The recent launch of Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! has reignited the flames of Kanto nostalgia for veteran trainers while welcoming a new generation to the world of Pokémon. Yet, for many long-time fans, these new adventures also evoke memories of a bygone era – a time before ubiquitous internet access, when playground whispers and fervent speculation fueled a rich tapestry of urban legends surrounding the original Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow (and Green in Japan) games.
Released over two decades ago, these initial installments sparked a global phenomenon that, despite evolving, continues to captivate through manga, anime, films, trading cards, merchandise, and of course, video games. The surge of Pokémon Go even briefly recaptured the initial frenzy of the ’90s. While subsequent remakes like 2004’s Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen revisited Kanto, the Let’s Go titles offer a fresh perspective, starting with fan-favorite mascots instead of the classic Kanto starters.
However, the modern era’s instant information has stripped away one particular charm of those early days: the unchecked spread of gaming myths. From elusive Mew-catching techniques to the fabled “PokeGods,” these fantastical rumors became an integral part of a generation’s childhood, cementing the first Pokémon games firmly in gaming history. Let’s delve into 20 of these legendary tales.
- Play Pokémon Red on your Android device with a simple APK.
- Play Pokémon Blue on your Android device with a simple APK.
20. Lavender Town’s Creepy Music
The Kanto region’s Lavender Town remains arguably the most unsettling location in the Pokémon world. Beyond being home to the Pokémon Tower, a solemn burial ground for deceased Pokémon, it’s notorious for its deeply disturbing background music. This eerie tune birthed the “Lavender Town Syndrome” rumor, alleging that a spike in severe health issues among young children in 1996 was linked to the track’s high frequency, supposedly only audible to a specific age group. Game programmers reportedly adjusted the music to a lower frequency as a precaution.
19. Your Rival’s Missing Raticate
Lavender Town isn’t just famous for its unsettling melody; it’s also where players might confront the chilling possibility of having permanently defeated an innocent Pokémon. Earlier in the game, you battle your rival aboard the S.S. Anne. When you encounter him again in Lavender Town, his Raticate is noticeably absent, and he somberly asks if you understand what it’s like to lose a Pokémon. A popular theory suggests that, trapped on the ship, your rival couldn’t heal his injured Raticate after your battle, implying you’re responsible for its demise.
18. Bill’s Garden
Aside from the tree-themed Professors, Bill stands as a prominent scientific mind in the Pokémon universe. His contributions span various fields, including DNA splicing, but his most significant in-game creation is the PC storage system. Yet, many players were far more interested in the rumored secret garden behind his house on Route 25. This blank patch of land was believed to harbor everything from second-generation Pokémon like Marill to the mythical “PokeGods.” In reality, it was just empty space.
17. Button Cheats to Catch Pokémon
The practice of pressing specific button combinations to unlock hidden content has long been a staple in video games, offering a form of in-game “cheating.” While no such mechanic exists in any Pokémon game, this didn’t deter players from believing they could enhance their catch rates. Did you hold down B and the directional pad? Did you whisper “GOTCHA!” into your Nintendo DS microphone? Did you blow on the mic for good luck? Even if we knew these actions were futile, the urge to believe in a little extra help was irresistible.
16. MissingNo
This is one of the rare early Pokémon myths that was undeniably real, though its exact nature was often muddled by misinformation. MissingNo was a catchable glitch Pokémon that would appear if players surfed along a specific area of Cinnabar Island after receiving a Pokémon catching tutorial in Viridian City. This unintended data manifestation often appeared as a chaotic mass of pixels at Level 100 and, if caught, could multiply the sixth item in your bag (the “Infinite Items” cheat) or, more ominously, corrupt your entire save file. It remains one of gaming’s most infamous glitches.
15. Pikablu
The legend of Pikablu circulated in many forms. A common variation claimed a man on Cinnabar Island told players his Raichu had evolved, and early concept art for the next generation of games depicted a spherical blue Pokémon, which was then dubbed “Pikablu”—the secret third evolution in the Pikachu line. Many categorized Pikablu as one of the “PokeGods,” and elaborate tales of how to catch it spread through schoolyards. These dreams were ultimately dashed with the revelation that Pikablu was simply Marill, a new Water-type Pokémon.
14. HM Jump
HMs (Hidden Machines) have gradually fallen out of favor with Pokémon fans. As permanent, teachable moves required to access new areas of the map, players often resented forcing party members to learn “Cut” or “Rock Smash.” However, one particular HM was once highly sought after. As is common in RPGs, not every visible patch of land is reachable, but the presence of tall grass (where wild Pokémon lurk) behind gates and walls fostered the belief that an HM called “Jump” existed, allowing players to scale such obstacles. Despite new HMs being introduced, “Jump” has never been one of them.
13. Fake Evolutions
Given that Pokémon has introduced additional evolutions at the beginning and end of existing lines for years—and even different forms of evolution—this theory seemed more plausible in the franchise’s early years. That said, it’s hard to imagine how names like “Charcolt,” “Rainer,” and “Sapsuar” fooled anyone. These were supposedly the fourth evolutions of the original starter Pokémon: Charizard, Blastoise, and Venusaur, respectively, evolving via the completely fictitious “Mist Stone.” Interestingly, with the introduction of Mega Evolutions, this old belief somewhat materialized, with Charizard’s X and Y upgrades finally granting it official dragon status.
12. Charizard Island
Beyond attempting to jump into unreachable patches of grass, some players of the first three Pokémon games sought out mythical locations whispered about on the Poké-grapevine. One such place was Charizard Island, presumably a secluded destination populated by vacationing Charmanders, Charmeleons, and its namesake. This concept was actually mirrored in the anime, where Johto’s Charicific Valley serves as a training ground for Ash’s misbehaving Charizard. While actual mythical islands like Hoenn’s rarely appearing Mirage Island exist in the games, Charizard Island does not.
11. Level 100 Pikachu’s Fate
To truly “be the very best,” trainers strive to become League Champion, complete the Pokédex, and raise at least one Pokémon to max level. As veteran trainers know, achieving the latter requires countless hours of painstaking grinding. One strange myth that circulated amongst younger players was that taking a max-leveled Pikachu to the Pokémon Center for healing in Pokémon Yellow would result in its permanent loss. Why? No one knew. In reality, the only downside to hitting Level 100 is that your overpowered partner has no further growth potential, signaling it’s time to start the grind anew with another Pokémon.
10. How to Get Mew
Believe it or not, there was at least one proven method to obtain the most elusive Pokémon of all time in Red, Blue, and Yellow—though it wasn’t exactly authorized. Early rumors swirled that Mew was hidden under the truck near the S.S. Anne, but the real method involved an in-game glitch using specific NPC trainers and teleportation. If done correctly, this would trigger an encounter with Mew at Level 7. While the glitch wasn’t intended by the developers, it did work, making it one of the most satisfying secrets players could unlock—if they had the right guide.
9. Mewthree
Mewtwo is the only known successful clone of Mew. However, fans believed another clone—stronger and more unstable—existed as Mewthree. Images of Mewthree often appeared in bootleg games or early fan art and circulated via primitive internet forums and magazines. Some even believed defeating the Elite Four 100 times or performing absurd tasks could unlock this god-tier Pokémon. Mewthree never existed in any official game, but its popularity endures. Ironically, a Mega Evolution for Mewtwo introduced in Generation VI resembles early fan depictions of Mewthree, adding fuel to the myth’s legacy.
8. The Cursed Cartridge
A franchise as successful as Pokémon has, predictably, been a target for hackers and knock-off producers. One of the more chilling urban legends involved a “cursed” cartridge often referred to as “Pokémon Black” (not to be confused with the official 2010 game). In this bootleg version, players would receive a ghost-type Pokémon named “GHOST” capable of using a move called “Curse”—which would instantly KO any opponent and later erase them from the game entirely. The story usually ends with the player being left alone in a world devoid of other Pokémon or NPCs. Although entirely fictional, fan-made ROMs inspired by this myth are widely available online.
7. The PokeGods
We’ve touched upon these so-called higher Poké-beings earlier; now let’s delve deeper. The “PokeGods” were an imagined pantheon of all-powerful Pokémon that could supposedly be unlocked through elaborate and bizarre rituals—like beating the Elite Four a ridiculous number of times, maxing out all your Pokémon’s stats, or speaking to NPCs in a specific order. Pokémon like Pikablu, Doomsday, Charcolt, and Mewthree were often named among them. While fan sites and magazines helped propagate these stories, none of these PokeGods ever existed. Still, they sparked imaginations everywhere and contributed to the Pokémon world’s sense of mystery and grandeur.
6. Reaching Unreachable Areas
The rumored HM Jump was one of many imagined tools trainers thought could help them access hidden areas. But even without it, theories spread that precise sequences of Surfing, Flying, or using glitches would allow players to reach islands off the map, secret caves, or behind-the-scenes areas like the Safari Zone’s back gate or Professor Oak’s hidden garden. While some were rooted in half-truths (like the truck near S.S. Anne), most were simply a product of kids poking at the game’s boundaries—and seeing patterns where there were none. Still, that curiosity inspired many to experiment and explore far beyond the game’s intended limits.
5. The Great Pokémon War
One of the most captivating and enduring fan theories about Pokémon speculates that the Kanto region is recovering from a massive war. This idea stems primarily from the conspicuous absence of adult men in Red and Blue—most characters are children, elderly, or women. Lieutenant Surge, the Electric-type Gym Leader, claims that Electric Pokémon “saved [him] during the war,” suggesting a recent conflict. Fans theorized that this war wiped out much of the male population, explaining the social structure and empty homes. Though never confirmed by Game Freak, the theory remains popular and fits with the franchise’s eerily quiet dystopian backdrop.
4. The Gengar/Clefable Link
The idea that Gengar is somehow the “shadow” of Clefable is a fan theory that borders on urban legend. The two Pokémon share similar body shapes, stats, and base designs. The theory goes that Gengar, the Shadow Pokémon, is literally Clefable’s shadow, possibly lost in some dark dimension. This is further emphasized by their typings—Fairy (originally Normal) and Ghost—which are opposites in many mythologies. While there’s no official lore confirming this connection, the resemblance is uncanny enough to keep fans speculating. It’s a reminder that some myths are born not from falsehoods but from eerie coincidences.
3. Struggle is Super-Effective
“Struggle” is the move a Pokémon uses when it runs out of Power Points (PP) for all other attacks. In early versions of the game, Struggle had no type and dealt fixed damage with recoil. However, rumors spread that Struggle could be super-effective against certain Pokémon—especially Ghost-types or PokeGods. Some players claimed that using it repeatedly would unlock a secret form, or even a hidden evolution. The reality is that Struggle is a neutral move and wasn’t designed with any hidden effects. But because it was so rarely used in regular play, its mystery remained intact—and the legend lived on.
2. Professor Oak’s Secret Battle
Every trainer wondered what it might be like to battle Professor Oak himself. After all, he owns Pokémon, gives you your starter, and is clearly an experienced trainer. Dataminers eventually discovered that a fully-coded battle against Professor Oak exists in the original Red and Blue—complete with a high-level team including Tauros, Arcanine, and Gyarados. However, there was no legitimate way to trigger the battle through normal gameplay. It’s speculated that this was meant as a tutorial or scrapped event. Still, discovering that Oak could battle you gave players another goal to chase—and another rumor to spread.
1. The Glitch Dimension
Perhaps the most mind-bending urban legend is the existence of a so-called “Glitch Dimension”—a corrupted version of the Pokémon world filled with MissingNos, invisible NPCs, broken text, and disordered maps. Players who experimented heavily with glitches, GameShark codes, or corrupt cartridges sometimes ended up here, and their tales spread quickly: a world where nothing made sense, time looped, and terrifying error messages flashed constantly. Some believed it was a punishment for cheating. Others thought it was where deleted Pokémon went. Whether myth or merely memory corruption, the Glitch Dimension became a digital ghost story—one that still haunts curious trainers today.
Conclusion :
As we look back at the enduring legacy of Pokémon Red & Blue, it’s clear that these games offered more than just captivating gameplay; they fostered a unique environment where imagination thrived. In a pre-internet age, the absence of instant answers allowed rumors and speculative theories to flourish, becoming an integral part of the player experience.
These 20 urban legends, whether rooted in glitches, misinterpreted details, or pure fantasy, transcended mere whispers. They fueled countless hours of experimentation, discussion, and wonder among young trainers. While many were eventually debunked, the pursuit of a hidden Mew, the fear of Lavender Town Syndrome, or the persistent attempts to move that elusive truck etched themselves into the collective memory of a generation.
The enduring appeal of these myths highlights the powerful connection players formed with the Kanto region and its inhabitants. Even today, they serve as a nostalgic reminder of a simpler time in gaming, where the boundaries of the digital world felt a little more porous, and the impossible seemed just a cheat code or a playground whisper away. The urban legends of Pokémon Red & Blue aren’t just fascinating anecdotes; they are a testament to the games’ profound cultural impact and their ability to spark curiosity and imagination in ways few other titles have.
- Play Pokémon Red on your Android device with a simple APK.
- Play Pokémon Blue on your Android device with a simple APK.
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