Pokémon just celebrated its 20th anniversary of the Western launch. If you can't do the math, Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue released for the Game Boy on September 28, 1998. It began a revolution and is an integral part of my childhood in more ways than one. So I tried to come up with a good idea for a celebratory article. Should I rank the games, list some facts, or showcase some fan art? I've done all those to an extent before so I instead turned to another big fan-supported community in the Pokémon universe: game theories. Specifically, I wanted to focus on these two games.

In my research I came across a bunch I already knew, some I didn't, and then I even created some of my own. It turns out that creating a theory based on the Pokémon universe is pretty easy. Why? Because these games don't make sense, which is another topic I covered in an earlier article. A sound theory may be plausible, but they can also be debunked because the rule set Nintendo and Game Freak established is just bonkers. They built a solid foundation, but one on a cliff that could give way at any moment. That said it doesn't bother me, because I love this franchise for better, or worse. I just thought that I should state that clarification before we begin. Hopefully, that will deter anyone from popping up in comments with an "um, actually" remark. Good? Good. Let's get to the theories!

25 Charizard Is Cubone’s Mother

There's a popular theory that suggests Cubone’s mother is Kangaskhan. Theorists point to the baby Kangaskhan carries in its pouch. The anatomy is also pretty close. Here's an alternative theory. I found one that says Charizard is actually the mother of a Cubone. Why? Look at the horns on the skull. It matches that of a Charizard more closely, yes? So then what is a Cubone? What about a Charmander that wears its mother's skull? In sadness the flame on its tail extinguishes and it evolves into a ground-type Pokémon aka Cubone.

24 The Great Snorlax And Farfetch’d Extinction

In Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue there is one Snorlax and one Farfetch’d. Let's start with the bird. It's said to be quite tasty. That's why it became extinct because humans couldn't get enough. What if that wasn't true? What if the meat is so tasty it caused Snorlax to turn on each other until there was only one left. Filled with the meat of both kin and Farfetch’d, it fell asleep, blocking your path. Now is that dark, or what?

23 Shellder Is An Evolutionary Gold Mine

Okay, so we all know Shellder helps Slowpoke evolve into a Slowbro by biting its tail right? That's canonical. What isn't are these next two.

What other secrets does Shellder hide?

I don't think Cloyster is a natural evolution. My theory is that when a Shellder is combined with Ghastly, it becomes a Cloyster. On that same level if a Shellder makes it onto land, I think the dry air will help it evolve into a Machop. A Shellder is a clam and has muscles inside and a Machop is just a big muscle. Sound reasonable?

22 Mr. Mime And Jinx Are Mutated Humans

Jinx and Mr. Mime feel out of place, right? There's a bunch of theories that think the Pokémon universe is just our own and is an effect of nuclear fallout. That is to say, Pokémon were mutated from other animals due to radiation. This is a secondary theory to that, but not on a global level. For example, Porygon and Mewtwo were created in a lab. That's a fact. So then is it so weird to imagine a human trying to splice himself with Pokémon DNA?

21 Fearow Can Become A Legendary Bird

Spearow and Fearow are pretty lame Pokémon. They were exclusive to Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue got Pidgey and his two evolutions, which are just cooler. So what's the deal? Maybe they're not so lame after all. Let's look at the design of Fearow, Zapdos, and Moltres. Look at their beaks. See the connection? I think Fearow can evolve based on elemental exposure. What's an Articuno? A chilled Spearow of course. I know it's a stretch to base this theory on beaks, but isn't it fun to think about?

20 Magmar Is A Psyduck Evolution

It's not very apparent in Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue as it is in the anime, but the Pokédex indicates that Psyduck gets massive headaches. Even though it's a water Pokémon, these headaches help give Psyduck psychic abilities. When it evolves into Golduck the headaches disappear. Why?

Well, what if Psyduck has an Id that's trying to break out? It heats up the brain and causes mental duress. When it evolves, a sort of psychic wave shoots out, transporting Magmar from brain to land. Hey, how else do you explain the duckbill on Magmar?

19 Your Backpack Is A Pokéball

Gamers often wonder what Pokémon do inside their Pokéballs. Is it like a refreshing spa in a vortex, or is it devoid of all existence? I'm not going to answer that now. What I will get into is the technology. Is it just for Pokéballs? I think not. Here's another question to answer that. How does your backpack work? How can you fit all that stuff like a bike in there? Simple. It's a Pokéball; or rather it uses the same subspace technology.

18 TMs Are Instructional Videos

Have you ever wonder why TMs look like discs in the Pokémon games? They stand for Technical Machines, which doesn't help it narrow down any. What am I doing to my Pokémon, shoving these discs into their bodies? I don't think that's good for them. Here's a widespread theory that is painfully obvious now. Those discs are actually DVDs and so they are instructional videos. That makes a lot more sense. Where's the TV and DVD player? Maybe they're holograms. That's my contribution to this theory.

17 Bulbasaur’s Missing Evolution

Does Bulbasaur's evolutionary chain seem off to you? That is to say, do his flowers look familiar? Well, there's a theory for that.

The story goes that the bulb on Bulbasaur's back is from an Oddish that has fused with it. The same goes for his next two evolutions and Oddish's. That is plausible, but what does a Bulbasaur look like before it gets an Oddish? Are we missing a link? I think so. What does it look like? That I don’t know.

16 The Game Corner Makes The World Go Round

Why do you win money in battles? Simple. You’re gambling. They just don’t show it because it’s a kid’s game and that would make parents go crazy. My theory is that behind the scenes you and your rival battler make a deal. I bet this much I win, and so forth. I mean these games have casinos in them for crying out loud. I bet it was a mechanic Game Freak planned on before Nintendo told them to keep it behind the scenes. How did they keep in casinos then? I’m not sure.

15 Pokémon Takes Place In An Alternate Dimension

This one kind of blew me away. Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue and all other games take place in an alternate dimension and or planet. Theorists can go either way on that fact. What's the proof? Think about it. Why are there so many Pokémon unrecorded? Why do regions look like real places, but aren't actually them? Humanity stumbled upon this universe and made these places as an homage to real Earth places. As for Pokémon mysteries, it's an ongoing research investigation. Why use children then? I'm afraid that question goes unanswered.

14 Jigglypuff And Clefairy Tied Origins

In both the games and anime its thought that Clefairy comes from the moon. In the anime, Ash and his friends meet a kooky professor named Seymour who goes more into depth on this widespread theory.

The moon is full of pink fluffy creatures.

The Clefairy are even trying to build a rocket ship later on so it's pretty obvious at this point. Here's my contribution to this more or less official backstory. I think Jigglypuff is from the moon too. They both evolve with moonstones, right? Plus they look very similar.

13 Pokéballs Brainwash Pokémon

How do ten-year-olds exactly tame wild Pokémon that are vicious in nature? I mean not all Pokémon are as mean as say a wild Primeape, but still. How do they become so obedient after being captured and why can they break free of Pokéballs? It's very simple. That red light is an indication of the Pokéballs mind control mechanism in session. Some Pokémon can break free because they're more resilient to these mind waves. Come on, you have to admit I have something there.

12 You Destroyed Gary’s Raticate

Here's another widespread theory concerning your in-game rival. To keep things simple let's refer to his anime name, Gary. As you battle Gary he'll get more Pokémon like a Rattata. Aboard the S.S. Anne, he'll have a Raticate instead, presumably because his Rattata evolved. After this fight, the Raticate will no longer be in his party. You also see him in Lavender Town's Pokémon Tower where trainers can bury their vanquished critters. Coincidence? Many would say no. That's pretty dark.

11 Venonat and Caterpie Evolutions Are Switched

It's well known at this point that Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue has a bunch of cut content. Some of these ideas were reworked into new things while others were actually scrapped altogether. With that said many believe that Caterpie's and Venonat's evolutionary chains are switched.

Switched through the chain and you’re to blame. 

That is to say, Metapod should evolve into a Venomoth and Venonat should evolve into a Butterfree. Theorists point to Butterfree's purple body, its fangs, and red eyes as a better connection to Venonat. That's the basic gist at least.

10 Clefable’s Shadow Is Gengar

That's not the only body theory either. Let's now switch back to Clefairy, or in this case its evolved form, Clefable. Let's also take a look at Gengar, the final form of Ghastly. In the Pokédex, it's known as the shadow Pokémon. Whose shadow is it? Well as I alluded to in this entry's intro, it's the shadow of Clefable that has taken corporeal form. Alternatively you could also say that Gengar is the ghost of Clefable if you want to get darker.

9 The Great Pokémon War

Where is your dad in Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue? For that matter where are all the men in these games. Most of them are either in their twenties, younger, or super old. Also, for that matter, what exactly is Lt. Surge a lieutenant of? It all points to one great theory. There was a Pokémon war. Over what? Probably land disputes when everyone first crossed into this dimension. That's right I'm tying it back to that alternate dimension theory. Most males around Surge's age perished. He's a remnant of this war.

8 Ditto Is A Failed Mew Clone

I feel like this one has been all but confirmed with a 99% possibility of being true. Ditto is a failed clone of Mew. Let's look at the facts.

They are the only two Pokémon that can use Transform. They weigh the same and they're basically the same color. I mean need I go on? Science tried desperately to recreate the then theorized ancestor of all Pokémon and instead produced cute slimes people love to use in breeding. That sounds like a success to me.

7 MissingNo.’s Origins

MissingNo. was a pretty crazy glitch in Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue, right? Did you know why it happened? It had something to do with how the game was programmed. Game Freak originally planned on including 190 Pokémon, but had to scrap some due to time constraints. Those Pokémon that were let go had missing code, or values and MissingNo. was a glitch that popped up trying to replace said values. That's more or less the real reason. That said some believe that MissingNo. is the result of a broken Pokéball causing the Pokémon inside to become corrupted.

6 Gym Guy Is Your Dad

Was your dad really destroyed in some great Pokémon war? Maybe, and maybe not. This theory has an alternate take on where your deal old papa disappeared. So you know that guy at every gym's entrance who encourages you with advice? Yeah, that's your dad. The theory goes that he was a disgraced Pokémon Master that was shamed away from returning home. Instead, he became a guru for the next generation i.e. his son's. That's pretty far fetched, but funny.