Pokémon is one of the most well-known and beloved franchise in existence. Despite recent frustrations and divisions, the Pokémon fanbase is still going strong, and it's a community capable of generating new content that extends the life of the games.
Possibly the most popular example would be the Nuzlocke challenge, a fan-generated challenge intended to increase the difficulty of the mainline Pokémon games. These self-imposed challenges operate on two base rules: 1) only the first Pokémon per new area can be captured, and 2) any Pokémon that faints is considered dead and can no longer be used. Other rules can be added -- such as limiting the use of items or the more popular ‘dupe’ clause (i.e, if an already-captured Pokémon is the first encounter, that Pokémon can be ignored) -- but it is these two rules that turn the usual Pokémon experience into a Nuzlocke run. But how did this challenge get started, and why is it so popular?
The Nuzlocke challenge was created by a 4chan user in 2010 who posted a small comic series detailing a different approach to the Gameboy Advance game Pokémon Ruby, starting with the two rules that would end up being challenge staples. The comic series became popular quickly, and the Nuzlocke challenge -- named after a Nuzleaf drawn to resemble John Locke from Lost -- gained traction as more and more people decided to try their hand at it.
A decade later, the Nuzlocke challenge is still as popular as ever within the Pokémon community. Challengers share their runs through YouTube or via comic format, and there are enough Nuzlocke comics active that there is a fan-run awards ceremony known as the Nuzlocke Extravaganza. Many of these comics delve deep into storytelling and the games’ lore, turning what started off as a simple challenge into a deep journey into the world of Pokémon.
But why is this challenge so popular? How did a simple challenge grow into such a phenomenon? The answer may very well be in the question -- the Nuzlocke challenge is a way to increase the difficulty of what is, on the surface, a very simple game.
Mainline Pokémon games follow a specific formula: you start in your hometown, get a Pokémon and Pokédex from the local professor and then explore the region in search of eight badges while defeating the evil team and possibly encountering the box legendary. It's a formula that's seen little deviation over the years, and it has become more narrow as time goes on. A common complaint recent Pokémon games have received is that they allow for less deviation than the original games.
That is not to say that this is a bad thing. The Pokémon formula allows for anyone to jump in and start adventuring by starting off simple before going into greater depth. It is a perfect way to attract new players, and the target audience is children.
But for those who played the older games as children who have since grown up, the formula has gotten less and less exciting as time goes on. And, with Game Freak’s recent release schedules, fans have little time to get acclimated to the current generation before a new one looms. Pokémon fans have been asking for a more mature game for years, but with no sign of such a game, players have found a way to make their own.
The Nuzlocke challenge requires players to think critically. No longer can the player catch only the strongest -- they catch what they encounter and must use those Pokémon. Players will likely end up with a team of early-route and common Pokémon to use against trainers, wild Pokémon, Gym Leaders and the Elite Four. And, since Pokémon can't be used after they faint, every battle is a matter of life or death. A surprise encounter with a strong wild Pokémon could wipe out crucial team members, and difficult matches, such as Whitney’s infamous Miltank, go from challenging to downright terrifying.
It is this increase in difficulty that makes the challenge so attractive. Pokémon is accessible to all ages, but experienced gamers may find the formula stale. The Nuzlocke challenge breathes new life into the games by challenging the player with self-imposed limitations. And, as those who take the Nuzlocke challenge often share their experiences, they invite others into their adventures. Readers of comics and viewers of livestreams grow attached to certain Pokémon, who grow into characters under the Nuzlocke banner as opposed to a means to an end. They cry when the Pokémon fall and rejoice when they succeed. The Nuzlocke challenge turns a simple game into a community affair and results in people developing attachments to Pokémon they might not otherwise have cared for.
What started as a simple challenge has become a community phenomenon by encouraging the the themes already present in the franchise. Pokémon is meant to bring people together, to connect them to their Pokémon and to others. With the Nuzlocke challenge, players find more than just a deeper challenge to the games. They also develop a deeper connection to their partner Pokémon, something that is only increased by the act of sharing their journeys with others.