Pokémon is renowned for its child-friendly appeal, with its mainline games consistently earning the E for Everyone rating, welcoming young gamers into its vibrant universe. While beloved icons like Pikachu and Eevee often take center stage, some Pokémon delve into darker themes. Their Pokédex entries and narratives occasionally weave tales of kidnappings and even murder, adding an unexpected layer of horror to the franchise. IGN has highlighted five of the creepiest Pokédex entries, though these are just a few examples of the eerie stories within Pokémon lore. Honorable mentions include Mimikyu, who disguises itself as Pikachu to make friends while secretly plotting against the mascot; Haunter, known for stalking and fatally licking its victims; and Hypno, notorious in the Pokémon cartoon for hypnotizing and kidnapping children to consume their dreams.
AnswerSee ResultsDrifloon --------
It was finally Friday, and the young girl from Floaroma Town couldn't contain her excitement. She rushed through breakfast, eager to start her weekend of flower picking. It was her favorite time of year, and she longed to spend it with her parents, sharing laughter and smiles. She dashed towards the Valley Windworks, known for its unique flowers, despite knowing it was risky without her own Pokémon. But she considered it the safest, most serene spot in Sinnoh.
Upon arrival, she was greeted by a sea of vibrant pink, yellow, and red blooms. Yet, her attention was quickly captured by a dazzling purple balloon floating gently in the breeze. Enchanted, she reached for its string, only to be startled when the balloon turned to face her. It had a large yellow cross and two empty black eyes. It tugged playfully, and she followed, giggling. The balloon pulled her further and higher, wrapping its string around her wrist. The girl was light enough for the balloon to continue its ascent, and she was never seen again.
Drifloon, the Balloon Pokémon, introduces a chilling element reminiscent of the horror franchise IT, transforming the beloved children's toy into something terrifying. While some of its Pokédex entries are relatively benign, describing it as "a Pokémon formed by the spirits of people and Pokémon," others delve into darker territory. "It tugs on the hands of children to steal them away," warns one entry. Another chillingly notes, "Any child who mistakes Drifloon for a balloon and holds on to it could wind up missing." A third entry adds, "Its round body is stuffed with souls and expands each time it leads someone away." Drifloon's appearance in Diamond and Pearl is limited to Fridays at the Valley Windworks, adding to its mysterious allure, but its Pokédex entries transform this curiosity into a haunting narrative.
Banette
The boy's parents watched helplessly as his condition deteriorated; his fever spiked, his skin turned ashen, and his speech became incoherent. Despite the efforts of the best doctors from Mauville and Slateport, his health continued to decline. In a moment of lucidity, the boy whispered, "My doll," prompting his desperate parents to search through his toy collection. They presented him with Pikachu, Lotad, Skitty, and Treecko, but he rejected each one weakly.
Confused, they searched everywhere until they found it under the bed—a faded, ragged doll with glowing red eyes and a golden zipper for a mouth. The mother recognized it instantly; it was the doll she had discarded when they purchased the new Poké Doll collection from Lilycove. Now damp, damaged, and adorned with sharp pins, the doll seemed malevolent. As the boy reached for it, the doll leaped from the mother's grasp and out the window. To their astonishment, the boy's condition seemed to improve slightly.
Even in a family-friendly game, Pokémon incorporates classic horror tropes. Banette, the Marionette Pokémon, embodies the spirit of Annabelle or Chucky, with a backstory akin to Jessie's 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 explains. Another entry adds, "This Pokémon developed from an abandoned doll that amassed a grudge. It is seen in dark alleys." A later 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 acting as an effigy, sticking pins in itself to cause pain to the child it seeks. Only by unzipping its smile or showing it love again can its negative energy be dispelled.
Sandygast
On a picturesque summer day, the residents of Melemele Island enjoyed Big Wave Beach. While some surfed and others sunbathed, children built sandcastles. As the sun set, most kids headed home, but one boy remained, determined to finish his masterpiece—a grand sandcastle that dwarfed the others. Engrossed in his work, he didn't notice the shifting sandcastles behind him.
Their shadows loomed larger as the sun dipped below the horizon, and the boy finally turned to see a Pokémon resembling a sandcastle with a gaping mouth and soulless eyes. Assuming it was friendly, he reached for a red spade stuck in its head, thinking it was an offer of help. Instead, the Pokémon engulfed his hand, pulling him into its body like quicksand. His screams were muffled as he was slowly absorbed, never to be seen again.
Sandygast, the sandcastle-themed Pokémon, belies its innocent appearance with its sinister nature. "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 ominously states, "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 escalates with its evolution into Palossand, described as "the Beach Nightmare" that "pulls its prey down into the sand by controlling the sand itself, and then it sucks out their souls." Further entries confirm that Sandygast and Palossand grow by consuming victims, with one noting, "Buried beneath the castle are masses of dried-up bones from those whose vitality it has drained."
Frillish
The busy season had ended, and the elderly woman relished her peaceful morning swim in Undella Town. She preferred the quieter times, even if the water was cooler. Having swum these shores for nearly 70 years, she had no intention of stopping. The waves were choppier than usual, but she swam with renewed vigor, not noticing the current pulling her further from the shore. When she finally turned to head back, her heart raced upon realizing her distance from land. She kicked harder but needed frequent breaks, lamenting her aging body.
As she paused to catch her breath, the current dragged her further out. Suddenly, a Pokémon emerged from the water, inches from her face. Initially cautious, the woman thought it might help her and reached out. The Pokémon wrapped its arms around her, allowing her to rest without drifting away. Grateful, she prepared to swim the remaining distance, but found herself unable to move. Paralyzed, she watched helplessly as the Pokémon submerged, dragging her into the depths.
Frillish, known as the Floating Pokémon, conceals its deadly nature behind a simple appearance. It taps into common fears of the unknown ocean depths. "With its thin, veil-like arms wrapped around the body of its opponent, it sinks to the ocean floor," describes its original Pokédex entry. Another chilling entry reveals, "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." Frillish's victims remain conscious as they're pulled to their watery graves, fully aware of their impending doom.
Froslass
He knew he shouldn't have ventured out in the blizzard, but he had heard a woman's cry and a knock at his door. Living alone high on the mountain, he felt compelled to search for the person in distress. Bundled up, he stepped into the storm, only to become disoriented almost immediately. The blizzard raged on, and he wandered aimlessly, unable to discern direction.
Relief washed over him when he spotted a cave entrance, a potential refuge from the storm. Inside, the cold was biting, but it was better than facing the blizzard. He lit a lantern and examined his surroundings, noticing the cave walls encased in thick ice. Puzzled by the unnatural cold, he held up the lantern to see his reflection, only to recoil in horror as he saw another man's face, frozen within the ice. Scanning the walls, he realized they were lined with frozen bodies. As he turned to flee, an icy Pokémon floated before him. It exhaled a frozen breath, and as he backed away, he felt his body stiffen and freeze, becoming another decoration in the creature's lair.
Froslass draws inspiration from the Japanese Yōkai Yuki-onna and the Greek 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 adds, "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." Further entries describe Froslass luring victims with knocks during blizzards, dragging them to its den, and using them as "decorations" in a chilling display.
