It’s extremely difficult to ignore a cultural powerhouse like Pokemon. Since 1996, the franchise has sparked a global mania that has outlasted trends, survived console evolutions, and nestled deep into the hearts of countless fans.
Whether you’re a die-hard fan who can name every single creature or someone who vaguely remembers Pikachu as that yellow rodent with electric abilities, Pokemon is just so hard to avoid. And the world of video games seems to agree.
Developers everywhere, from the obscure to the word famous, have slipped little Pokemon references into their titles. Sometimes they’re sneaky nods and other times they are full-on Easter eggs. For fans, these moments are squeal-worthy treasures. For everyone else, they’re quirky surprises that make you pause and go, “Wait... was he referring to Pikachu?”
Top 8 Times Pokemon Was Referenced In Other Video Games
This is the list of times Pokemon broke into other games like a Jigglypuff singing itself into a karaoke party.
Pokemon in Elder Scrolls : Morrowind
Let’s start with one of the weirdest and obscure references ever: The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. This fantasy RPG is known for its intense lore and dark atmosphere, not exactly a breeding ground for cute pocket creatures. And yet, nestled in the game’s massive open world is a creature named Peke Utchoo.
It's a subtle parody of Pikachu, down to the sunny color and the squeaky name. It’s not just an Easter egg but a prank from the developers that somehow fits in the most unfitting realms possible.
Walking through Morrowind's eerie swamps and suddenly seeing this bizarre reference feels like someone let a Game Boy Color fall into Tamriel. It’s completely random, yet totally brilliant.
Pokemon Music in HarmoKnight
Now, if you have ever played HarmoKnight on the Nintendo 3DS, you know it is a rhythm game with a whole lot of passion. But did you know it’s also a low-key Pokemon tribute?
HarmoKnight, created by Game Freak, yes, that Game Freak, features remixed music straight from the Pokemon video games. You’ll get the joy of hearing the Generation I Gym theme, the Generation V Gym theme, and even the iconic Pokemon Bike music.
For those with sharp ears, these melodies drop in like hidden tracks from your childhood, adding a burst of nostalgia in between your perfectly timed jumps and attacks. It’s like a VIP pass to a mini Pokemon concert hidden inside a music game.
Pokemon Art in GTA: San Andreas
Meanwhile, over in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, where gang wars and wild car chases are slices of life, there’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it reference to Pokemon.
In one of the game’s gift shops, you can spot an art of Pokemon hanging on the wall. You read that right. While CJ is busy defending his turf and dodging cops, somewhere in Los Santos, someone is happily displaying Pokemon fan art.
It’s subtle, weirdly wholesome, and oddly fitting. Even in the gritty world of GTA, the love for pocket monsters finds a way to penetrate the chaos. Makes you wonder if CJ could be a Pokemon fan.
Pika-Kid in Harvest Moon 64
Cuteness reaches peak levels in farm simulator game Harvest Moon 64. In this relaxing life simulator, if you marry Karen, and you should, and have a child with her, you might catch your toddler sporting a tiny Pikachu costume.
That’s not just an adorable outfit, it’s a Pokemon reference that brings together two beloved Nintendo-esque plains. It’s a sweet reminder that even in a game about crops, cows, and courting, Pokemon’s influence can sneak into your child’s drawer.
Whoever decided to merge the two that deserves a standing ovation and a lifetime supply of berries.
The Binding Of Pokemon, I mean, Isaac
Things take a darker turn with The Binding of Isaac, a game where disturbing themes and creepy visuals are its main ingredients. But even here, Pokemon manages to be referenced and leave a mark.
Some of the foes in the game are named Missingno and Pokego, clear references to the notorious Pokemon glitch and the mobile sensation Pokemon GO.
It’s a twisted tribute but it’s still kind of awesome. It feels like a punk rock version of Pokemon fandom.
Wario Land 3's Pokemon Device
Now let’s talk about Wario Land 3, an insane platformer packed with strange surprises. One of the game’s unlockables is a Virtual Boy step counter featuring a creature that’s suspiciously has the likeness of Pikachu.
This item is a virtual pet gadget in-game that counts your steps, just like the real-world Pokemon Pikachu pedometer toy released back in the day. The reference is so layered it’s like a reference within a reference.
It’s Wario, of all characters, tipping his hat to Pokemon’s real-world fitness gizmo, which is probably the most unexpected team-up since Detective Pikachu was introduced Ryan Reynolds.
Has Pokemon Appeared In Yu-Gi-Oh?
In the world of Yu-Gi-Oh, where cards decide everything and duels dictate fates, there’s an outrageous little reference at Pokemon. Several Yu-Gi-Oh games feature a Spell card named A Wild Monster Appears!, which is obviously a direct parody of the classic Pokemon encounter line, “A wild Pokemon appeared!”
Thankfully, you won’t need Poke Balls to capture Blue-Eyes White Dragon or tame Obelisk the Tormentor. But the idea of these godlike monsters chilling in the tall grass is the kind of catastrophic crossover energy we secretly want to see.
Pokemon Crossing Over Animal Crossing
Over in the adorable world of Animal Crossing for the GameCube, there’s an item you can find and return to its owner called the Pokemon 2GS. It’s one of those sidequest items with a name that makes fans go crazy.
While it doesn’t exactly function like a Game Boy or let you play Pokemon in-game, the name alone is a sly little nod to Nintendo’s masterpiece. It feels like a developer slipped their fanboy moment into the charming world of bug-catching and raccoon rent-paying.
All these moments across all these games prove a single thing. Pokemon is a cultural language. It’s a set of codes and sounds that instantly connect players across consoles and genres.
When Pikachu pops up in a gritty RPG, when Pokemon music plays in a rhythm game, or when CJ walks past an Ash painting in a GTA gift shop, we are reminded of how deeply rooted Pokemon is in gaming history.
Hopefully, we’ll keep seeing more of these wild shoutouts in the future. Maybe Sonic will find a Heavy-Duty Boots. Maybe Master Chief will bump into a Golem in a multiplayer lobby. Who knows?
The world of video games is excitingly unpredictable, but one thing is certain, there will always be Pokemon. And where there’s Pokemon, there will always be enjoyment.