Pokémon Gun

A game that does not exist

Pokémon Gun was never released. Fans came up with the name after the series' new games were presented. The jokes feature rifles, sniper scopes, and “weaponized” versions of popular creatures.

The joke relies on contrast: a series known for kind creatures and friendship gets an imaginary third version with weapons. That is why the meme is recognized even by people who do not follow the games.

The series' habit of releasing games in pairs of versions plays an additional role: the words “third version” in the joke refer precisely to this tradition, and the reader does not need an explanation for why the name sounds like a continuation of a familiar lineup.

What is shown in the picture

The drawing shows a green Pokémon with a leaf on its head and brown paws aiming a rifle with an optical scope. The background is white, the lines are soft, the colors are muted, and the gun barrel runs off the left edge. It looks like Grookey, the starter Grass-type Pokémon from Pokémon Sword and Shield: it has green fur and a leaf on its head.

There is a small signature of the artist in the bottom right corner, but it cannot be read from the image, so the author is not named based on it. The drawing is not official art: the author and the original publication have not been established.

How the joke appeared after the presentation

The announcement of Pokémon Sword and Shield came on February 27, 2019. Soon after the reveal, jokes about a third version with weapons appeared on Twitter, and the name quickly took hold in fan circles. The exact time of the first message and the first author of the joke are not reliably confirmed.

According to gaming press reports, the picture with the weapon later appeared in a publication by one media outlet, although it had nothing to do with the article's text. Stories like this show how quickly a fan drawing can detach from its source.

Caption examples and how they work

Example 1: “Pokémon Gun: the third version nobody asked for.” The caption immediately sets expectations for the series, and the joke works because players were waiting for new games, just not these.

Example 2: “‘Stealth’ mode for small Pokémon.” The caption uses a game term and moves it into a weapons context. It is funny because the word sounds like a real menu option.

Example 3: “A Pokémon with a scope for those who missed the trailer.” The caption addresses the viewer and pretends the explanation has already been given.

Example 4: “Announcement: we only shoot at nice creatures.” The irony rests on the contradiction between the warm word “nice” and the weapon in the picture. The entire joke rests on a single phrase, so the caption should be short.

How to use the frame

The drawing works for jokes about taking a simple matter too seriously: a small cute creature prepares a precise shot like a professional. That is why it is easy to caption with situations where a person does something with complete seriousness: aiming at the last slice of pizza, hunting a discount, waiting for a reply in a chat.

It is better not to tie the picture to real violent events or caption it in a way that implies a call to something real. The joke works precisely because the weapon here is absurd and fictional, and the character remains cute.