History DarkerAndEdgier / Pokemon

* ''[[VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeonExplorers Pokémon Mystery Dungeon:]] [[OddlyNamedSequel2ElectricBoogaloo Explorers of Time/Darkness]]''. While the first game's offered a character that simply tried to ruin your protagonists' lives and was a cosmic JerkAss, the sequel goes further by [[spoiler:sending your protagonist duo to the literal End of Days, having to face down a legendary Pokémon that has become an evilly subverted primal force of nature, and a BigBad who not only traps children in unending nightmares, but also poses as an "ally" who suggests that it's ''all your fault and the best way to fix things is to [[SuicideDare kill yourself]]]].''

* ''VideoGame/PokemonColosseum'', the UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube SpinOff series set in Orre, is like this. The first game stars a Pokémon-stealing AntiHero from the Team Rocket-like organization running off with a prototype Pokémon-theft device in a desolate desert land, with more than few shades of UsedFuture. He eventually discovers a plot to "seal the hearts of Pokémon" -- while it sounds [[{{Narm}} really cheesy]] when you put it that way, it actually involves [[HatePlague removing all sense of compassion from a Pokémon so that its primal bloodlust can be unlocked]]. The second game was LighterAndSofter in comparison, but was still set in Orre, which, even when "cleaned up" significantly, is still pretty grim.

* ''[[VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeonExplorers Pokémon Mystery Dungeon:]] [[OddlyNamedSequel2ElectricBoogaloo Explorers of Time/Darkness]]''. While the first game's offered a character that simply tried to ruin your protagonists' lives and was a cosmic JerkAss, the sequel goes further by [[spoiler:sending your protagonist duo to the literal End of Days, having to face down a legendary Pokémon that has become an evilly subverted primal force of nature, and a BigBad who not only traps children in unending nightmares, but also poses as an "ally" who suggests that it's ''all your fault and the best way to fix things is to kill yourself]].''

* ''[[VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite Black and White]]'' definitely qualify, too - [[spoiler:the game does ''not'' in fact end with the Champion as in the previous four generations, the villainous team takes a ''much'' heavier role in the plot than before, the plot itself is much less of an ExcusePlot, and on top of all that we also have the single most despicable villain in the series]].

* In the 1997 Japan-only light novel ''Literature/PocketMonstersTheAnimation'', the world of ''Pokémon'' is a CrapsackWorld where [[ImprobableAge ten year olds are legal adults]] with all the taxes and troubles that entails, many Gym Leaders bribe trainers because four losses in a row means their licenses are rescinded, and Pallet Town is a desolate, crime-ridden cesspool because there are no jobs and no one ever succeeds at being a Pokémon Trainer. Even the reason behind Ash's DisappearedDad is dark: Delia MarriedTooYoung and became pregnant at [[TeenPregnancy eighteen]]. Her husband ran off one day on a Pokémon journey, just like her own dad did, and never returned. Delia doesn't love him anymore but never divorced him, and she resents Ash to a degree because she misses her youth. Furthermore, a Nurse Joy tells Ash not to evolve Pikachu because ones that evolve into Raichu too early end up suffering PowerIncontinence and giving themselves heart attacks, leaving them traumatized if they survive. Ash even says "damn", although it's likely [[ObligatorySwearing an artifact of the fan translation]].

** ''Anime/PokemonThePowerOfUs'' continues this trend, with a more character-focused story at it center. It includes yet more dark scenes [[spoiler: including Zeraora's past]], and doesn't shy away from humans and Pokémon in danger [[spoiler: as it shows Harriet's Snubbull dying in a fire 50 years before the events of the film]]; making battles and the story much more personal. The film was also the first to be directed by Tetsuo Yajima , one of the directors of ''Origins'' below.

* Similar to ''Origins'' the Youtube-released microseries ''WebAnimation/PokemonGenerations'' takes a more mature approach to the Pokémon World, while still being a TruerToTheText adaptation compared to the main anime. The second episode alone shows the secret police arresting Team Rocket members and interrogating them in a realistic fashion, Looker tracking down Giovanni as if it was a Police series, and finally [[spoiler: the police raiding the Viridian Gym, with Pokémon being used for wall infiltration and Giovanni being "an experienced trainer" being used as an analogue for "heavily armed".]]

* In the 1997 Japan-only light novel ''LightNovel/PocketMonstersTheAnimation'', the world of ''Pokémon'' is a CrapsackWorld where [[ImprobableAge ten year olds are legal adults]] with all the taxes and troubles that entails, many Gym Leaders bribe trainers because four losses in a row means their licenses are rescinded, and Pallet Town is a desolate, crime-ridden cesspool because there are no jobs and no one ever succeeds at being a Pokémon Trainer. Even the reason behind Ash's DisappearedDad is dark: Delia MarriedTooYoung and became pregnant at [[TeenPregnancy eighteen]]. Her husband ran off one day on a Pokémon journey, just like her own dad did, and never returned. Delia doesn't love him anymore but never divorced him, and she resents Ash to a degree because she misses her youth. Furthermore, a Nurse Joy tells Ash not to evolve Pikachu because ones that evolve into Raichu too early end up suffering PowerIncontinence and giving themselves heart attacks, leaving them traumatized if they survive. Ash even says "damn", although it's likely [[ObligatorySwearing an artifact of the fan translation]].

* ''[[VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon Sun and Moon]]'' really sets the bar high. Pokedex entries that do not try and hide the FridgeHorror of past entries and a villain that is genuinely insane and has a much more tragic backstory than past villains, along with a [[RealismInducedHorror shockingly realistic]] depiction of emotional child abuse. The postgame ups it even further; you are fighting Ultra Beasts, a group of [[EldritchAbomination Eldritch Abominations]] from another world that are more dangerous than any other Legendary Pokémon and the game does not hide the dangers they pose. [[spoiler: It is specifically mentioned that one of the Ultra Beasts has killed someone in the past marking the first mention of a human death in the franchise that is not just implied.]] However, these elements are mostly put on the backburner for these games, which are generally LighterAndSofter in tone...but they get pushed to the forefront of ''[[VideoGame/PokemonUltraSunAndUltraMoon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon]]'', which are a textbook case of both DarkerAndEdgier and SequelDifficultySpike (although [[spoiler:Lusamine's]] villainy is significantly tamped down to make her a WellIntentionedExtremist).

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* In the 1997 Japan-only light novel ''LightNovel/PocketMonstersTheAnimation'', the world of ''Pokémon'' is a CrapsackWorld where [[ImprobableAge ten year olds are legal adults]] with all the taxes and troubles that entails, many Gym Leaders bribe trainers because four losses in a row means their licenses are rescinded, and Pallet Town is a desolate, crime-ridden cesspool because there are no jobs and no one ever succeeds at being a Pokémon Trainer. Even the reason behind Ash's DisappearedDad is dark: Delia MarriedTooYoung and became pregnant at [[TeenPregnancy eighteen]]. Her husband ran off one day on a Pokémon journey, just like her own dad did, and never returned. Delia doesn't love him anymore but never divorced him, and she resents Ash to a degree because she misses her youth. Furthermore, a Nurse Joy tells Ash not to evolve Pikachu because ones that evolve into Raichu too early end up suffering PowerIncontinence and giving themselves heart attacks, leaving them traumatized if they survive. Ash even says "damn", although it's likely [[ObligatorySwearing an artifact of the fan translation]]. Despite the inaccurate portrayal of the universe, elements from it [[AllThereInTheManual managed to make their way into the main series]], namely the mention of Poké Balls working because the {{mons}} themselves are {{sizeshifter}}s.

* ''[[VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon Sun and Moon]]'' really sets the bar high. Pokedex entries that do not try and hide the FridgeHorror of past entries and a villain that is genuinely insane and has a much more tragic backstory than past villains. The postgame ups it even further; you are fighting Ultra Beasts, a group of [[EldritchAbomination Eldritch Abominations]] from another world that are more dangerous than any other Legendary Pokémon and the game does not hide the dangers they pose. [[spoiler: It is specifically mentioned that one of the Ultra Beasts has killed someone in the past marking the first mention of a human death in the franchise that is not just implied.]] However, these elements are mostly put on the backburner for these games, which are generally LighterAndSofter in tone...but they get pushed to the forefront of ''[[VideoGame/PokemonUltraSunAndUltraMoon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon]]'', which are a textbook case of both DarkerAndEdgier and SequelDifficultySpike.

* ''VideoGame/PokemonLegendsArceus'' paints a very harsh picture of the relationship between Pokémon and humans. While the current games have humans and Pokémon living side by side with nary an issue, humans in the distant past (where the game takes place) absolutely ''feared'' Pokémon and for good reason; most wild Pokémon are aggressive and protective of their territory and won't hesitate to attack humans that irate them. The game does not attempt to soften the implications and outright say that people have been injured and killed by Pokémon, which also includes the small group of people who know how to capture and fight Pokémon. The player can get attacked by wild Pokémon this time around and getting too injured has them passing out (though luckily they don't die). The game also averts NeverSayDie by directly working the deaths of both Pokémon and humans into the story.

* ''VideoGame/PokemonLegendsArceus'' paints a very harsh picture of the relationship between Pokémon and humans. While the current games have humans and Pokémon living side by side with nary an issue, humans in the distant past (where the game takes place) absolutely ''feared'' Pokémon and for good reason; most wild Pokémon are aggressive and protective of their territory and won't hesitate to attack humans that irate them. The game does not attempt to soften the implications and outright say that people have been injured and killed by Pokémon, which also includes the small group of people who know how to capture and fight Pokémon. The player can get attacked by wild Pokémon this time around and getting too injured has them passing out (though luckily they don't die).

* ''[[VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon Sun and Moon]]'' really sets the bar high. Pokedex entries that do not try and hide the FridgeHorror of past entries and a villain that is genuinely insane and has a much more tragic backstory than past villains. The postgame ups it even further; you are fighting Ultra Beasts, a group of [[EldritchAbomination Eldritch Abominations]] from another world that are more dangerous than any other Legendary Pokémon and the game does not hide the dangers they pose. [[spoiler: It is specifically mentioned that one of the Ultra Beasts has killed someone in the past marking the first mention of a death in the franchise that is not just implied.]] However, these elements are mostly put on the backburner for these games, which are generally LighterAndSofter in tone...but they get pushed to the forefront of ''[[VideoGame/PokemonUltraSunAndUltraMoon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon]]'', which are a textbook case of both DarkerAndEdgier and SequelDifficultySpike.

* Similar to ''Origins'' the Youtube-released microseries ''WebAnimation/PokemonGenerations'' takes a more mature approach to the Pokémon World, while still being a TruerToTheText adaptation compared to the main anime. The second episode alone shows the secret police arresting Team Rocket members and interrogating them in a realistic fashion, Looker tracking down Giovanni as if it was a Police series, and finally [[spoiler: the police raiding the Viridian Gym, with Pokémon being used for wall infiltration and Giovanni being "an experienced trainer" being used as an analogue for "heavily armmed".]]

* Similar to ''Origins'' the Youtube-released microseries ''Anime/PokemonGenerations'' takes a more mature approach to the Pokémon World, while still being a TruerToTheText adaptation compared to the main anime. The second episode alone shows the secret police arresting Team Rocket members and interrogating them in a realistic fashion, Looker tracking down Giovanni as if it was a Police series, and finally [[spoiler: the police raiding the Viridian Gym, with Pokémon being used for wall infiltration and Giovanni being "an experienced trainer" being used as an analogue for "heavily armmed".]]

* From the main anime series, ''Diamond and Pearl'' is noticeably darker than what came before. This is due to the combination of SocialDarwinist Paul, Team Galactic's AdaptationalVillainy, and [[TheSociopath Hunter J]], a prime contender for the most evil villain in the series.

* ''Manga/TheElectricTaleOfPikachu'' is an adaptation of [[Anime/PokemonTheOriginalSeries} the first anime arc]]. On top of being HotterAndSexier, it is also darker. Take the adaptation of Ash's Charizard vs Ritchie's Charizard, which ended in Ash's Charizard almost killing Ritchie's.

* ''Manga/TheElectricTaleOfPikachu'' is an adaptation of [[Anime/{{Pokemon}} the first anime arc]]. On top of being HotterAndSexier, it is also darker. Take the adaptation of Ash's Charizard vs Ritchie's Charizard, which ended in Ash's Charizard almost killing Ritchie's.

* ''Anime/PokemonZoroarkMasterOfIllusions'' is definitely this, having easily the most shockingly evil antagonist in the series to date, heaping amounts of ColdBloodedTorture, and [[spoiler:easily the most graphic ''onscreen'' death]] in the entire series. [[spoiler:Even though Celebi manages to heal Zoroark, it still [[DisneyDeath counts]].]]

* ''[[VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeonExplorers Pokémon Mystery Dungeon:]] [[OddlyNamedSequel2ElectricBoogaloo Explorers of Time/Darkness]]''. While the first game's offered a character that simply tried to ruin your protagonists' lives and was a cosmic JerkAss, the sequel goes further by [[spoiler:sending your protagonist duo to the literal End of Days, having to face down a legendary Pokémon that has become an evilly subverted primal force of nature, and a BigBad who not only traps children in unending nightmares, but also poses as an "ally" who suggests that it's ''all your fault and the best way to fix things is to [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar kill yourself]]]].''

* Similar to ''Origins'' the Youtube-released microseries ''Anime/PokemonGenerations'' takes a more mature opproach to the Pokémon World, while still being a TruerToTheText adaptation compared to the main anime. The second episode alone shows the secret police arresting Team Rocket members and interrogating them in a realistic fashion, Looker tracking down Giovanni as if it was a Police series, and finally [[spoiler: the police raiding the Viridian Gym, with Pokémon being used for wall infiltration and Giovanni being "an experienced trainer" being used as an analogue for "heavily armmed".]]

* This is the best way to sum up the [[UndergroundMonkey Galarian versions]] of Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres, introduced in the Crown Tundra expansion for ''VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndShield''. All three are described as being crueler than their Kantonian counterparts (Articuno being cold and callous, Zapdos being a belligerent BloodKnight, and Moltres being haughty and sadistic), and all of them have darker color palettes. For bonus points, Galarian Moltres is actually part Dark-type.