Pokémon X and Pokémon Y are 2013 role-playing video games created by Game Freak and released by The Pokémon Company and Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS. These games are the first in the sixth generation of the main Pokémon series. They were first announced in January 2013 by Nintendo president Satoru Iwata during a Nintendo Direct presentation. The games were released worldwide in October 2013 and were the first Pokémon games to launch simultaneously in all regions.

Like earlier games in the series, Pokémon X and Y follow the story of a young Pokémon Trainer who trains and battles Pokémon to stop the plans of the criminal group Team Flare. The games added 72 new Pokémon species and included new features such as the Fairy-type, character customization, updated battle mechanics like "Mega Evolution," and fully 3D graphics instead of the 2D sprites used before. While each game can be played alone, trading Pokémon between the two games is needed to complete the Pokédex.

Reviewers generally praised the games' visuals and use of 3D models but noted some criticism about the story, characters, and level of detail. The games were very successful, selling 4 million copies worldwide in their first weekend, which broke the previous record held by Pokémon Black and White. As of September 30, 2024, a total of 16.76 million copies have been sold worldwide, making them the second best-selling games on the Nintendo 3DS after Mario Kart 7.

A later game called Pokémon Legends: Z-A was released on October 16, 2025, for the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. It takes place five years after the events of Pokémon X and Y and includes the redevelopment of Lumiose City, the largest city in the Kalos region, which was inspired by Paris, France.

Gameplay

Pokémon X and Y are role-playing video games with adventure elements, shown from a third-person, overhead perspective. These games are the first in the series to include 3D features that work with Nintendo 3DS consoles. In the game, players control a young Pokémon Trainer who travels to catch and train creatures called Pokémon, and to win battles against other Trainers. When a player's Pokémon defeat opposing Pokémon in turn-based battles, they gain experience, which allows them to level up, improve their battle abilities, learn new moves, and sometimes evolve into stronger Pokémon. Alternatively, players can capture wild Pokémon by weakening them in battle and using Poké Balls to add them to their team. Players can also battle and trade Pokémon with others using the Nintendo 3DS's internet features, which were improved in the sixth generation of games. Some Pokémon are only available in X or Y, encouraging players to trade with others to collect all Pokémon.

Pokémon X and Y are the first main series games to use fully 3D polygonal graphics, making the world and battles more interactive. Players can choose their Trainer's appearance, including gender, skin tone, and hair color at the start of the game, and later earn outfits and accessories to change their look. New Pokémon species introduced in the game include the Starter Pokémon Chespin, Fennekin, and Froakie, as well as the Legendary Pokémon Xerneas, Yveltal, and Zygarde. Players can also choose from classic Starter Pokémon used in earlier games. A new Fairy-type was added for both new and old Pokémon, marking the first new type since Pokémon Gold and Silver. Developers included the Fairy-type to balance the Dragon-type in the game.

A new feature in the series is Mega Evolution, where fully evolved Pokémon, such as Mewtwo and Lucario, can use special items called "Mega Stones" to temporarily transform into stronger Mega Evolved forms during battles. Some Pokémon can have multiple Mega forms. Sky Battles are mid-air battles that only airborne Pokémon can join, added to use the game's 3D capabilities and offer a new battle style. Horde Encounters are battles where players face five wild Pokémon at once, making them more challenging than regular one-on-one battles. The Pokémon-Amie mode lets players interact with their Pokémon using the 3DS touchscreen and camera, playing with them and giving them treats to strengthen their bond, which affects how they act in battles. Super Training includes minigames that help improve a Pokémon's base stats, unlocking training bags to help them grow stronger.

Improvements to communication features were also added. The Player Search System (PSS) allows players to find and track online players, making it easier to start battles or trades. The Holo Caster lets players receive messages and updates from NPCs using StreetPass and SpotPass. Wonder Trade is a new feature where players can trade one of their Pokémon for a random one from another player. Other features include O-Powers, temporary abilities that boost stats and can be shared with others, and updates to the Global Trade System, which lets players request specific Pokémon they haven't seen. At certain points in the game, players can take screenshots and share them on the Pokémon Global Link website.

Pokémon Bank is a paid online storage service that lets players store up to 3,000 Pokémon online, which can be shared across physical or digital copies of the games. Poké Transporter is an app that allows players to move Pokémon from Pokémon Black, White, Black 2, and White 2 to Pokémon Bank, where they can be imported into X and Y. These apps were planned for release on December 27, 2013, but were delayed until February 5, 2014, due to high traffic on the Nintendo Network service.

Plot

The games take place in the star-shaped Kalos Region, one of many regions in the fictional Pokémon world. The region focuses on beauty and is inspired by Metropolitan France and parts of Europe. Many places in Kalos are based on real-world locations, such as Prism Tower (inspired by the Eiffel Tower), the Lumiose Art Museum (based on the Louvre), and the stones outside Geosenge Town (similar to the Carnac stones). Wild Pokémon live throughout Kalos, with some only found in this area.

Pokémon X and Y follow a story that happens in a fixed order, similar to earlier games. The main character moves to Vaniville Town with their mother, Grace. They meet four trainers—Shauna, Tierno, Trevor, and their rival, Calem or Serena—who are called to meet Professor Augustine Sycamore, a leading expert in the Kalos Region. Sycamore lives in Lumiose City, the main city of Kalos. The player receives a Starter Pokémon—Chespin, Fennekin, or Froakie—from Tierno and begins their adventure. Along the way, they learn about Pokémon Gyms and earn their first badge by defeating Viola, the Gym Leader of Santalune City.

Next, they meet Sina and Dexio, assistants of Professor Sycamore, who take them to meet the professor. In Lumiose City, they discover that some areas are without electricity. Professor Sycamore explains Mega Evolution and gives the player a Kanto Region starter Pokémon and its corresponding Mega Stone. Before leaving Lumiose City, the player meets Lysandre, a man who wants to create a more beautiful world.

The player continues their journey and encounters Team Flare, a group initially focused on making money from Pokémon. Later, they learn Team Flare’s real goal is to destroy humanity to restore a perfect, beautiful world. In Shalour City, the player learns how to use Mega Evolution from Gurkinn and Korrina, the Gym Leader. After defeating Korrina in a special battle using Lucario, the player gains the ability to use Mega Evolution freely.

The player defeats other Gym Leaders and stops Team Flare’s plans. In the Lumiose Badlands, they stop Team Flare from stealing energy from a power plant and restore electricity to Lumiose City. After earning their seventh Gym Badge, the player is addressed by Lysandre through a holographic device called the Holo Caster. Lysandre reveals he is the leader of Team Flare and plans to destroy humanity.

Following clues, the player finds Team Flare’s secret lab under a café in Lumiose City. There, they meet AZ, a 9-foot-tall man who was once a king 3,000 years ago. AZ used the "ultimate weapon," a device powered by energy from the Legendary Pokémon Xerneas or Yveltal, to end a war in Kalos. His goal was to revive a Pokémon named Floette, but Floette left him after the weapon’s use. This event led to the creation of Mega Evolution by sending excess energy into an asteroid.

With help from Shauna and Calem or Serena, the player goes to Geosenge Town, where the ultimate weapon is located. They find a dormant Xerneas or Yveltal, which awakens when the player arrives. The player captures the legendary Pokémon and defeats Lysandre in a final battle. Lysandre then uses the ultimate weapon to destroy it. The player, Shauna, and Calem or Serena escape before the weapon can be activated.

After defeating Team Flare, the player earns their eighth and final Gym Badge, allowing them to challenge the Elite Four, the strongest trainers in Kalos. They travel through Victory Road to the Kalos League and defeat the League Champion, Diantha, becoming the new Kalos League Champion. A parade is held by Professor Sycamore to celebrate the player’s victory. During the parade, AZ battles the player, recognizing their strength as a Pokémon Trainer. His Floette returns to him, and they reunite after 3,000 years.

Development

The development of Pokémon X and Y started in 2010. Junichi Masuda, the game's director, said the main themes were beauty, bonds, and evolution. Beauty was the most important focus, and Masuda studied France as an example of beauty. A team went to France in 2011 to learn more. Flowers were added to many areas in the game for visual appeal, something not done before. The game's setting, based on France, inspired design ideas from European culture. For example, the legendary Pokémon Xerneas, Yveltal, and Zygarde were inspired by Norse mythology. More effort was made to give new Pokémon unique features in this generation. The titles X and Y were chosen early because they represent the x-axis and y-axis, which also show different ways of thinking. The simple names helped with the games' worldwide release. Designers tried to use the same names for Pokémon in all countries, but this was very difficult because names needed to match the Pokémon's appearance and avoid copyright issues.

A major change in the game's design was switching from 2D sprites to 3D polygons. This required a larger team than before, with over 500 people involved, including translation teams. The art style of Ken Sugimori, who has designed Pokémon since 1996, was kept. At Masuda's request, the shapes "X" and "Y" were used as the basis for the boxart of Xerneas and Yveltal. Normally, Sugimori designs legendary Pokémon alone, but he worked with Yusuke Ohmura to create these characters. Their designs took about 18 months, three times longer than usual. Manga artist Hitoshi Ariga helped design ten new Pokémon for the games.

The game's music was composed by Shota Kageyama, Minako Adachi, Hitomi Sato, Junichi Masuda, Go Ichinose, and Morikazu Aoki. This was the first time the Nintendo 3DS's sound features were used in a Pokémon game. Masuda was happy with the improved sound quality. The soundtrack focused on beauty, like the themes of the games. Kageyama took inspiration from French music but avoided making it sound too French. In some parts, a Japanese harp was used instead of an accordion to reduce French influences. Kageyama also said Masuda inspired his work. Masuda composed the battle themes, including a new style with techno music for the Gym Leader battles.

The official soundtrack, titled Nintendo 3DS Pokémon X-Y Super Music Collection, was released on November 13, 2013. It reached number 12 on Billboard-Japan's Top Albums Chart and number 3 on the Independent Albums Chart. The soundtrack was also released digitally worldwide on November 20 through iTunes. It debuted at number 104 on the Billboard 200 and reached number 5 on the Billboard Soundtracks Chart. James Stephanie Sterling from Destructoid called the music "utterly lovely" and praised the quiet songs as "beautiful."

Release

Pokémon X and Y were introduced by Satoru Iwata during a Nintendo Direct broadcast on January 8, 2013. This was the first time in the main series of Pokémon games that titles were released worldwide on October 12, 2013. Before the official release date, many retailers in the UK and online sold the games early. Nintendo warned stores that they would face penalties if they continued to sell the games before the scheduled date. A store in Bournemouth, United Kingdom, reportedly began selling the games on October 11, which caused other UK retailers to also sell the games early.

A special Nintendo 3DS XL model featuring Xerneas and Yveltal in their Shiny forms was released in North America and Europe on September 27, 2013, and in Japan on October 12, 2013. Japan also received a premium gold version of the 3DS XL, which showed Xerneas on the front and Yveltal along with the three starter Pokémon on the back. This version included either Pokémon X or Y pre-installed. On October 2, 2013, Union J, the X Factor series 9 semifinalists, shared on their social media that they would participate in the British release of Pokémon X and Y.

From October 12, 2013, to January 15, 2014, players could download a special Torchic with its hidden ability "Speed Boost" and a Blazikenite, which allowed players to use the new Mega Evolution feature to evolve Blaziken into Mega Blaziken. Between March 1 and March 31, 2014, North American Club Nintendo members could claim a free download code for Pokémon X or Y if they registered a Nintendo 2DS, 3DS, or 3DS XL and one of six qualifying games. However, products registered before this period were not eligible.

To promote the new Mega Evolution feature, Mega Mewtwo Y (originally called "Awakened Mewtwo") appeared in a special anime episode titled "Mewtwo: Prologue to Awakening" and in the film ExtremeSpeed Genesect: Mewtwo Awakens, released in Japan on July 13, 2013. Mega Evolution was also shown in the TV special Pokémon Origins, which retold the story of the original Pokémon Red and Blue games and included a surprise appearance of Mega Charizard X. The anime series Pokémon the Series: XY, based on Pokémon X and Y, began airing in Japan on October 17, 2013, and was previewed in North America and Europe on October 19, 2013.

Reception

Pokémon X and Y were released and received mostly positive reviews. According to Metacritic, they earned "generally favorable reviews." These games ranked as the 15th and 13th highest-rated games on the Nintendo 3DS. OpenCritic reported that 84% of critics recommended the games, calling the reception "mighty." The Japanese magazine Weekly Famitsu gave the games a near-perfect score, awarding them the publication's Platinum Award. This made Pokémon X and Y the second-highest rated Pokémon titles by the magazine, after Pokémon Black and White, which received a perfect score.

Reviewers praised the games for their transition to 3D graphics, improved visuals, and online play features. Edge magazine described the visuals as "rich in detail," with scenes ranging from grand areas to a run-down hotel. Eurogamer's Simon Parkin called the 3D transition "smooth and natural," stating the games were the best expression of the series' creator, Satoshi Tajiri's vision. The Observer's Matt Kamen praised new gameplay mechanics, graphics, and audio, calling the games "the series' zenith."

IGN's Jose Otero said the games successfully moved to a 3D world, calling them "more social, beautiful, and strategic" than earlier titles. He noted that new Pokémon models and animations matched their personalities and that Mega Evolutions were impressive. Otero also highlighted the fast-paced early game, with many Pokémon available quickly. Kyle Hilliard of Game Informer said the new features made the games "more inviting and fun," but noted they did not change the franchise's core design. Ernest Cavalli of Joystiq and Griffin McElroy of Polygon praised the gameplay, with Cavalli calling it "the best in the series." Daan Koopman of Nintendo World Report praised the 3D graphics and music but criticized inconsistent presentation and less exciting battle types. Parkin noted the series' original appeal—catching all Pokémon—remained strong, while Edge said some of the series' "original magic" had been lost and criticized the 3D mode's framerate.

The Player Search System (PSS) allowed seamless online battles and trades, earning praise for making online play "masterly." McElroy called the experience "completely interconnected," as intended for Pokémon. Otero said the PSS made the games feel "dramatically new and modern." Features like Pokémon-Amie and Super Training had mixed reactions. Hilliard found Super Training's minigames forgettable, while McElroy said they strengthened the bond between trainers and Pokémon. Otero praised Super Training for making competitive training easier.

Critics were less positive about the story. Otero called the story and characters "disappointing," while McElroy said the campaign was "rigidly formulaic." Hilliard noted some interactions with non-playable characters were "bizarre but entertaining." Parkin criticized the story as "thin and melodramatic." Some puzzles were described as clumsy, and the Kalos region's layout was seen as simple but welcoming for new players. Changes to experience gain allowed players to use more Pokémon and switch teams often.

Pokémon X and Y were nominated for Best RPG and Best Handheld Game at the 2013 VGX Awards. In 2014, they won the Golden Joystick Award for Handheld Game of the Year. At the 17th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards, they were nominated for "Handheld Game of the Year" and "Role-Playing/Massively Multiplayer Game of the Year."

Media Create sales data showed over 1.26 million pre-orders in Japan, making them the most reserved Nintendo 3DS title. Within three days of release, they sold 2.09 million retail copies in Japan. Globally, they sold 4 million copies in the first weekend, becoming the fastest-selling 3DS titles. By December 2013, they had sold 11.61 million copies worldwide, making them the best-selling 3DS titles. They remained top sellers until 2017, when Mario Kart 7 surpassed them. As of March 31, 2023, Pokémon X and Y had sold 16.68 million units worldwide, making them the second-best-selling 3DS games, behind Mario Kart 7 and ahead of Pokémon Sun and Moon.