Pokémon Snap

What if battles vanished from hunting Pokémon and instead of a Poké Ball you held a camera? Pokémon Snap took this simple question and built on it one of the most unusual and endearing excursions into the world of Pokémon. Instead of catching them, here you observe the pocket monsters in their natural environment and try to capture them in the best possible shot.

The game sits you in a vehicle that travels along a predetermined route through various environments, from beaches through caves to volcanoes. You take care of the rest, aiming your lens, waiting for the right moment and trying to photograph the Pokémon at the best angle, in action or in an interesting situation. Your shots are then rated by the size of the Pokémon in the frame, its pose, centering and other factors, so taking the perfect photo is a small challenge in itself.

The magic of Pokémon Snap lies in interacting with the world. You can throw apples at the Pokémon, use special items or play a melody that gets them moving, thereby revealing their hidden behavior and secret Pokémon that won't just show themselves. The photo safari thus becomes a game full of small discoveries, where every pass along a route can bring something new that you overlooked last time.

Even though the route is fixed and the game isn't long, it manages to hold you precisely with that desire to improve your photographs and find everything hidden before you. It is a calm, almost zen experience that builds on observation and patience instead of action, and that is exactly what sets it apart from everything else Pokémon-related.

Pokémon Snap earned a reputation as a cult experiment that showed the Pokémon brand can bear an entirely different genre approach. Its idea was so fresh that many years later a sequel followed on a newer console, confirming that photographing Pokémon has its enduring charm.

Why play it: For an original, laid-back photo safari experience from the world of Pokémon that builds on observation and discovery instead of battles.