Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Want to add more newsletters? Every Friday Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them. Every Thursday GTA 6 O'clock Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts. Every Friday Knowledge From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon. Every Thursday The Setup Every Wednesday Switch 2 Spotlight Every Saturday The Watchlist Once a month SFX Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month! Is Pokemon just a game for kids? One Game Freak veteran doesn't think so, previously suggesting that the belief comes from "a misunderstanding" rather than reality. Obviously, Pokemon has a lot of adult fans (hi), and I'd guess there's probably more than ever as the series turns 30. After all, many fans who were kids when they started playing have stuck with the franchise throughout their lives, and still enjoy it all these years later. Even before this big anniversary, though, veteran Game Freak artist Ken Sugimori once dismissed the idea that the RPGs are only for a younger audience. Sugimori, who served as a character and monster designer in the original games (he's responsible for that lovely watercolor-style artwork of all the Gen 1 'mons), and in more recent entries has held a number of supervisor roles, expressed his thoughts on the matter back in an old interview with games™ (a sister publication to Retro Gamer). "People think that Pokemon is a game for children but I believe that's a misunderstanding," he said at the time. Pokemon boss has a very straightforward plan for future releases: "keep making fun games" Coming back to Pokemon Yellow 30 years later is like coming home – and playing it in 2026 is even better than when I was a kid "We had no idea this would be such a phenomenon": As Pokemon Red and Blue turn 30, here's how Game Freak created one of the most important RPGs of all time It might sound a little funny considering that every entry in the series has sat with a firmly child-friendly age rating. However, I think it's safe to say he was trying to defend any adult fans who enjoy the games, too, rather than dismissing their appeal to kids entirely. And, obviously, his statement wasn't meant to signify an enormous upcoming change in tone for the series, as it's remained consistent in the years since the interview, although it's arguably dabbled in slightly more mature themes in the more recent games. The big twist of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet was surprisingly dark, and Legends: Arceus' basic concept of being sent back in time to a land where all your favorite creatures will mercilessly attack you on sight out in the harsh wilderness is pretty brutal in itself. At the end of the day, though, Pokemon is a game for everyone, and clearly Game Freak thinks so, too – there's no shame as far as the devs are concerned if you're 9 or 90. While you're here, be sure to check out our ranking of the best Pokemon games.