment’, there have been some wild Pokéstops out there to find.

30 The New Popular Kid In Town

Unless you hid under a rock for the entirety of 2016, it was hard not to hear about Pokémon Go, it seemed that just about everyone was playing it. It turns out that it became something on a social media juggernaut. Players were spending more time on Pokémon Go than other social media apps like Tinder, Facebook, and Instagram. Not only that, but it is one of the most downloaded apps in the world. Talk about a social superstar!

29 Not Just A Prank Anymore

The idea for a fully immersive Pokémon experience was put into the minds of many in April 2014. On April Fool’s Day, Google released a YouTube video showing a fake competition. In it, they stated that whoever caught all 150 original gen Pokémon using Google Maps would become Google’s official Pokémon Master. The video featured some wild augmented reality software and really amped up Pokémon fans and tech geeks alike. Luckily, it wasn’t just a prank for long and became a cultural phenomenon.

28 Another Game Helped Make Pokémon Go??

Ever wondered how Pokéstops pick where to be? It turns out that another game helped Nintendo figure out the logistics of getting them to work. Back in 2012, Niantic released a game called Ingress, which allows teams to use portals placed on landmarks to capture geotagged locations on the map. Over time, people submitted their own location requests and expanded the network. The technology was converted and recycled by Niantic to create the Pokéstop system that we see used in Pokémon Go today.

27 Hopping On The Bandwagon

It is not just the various companies above that profited from Pokémon Go’s success. Other businesses were keen to get in on those sweet Pokédollars as well. For a period of time, avid Pokémon Go players could hire Uber drivers to drive them around town and hit up various Pokéstops and gyms. This was popularised by certain YouTubers and influencers who took this route to help them catch ‘em all. Pretty smart business move if you ask me.

26 You Could Have Gotten A Pikachu From The Start

Many kids growing up really wanted their own Pikachu. At this point, we have been basically brainwashed to be into the little electric rat. That being said, many were said that we could not get Pikachu as our starter Pokémon when we opened up Pokémon Go for the first time. Or could you? If, when presented with the starters, you turned away from them and walked away you can sometimes find a Pikachu on your path. Do not weep, veteran players, you have plenty of Pikachu to catch.

25 Buddy On My Shoulder

Continuing this chat about Pikachu, you can actually get this yellow mascot onto your shoulders in the game. Having a Pokémon on your shoulders may seem normal after the release of Pokémon: Let’s Go Eevee/Pikachu, but it has not always been a thing. Once you have collected over ten candies walking with Pikachu, then he will automatically sit on your shoulder. That’s such a sweet little detail that is appreciated by many fans. Go ahead and try it.

24 Oh Snap, I See That Reference

In case you somehow missed the boat on this, Pokémon Snap was on the N64 and is a cult classic. In the game, Pokémon ran wild and you took pictures of them for Professor Oak. It has a massive cult following that has been clamoring for a sequel for forever. Niantic may have snuck an Easter egg in there while we weren’t looking. If you hold your finger on the Poké Ball icon in the menu and drag it over the other menu options, they will glow red, blue, orange, and purple respectively. These are the colors of the pester ball and it is a sneaky touch.

23 Missing No Reference

In the Pokémon series, there is tell of a glitch that can give you unlimited rare candies and evolve into Kengaskhan. The Missingno glitch hides on Cinnabar Island waiting to be found. Cinnabar doesn’t exist in real life, but you can find the glitch in Pokémon Go. All iPhone users have to do is head to the egg tab in game, select an egg and double tap the phone’s home button. This will trigger an intentional bug out and make the screen glitch with numbers and letters. Never thought I’d be touched to see a glitch in a game.

22 Businesses Are Catching Players

As I mentioned earlier, everyone wanted a slice of the Pokémon Go pie back in its heyday. From Uber to fraudsters, everyone was trying to cash in. Stores, cafes, and other businesses would even make accounts for their stores and purposefully drop a lure over their building. This would lure not only Pokémon but wannabe trainers as well. More potential customers meant more potential profits so it soon became an industry secret. Talk about a cheeky tactic – Team Rocket would be impressed.

21 Lighter Than A Feather

Weight seems to be an issue for Pokémon Go. Not for players – walking so much catching Pokémon has done wonders for many people’s health and mental wellbeing – but for the Pokémon themselves. Some Pokémon are very light, sometimes to the point where they weigh almost nothing at all. For something like a Pidgey this is one thing, but a Doduo? A Ryhorn? A Gyarados? I don’t think so, Niantic. Feed these guys some candies or something before they keel over.

20 Heavier Than An Elephant

Just like how some Pokémon are too light to be healthy, some Pokémon are way too heavy for their kind. There are some that weigh double or triple what they should weigh in the mainline Pokémon games. I know that the Internet is all about "chonky bois" but this is a bit too much. I mean, how are some of these guys not damaging the pavement that they walk on at this point? We do not advocate weight shaming of any kind, but some of these guys could do with a walk or two.

19 This Common Pokémon Cannot Be Found

It is well known that some Pokémon are more common than others. Whether it is Pidgey, Rattata, or Magikarp, you are bound to have plenty to ship to Professor Oak in no time. That being said, this rule does not apply to Pokémon Go. Certain Pokémon that are usually really common are simply difficult to find. Magikarp is one of the bigger examples of this. While a player’s location has some impact on the Pokémon found in the game, it should not affect how many are around.

18 Excuse Me, This Pokémon Has How Much CP?

Another weird thing about Pokémon Go is CP. If there is some logic to how it is doled out to different Pokémon then someone please explain it to me because it just seems random. When catching multiple Vulpix, you will inevitably have varying stats between them. However, sometimes your level one unevolved Pokémon will have way higher stats than even a second or third evolution, meaning its overall stats are usually better. This makes no sense – evolution means improvement or leveling up.

17 Why Is There A Diglett In My Toilet?

One of the joys of Pokémon Go is that any Pokémon can appear at any time. Whether you are at the park or at work, Pokémon are everywhere. However, sometimes Pokémon show up in some strange places. They have been seen in the can, in frying pans, in warzones, and in police stations just to name a few. Sure, some Pokémon are sure to show up in graveyards or other creepy places, but in the Pentagon? There’s a conspiracy theory just waiting for Shane Dawson there.

16 Hello Professor Willow

It is well known in the Pokémon community that the professors in the games keep getting more and more attractive. It is a weird phenomenon that just does not make sense. There is literally no need for them to be handsome but the lineup keeps getting better. It all culminated in the arrival of professor Willow (and later Professor Kukui in Sun and Moon). There is no shame in admitting that he is one handsome dude who looks good in leggings.

15 Team Rivalries

Once you have warmed up a little and are ready to get serious about your Pokémon journey, you can choose a team to join. There are Team Mystic, Team Valor, and Team Instinct, which are run by leaders Candela, Blanche, and Spark respectively. Each team has its own associations regarding its ethos, but most choose based on color or meme value. However, Mystic and Valor became the Slytherins and Gryffindors of Pokémon while the memesters joined Instinct; Instinct members are the Hufflepuffs of Pokémon.

14 Good Events? What Good Events?

When you have a franchise as big as Pokémon and you have a big holiday or event coming up, of course, players are going to get excited to celebrate. They start to wonder what will happen in the event to make it stand out from the everyday game. But Ninatic usually rolls out some cosmetic stuff and some loot boxes and calls it a day. Sure, it could be worse but with the amount of dough the game has made, you begin to expect more.

13 The Math Of EX Raids

Started in mid-2017, EX Raids are battles in which players are invited to battle and you can get legendary Pokémon like Mewtwo. The problem is it seems that there is no rhyme or reason to getting a pass. There are so many conspiracy theories over how to get one and how the system works that it’s hard to keep up. Some say you should raid a lot of gyms frequently, while others say to do it only a little and honestly reading up on the theories can feel overwhelming.

12 Walking To Hatch Eggs...Yeah, That Makes Sense

One fun bonus to Pokémon Go is hatching eggs and getting new additions to your Pokémon team. You walk for a certain amount of time and a cute little Pokémon will hatch for you. The weird thing is the fact that you actually have to walk to make this happen. There’s no incubation, no swaddling or bright lights; just walking. Doesn’t that seem weird to anyone? That is not how it works in real life or the mainline games.