Gamefreak has really capitalized on the Pokémon Franchise. I'm always surprised to find out that to date, Gamefreak has made over 120 different Pokémon games. That's 120 games for them full to brim with secrets, events, and exciting locations. And believe me, they take full advantage of that opportunity.

From the very beginning, Gamefreak loved incorporating secrets into Pokémon.

From Missingno in Gen 1 to Ultra Beasts in Gen 7, they never stop innovating. But these mysteries aren't exclusive to just Pokémon, I'm talking about environments as well. In just the games alone, multiverse theory has been confirmed, an apocalyptic war happened thousands of years in the past, and aliens from different dimensions have invaded. And those are all from games made in the last decade. Unfortunately, a lot of these unique locations are exclusive to Nintendo "Mystery Gift" events. These events are held on specific dates or at certain real-world locations and are only available for a limited time. Because of this, a lot of the more casual Pokémon players end up missing out. They'll never get to discover Dexoys in its shell or find Darkrai in their nightmares. But, to compensate, Gamefreak has also included hidden mechanics throughout the years. Trainers have been able to build homes in trees, caves, sand dunes, and lakes since the early generations. This is all to say, the Pokémon games are massive. They're meant to be played for hundreds of hours and never skimp on content for their players.

30 Flower Paradise - Shaymin's Boquet Field

First off we have a location that makes an appearance in both the movies and games, Flower Paradise.

Thanks to the Legendary Pokémon Shaymin, we've gotten a couple of absolutely stunning floral locations throughout the years.

The Flower Paradise makes it's appearance in Gen IV of Pokémon, in an area north of Route 224. Unfortunately, the most interesting area's in Pokémon are usually event-only, and this field is no different. Trainers may only come here if they've received Professor Oaks Letter through Mystery Gift. There is a way to visit this island in Diamond, but it requires luck, along with a Surf glitch.

29 Unknown Dungeon - Mewtwo's Bachelor Pad

The Unknown Dungeon gives us a clue into the mind of most peoples favorite legendary, Mewtwo. And that clue is apparently that it really has a thing for caves.

First, there was Cerulean Cave in Red and Blue, now there's the Unknown Dungeon.

This cave was part of Gen VI in the Kalos region and is only accessed from the Pokémon Village. It's also only accessible to players who have defeated the Elite Four and have entered the Hall of Fame. It's an awesome little nod to the original Cerulean Cave and a great secret for post-game Trainers.

28 Mirage Island - All For A Single Berry

The Mirage Island. Probably one of the more mysterious sounding locations on this list, but why would you go there? Well, Wynaut? By Wynaut, I mean Wobouffets pre-evolution Wynaut.

These adorable blue Pokémon are everywhere on this island along with a sole berry bush.

Here players can grab the Liechi Berry. It makes the mythical Gold Pokeblocks for their Pokémon. Perfect for anyone trying to beat all the beauty competitions in Gen III. Only when a Pokémon 's personality values match a randomized number will the island be visible. It's honestly easier to find a shiny Pokémon, no joke.

27 Whirl Island Depths - Lugia's Basement Dwelling

The Whirl Islands are one of the more atmospheric locations on this list.

They're a series of four islands that are encircled by "natural" whirlpools and are hard for any player to access.

That's not all, once you reach them, you then have to find your way through a maze of dark caverns to reach their depths. But at the bottom, waits Lugia. Once a player has both the Silver Wing and Tidal Bell, they can discover Lugia. These islands appeared in both versions of Gold and Silver, and are said to have been created by Lugia itself.

26 The "Empty" House - Turns Out, Not So Empty

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For all of us Poke-fanatics that started with Gen 1, we remember all the details. Every route, every NPC, and every house.

One house that stood out a bit more than others was the Day Care Center to the south of Cerulean City.

It was a lone house that stuck to your memory. In Gold and Silver trainers were ecstatic to discover all of Kanto in the post game. But apparently, the Day Care wasn't profitable and was put up for sale. Instead, there's a sign outside saying no one lives here. But that's a lie because you actually CAN walk inside, where two NPC's reside.

25 The Lonesome Truck - Mew, Apparently A Car Owner

Everyone remembers this "secret."

There was always that one kid on the playground that would brag about their Mew from underneath the truck.

This truck, of course, is the one that remains after the S.S Anne departs, an inaccessible area. But Action Replay/Game Shark cheaters who walked through walls to find this legendary truck only faced disappointment. Mew was in the game, but only in code, and couldn't be obtained through normal means. That doesn't mean the truck didn't exist though, it's a great hidden location. In fact, in Fire Red, the truck is easily accessible and literally rewards players with a cookie for finding it.

24 Ten Carat Hill - Alola's Ride Pokémon Triathalon

Ten Carat Hill is the Ride Pokémon gauntlet of the Sun and Moon games.

It can be accessed early on with only Tauros Charge but each new area must have a new Ride Pokémon in order to progress.

The sea can only be accessed with Sharpedo Jet, and the further part can only be seen thanks to Machomp Shove. It's overall an area of Sun and Moon that becomes more interesting the further you go. Many players don't get to see the full scope of Ten Carat Hill because they either fall off of playing or forget about it completely.

23 Sky Pillar - Rayquaza's Penthouse Apartment

The Sky Pillar is my favorite legendary location in the Pokémon games.

It's home to Emerald's Ozone Legendary, Rayquaza.

And now that I think about it, Rayquaza's also my favorite legendary. The top of the Pillar is only for the most elite of trainers and requires prowess both in battle and on their Mach Bike. But once you reach the top, you've gained an audience with a dragon. The Sky Pillar is a monolithic, titanically huge building that is one of the better designed in the franchise. Unfortunately, many casual players lack the tenacity to reach its peak.

22 Nameless Cavern - The Lake Spirits Timeshare Home

The Nameless Cavern is home to my least favorite legendary trio in the franchise, the Lake Guardians. They make their debut in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire and guard the 3 great lakes of the game. You can only reach the cavern if you take flight on Latios or Latias. Additionally, the guardians only appear if you have at least 3 Pokémon with maximum friendship in your party. So you can see how many players missed this little area.

The Cavern itself is actually very unique and mysterious.

Too bad I'm not a fan of the Pokémon the Cavern protects.

21 Hidden Grotto - Don't Miss It

The Hidden Grotto's are a series of locations that make an appearance within Pokémon Black and White 2.

They're hidden pockets where one can find Pokémon with special hidden abilities.

But they're also innately difficult to find without help. They can be found in every biome in the game and have the ability to make players look absolutely insane by checking every single tree or bush. The contents of the grotto are random and are sometimes empty. This, along with the fact that they're incredibly hard to find, made it so many Poke-masters never encountered them naturally.

20 Trainer House - Perfect Battling Friends

 

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Pokémon games have always featured the ability to trade and battle with friends. They've been an online experience from the very beginning, but it wasn't until Gen II that Gamefreak tried their hand at a player-based NPC system.

The Trainer House near the Indigo Plateau in Gen II is for the best of the best to come and test their skills in a controlled setting.

You could battle the party of anyone you've shared the Mystery Gift feature with here. Lost against your friend? Want to practice against them? Trainer House. It's a nifty area that many trainers accidentally ignored.

19 Trial Chamber - Victory Road's Extra Challenge

One of the strongest area's in Pokémon, at least to me, has been Victory Road.

The final test before the Elite Four. It's a gauntlet of trainers, random battles, and puzzles that stand in your way.

It's always been a blast to get through and Black and White actually featured a legendary encounter as well. Of course, Moltres was in Red and Blue's Victory Road, but it was more of an afterthought. Terrakion is in a separate area of B&W's Road called the Trial Chamber and stands as a final test to see if you really are the very best.

18 Safari Zone - Gold And Silver's Phantom Safari

Etsy.com At Tisha Bells Shop

Pokémon Gold and Silver had a roller-coaster development. The games were intended for the original Gameboy, they even had a beta ready.

But during development, the Gameboy Color came out, and the team switched to an all-new build.

Doing this meant a few things were cut. G&S's Safari Zone was one of those "things". In-universe, the Safari Zone is closed down. But the area is still actually programmed into the game, just non-accessible. Still, the entrance is there as a little nod that most players actually missed.

17 Turnback Cave - Giratina's Low Budget Maze

Turnback Cave holds one of my favorite legendaries, Giratina. Unfortunately, the cave doesn't quite match Giratina's splendor.

Still, it appears in Gen IV and is a labyrinth with a dense fog.

Again, Giratina does appear here, but only if the trainer didn't catch it earlier in the Distortion World. Gamefreak is usually more punishing when it comes to Legendaries. You fail to catch it? Too bad, gone forever. But this is one of the earliest circumstances of the company offering you a second chance at your own convenience. If you can make it through the maze that is.

16 Cave Of Origin - Kyogre and Groudon's Joint Custody Pad

The Cave of Origin, otherwise known as the Shrine of Awakening in Japanese, is a special area for trainers.

It's where you'll encounter either Groudon or Kyogre depending on which version you're playing.

In Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire its where you'll battle the Legendaries in their Primal Forms, and are able to even capture them. But, for those unaware, if you fail to capture them the Cave of Origin is your second chance. After you beat the Elite Four, return to the this cave and you'll get another opportunity to catch them! A nice little secret for those lacking a Masterball.

15 Old Chateau - Haunted By An Ghost Lawnmower

The Old Chateau is the Haunted House of Pokémon. Located deep, deep within the Eterna Forest, it's home to many mysteries. For example, players will encounter multiple ghosts while in this mansion. Both the ghost of a little girl, and her butler will appear in different locations.

But thats not all, if you interact with a TV on the second floor at night you're allowed to battle Rotom.

This ghost/electric Pokémon will possess your household appliances. Rotom is an adorable Legendary that Gamefreak loves. They even made it possess your Pokedex in Sun and Moon!

14 Wayward Cave Hidden Entrance - Only For The Gible Inclined

Beneath the Cycling Road in Sinnoh, lies the Wayward Cave. You can access this cave as soon as you find it, but both Flash and Rock Smash are needed to fully explore it.

It's a relatively early location, so have no fear of strong Pokémon.

But Wayward Cave has its own secret, a hidden entrance that requires the HM Cut. Inside there lies two things, a lost trainer named Mira, and Gible. Gible is the first stage of the Mach Speed Pokémon Garchomp. This hidden area is the only place Gible appears, so the more casual players never got their Garchomp.

13 Faraway Island - Mew's Other Investment Besides The Truck

One of the worst event locations out there is the Faraway Island. This Island is home to Mew.

It's only accessible through action replay or if you got the Old Sea Map in 2005 through Mystery Gift.

Unfortunately, because a lot of these locations are from older games, the events stopped running. Gamefreak only focuses on events for their most recent Pokémon game and older titles are out of luck. But, if you were observant in 2005 you could travel here by boat. The island is larger than expected and is a mysterious secret for the truly dedicated trainers.

12 The White Treehollow/Black Tower - Gen V's Battle Frontier

Pokémon Black and White 2 are widely accepted as some of the best Pokémon games in the franchise.

These titles expanded on the best parts of their predecessors and fixed most of the issues.

They also brought back a lot of the most interesting characters and expanded on their stories. Another improvement was including both the White Treehollow and the Black Tower. These were the Battle Frontier area's of the game and featured a diverse cast of challenging trainers. With all the content Black and White 2 offered, many players missed this entire area. But they're not areas to be ignored, especially with how amazing they look visually.

11 Heahea Town's PokeCenter - Gamefreaks Own In-Game Office

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Gamefreak has never been shy about putting their developers in their Pokémon games.

In fact, there were a couple different games where you could speak to NPC's that represented the very same people who created Pokémon.

And they did it once again with Pokémon Sun and Moon, in Heahea City. On the second floor of the Pokémon Center in this city, trainers can tour an in-game representation of Game Freaks office. You can even battle Morimoto, a longtime Gamefreak Dev, who actually designed Mew! It's a fourth-wall break for sure, and I can't deny how awesome this hidden area is.