Pokémon is renowned for its child-friendly appeal, with all mainline games receiving an E for Everyone rating, welcoming even the youngest players into its vibrant world. While beloved characters like Pikachu and Eevee often take the spotlight, some Pokémon delve into darker themes, featuring tales of kidnappings and even brutal murders within their Pokédex entries. These eerie stories add a surprising layer of horror to the franchise, occasionally showcasing narratives that are far from the light-hearted adventures typically associated with Pokémon.
IGN has compiled a list of what we consider the five creepiest Pokédex entries, though this list is by no means exhaustive. Honorable mentions include Mimikyu, a Pokémon that hides its terrifying appearance beneath a Pikachu costume to make friends, all while secretly plotting to overthrow the franchise's mascot. Haunter, known for lurking in dark alleys and causing fatal convulsions with a mere lick, and Hypno, infamous for its dark storyline in the Pokémon children's cartoon where it hypnotizes and kidnaps children to feed on their dreams, also deserve recognition.
AnswerSee ResultsDrifloon --------
It was a joyous Friday for the young girl from Floaroma Town as she eagerly anticipated the weekend's flower picking. She hurried through breakfast, excited to spend time with her parents, laughing and smiling amidst the blooms. Her destination was the Valley Windworks, known for its unique flowers and serene environment. Despite knowing the risks of venturing without a Pokémon, the girl felt safe in this tranquil spot.
Upon arriving, she was greeted by a sea of vibrant flowers, but her attention was soon captured by a shimmering purple balloon floating gently in the breeze. Mesmerized, she grabbed its string, only to be startled as the balloon turned to face her, revealing a yellow cross and empty black eyes. As the balloon tugged, the girl followed, giggling with delight. However, the balloon continued to pull her higher and higher, its string wrapping around her wrist. The girl, light and gentle, was never seen again.
Drifloon, the Balloon Pokémon, introduces a chilling twist to the playful image of a child's toy. While some Pokédex entries describe it as a ghost formed from spirits, others take a darker turn. "It tugs on the hands of children to steal them away," warns one entry, while another states, "Any child who mistakes Drifloon for a balloon and holds on to it could wind up missing." A third entry chillingly notes, "Its round body is stuffed with souls and expands each time it leads someone away." Drifloon's appearances in Diamond and Pearl, exclusively on Fridays at the Valley Windworks, add to its mysterious and eerie allure, transforming it into a character shrouded in a murder mystery.
Banette
The parents of a young boy watched helplessly as his condition deteriorated. His fever spiked, his skin turned grey, and his speech became unintelligible. Despite the efforts of doctors from Mauville and Slateport, the boy's health worsened. In a moment of clarity amidst his suffering, he whispered, "My doll." Desperate, his parents presented him with various toys from his collection, but he rejected each one until they discovered a faded, ragged doll with glowing red eyes and a golden zipper for a mouth under his bed.
The mother recognized it as a doll they had discarded when purchasing new Poké Dolls from Lilycove's department store. Now, it appeared sinister, covered in sharp pins. As the boy reached for it, the doll seemed to stare back at the mother, who screamed as it leaped from her grasp and out the window. To their surprise, the boy's condition seemed to improve slightly after the doll's departure.
Banette, the Marionette Pokémon, embodies classic horror tropes, reminiscent of Annabelle or Chucky. Its origin story echoes that of Jessie from Toy Story 2, but with a vengeful twist. "A doll that became a Pokémon over its grudge from being junked. It seeks the child that disowned it," one Pokédex entry states. Another notes, "This Pokémon developed from an abandoned doll that amassed a grudge. It is seen in dark alleys." A third entry is more direct: "It’s a stuffed toy that was thrown away and became possessed, ever searching for the one who threw it away so it can exact its revenge." Banette inflicts harm by sticking pins into itself, targeting the child who abandoned it. Only by unzipping its wide smile or treating it with love again can alleviate its negative energy.
Sandygast
On a sunny day at Big Wave Beach in Melemele Island, residents enjoyed various activities. As the sun began to set, a boy remained focused on his ambitious sandcastle, determined to outshine his peers. Unbeknownst to him, the other sandcastles on the beach started to shift and take on unnatural forms. As the shadows lengthened, the boy finally noticed a Pokémon resembling a sandcastle with a gaping mouth and soulless eyes approaching him.
Assuming it was friendly, the boy reached for a red spade embedded in its head, only to find his hand engulfed by the Pokémon. He screamed and tried to pull away, but his entire arm was consumed, and soon, like quicksand, his entire body was absorbed.
Contrary to the joyful connotations of sandcastles, Sandygast harbors a dark secret. "If you build sand mounds when you’re playing, destroy them before you go home, or they may get possessed and become Sandygast," warns one Pokédex entry. Another entry reveals, "Sandygast mainly inhabits beaches. It takes control of anyone who puts their hand into its mouth, forcing them to make its body bigger." The horror intensifies with its evolution into Palossand, known as the Beach Nightmare. "Palossand is known as the Beach Nightmare. It pulls its prey down into the sand by controlling the sand itself, and then it sucks out their souls," states a Pokédex entry. Another chilling entry confirms, "Buried beneath the castle are masses of dried-up bones from those whose vitality it has drained." Sandygast and Palossand thus grow stronger by consuming their victims.
Frillish
After a bustling season, an elderly woman relished her morning swim in the peaceful waters of Undella Town. The cooler water didn't deter her; she had been swimming there for 70 years. On this particular day, the waves were choppy, but she swam with unexpected vigor. As she ventured further than intended, she realized her distance from the shore and attempted to return. However, her aging body struggled, and the current pulled her further out with each pause.
Suddenly, a Pokémon emerged from the water, its appearance initially reassuring. As she reached out to it for support, the Pokémon wrapped its arms around her, allowing her a moment of rest. But as she tried to continue swimming, she found herself paralyzed. The Pokémon's grip tightened, and it began to sink, dragging the woman with it into the depths.
Frillish, the Floating Pokémon, belies its sinister nature with a simple appearance. Its Pokédex entries reveal its deadly hunting method. "With its thin, veil-like arms wrapped around the body of its opponent, it sinks to the ocean floor," describes one entry. Another adds, "Its thin, veil-like arms have tens of thousands of poisonous stingers. They paralyze prey with poison, then drag them down to their lairs, five miles below the surface." Victims of Frillish are thus conscious during their descent, fully aware of their impending doom as they drown.
Froslass
On a stormy night, a man living on a mountain heard a woman's cry and a knock at his door. Despite the blizzard, he ventured out to help, only to become disoriented in the blinding snow. Seeking shelter, he stumbled upon a cave entrance. Inside, the cold was intense, and as he lit his lantern, he discovered the walls encased in ice. To his horror, the ice revealed frozen bodies, including one that resembled him. As he tried to flee, an icy Pokémon floated toward him, its breath freezing him in place, turning him into another of its chilling decorations.
Froslass combines elements of the Japanese Yōkai Yuki-onna and the Greek myth of Medusa. "The soul of a woman lost on a snowy mountain possessed an icicle, becoming this Pokémon. The food it most relishes is the souls of men," one Pokédex entry states. Another chilling entry notes, "It freezes hikers who have come to climb snowy mountains and carries them back to its home. It only goes after men it thinks are handsome." Froslass lures or drags victims to its den during blizzards, neatly lining them up as "decorations." These eerie tales add a haunting dimension to the Pokémon universe, showcasing the darker side of its seemingly innocent creatures.
