Pokemon

Pokemon video games blend strategy with role playing game elements. Players must catch and train Pokemon (an amalgamation of the words "pocket" and "monster") and then pit them against other Pokemon, all with varying fighting abilities. As players progress through the game, RPG elements begin to show, as their pets begin to evolve and develop, becoming more experienced and powerful fighters.

Nintendo Pokemon games have been published for many of its systems, including the original Game Boy, Nintendo 64, GameCube, and also the handheld Nintendo DS. Over a dozen Pokemon titles have been released for Nintendo platforms, selling well over 100 million copies worldwide. This staggering number makes Pokemon the second-best selling video game franchise of all time, right behind Nintendo's Mario game series.

When a new Pokemon title is released, fans of the series can expect a mad rush at stores to get their hands on a copy of the game. People new to the Pokemon world are at an advantage though, as the majority of the older Pokemon games are relatively easy to find. Many can be purchased inexpensively too, allowing newcomers to start with the first Pokemon games (Pokemon Red and Blue for the Game Boy) and then work their way up to the newest release without spending much money in the process.