The Year of Pokemon
The 3DS played a major part in keeping Nintendo hardware afloat, but if there is one thing that brought Nintendo back into our lives this year, it’s Pokemon’s 20-year anniversary. Nintendo’s celebration showed they still know how to reign in tons of fans.
Thanks to augmented reality, this summer brought the ability to catch Pokemon in the real world. Pokemon GO got millions of people out of their homes and, most importantly, making new friends. Not only was the game free to play, it didn’t require a Nintendo device to play it. You could just download Pokemon GO on your smartphone and go catch some critters in your yard. The simplicity of access and gameplay, coupled with the lovable Pokemon brand, was a record-breaking hit worldwide.
Later in the year, Pokemon Sun and Moon continued this good fortune. Not only was this generation of Pokemon games among the best the franchise has ever given us, but it also became the biggest launch in the series’ history. By keeping those adorable little monsters in the spotlight all year long, Nintendo ensured a piece of limelight for themselves through the year.
