Top 5 Most Memorable Pokémon Characters

Since February of 1996, Pokémon has shown trainers a variety of different designs that players have grown to love. Some designs have stuck out to most of us, and in this list we will show our readers who the top 5 most memorable Pokémon characters of all time are.

This list takes into consideration how often a Pokémon makes an appearance in franchises asides the games, how easy they are to recognize, as well as popularity tests conducted by The Pokémon Company. Without further ado, here is Cheat Code Central’s official list of the top 5 most memorable Pokémon characters!

Squirtle

This tiny turtle has won over the hearts of many Pokémon trainers! A lot of starter Pokémon in generations that followed are Water-types, yet Squirtle has been the predominantly powerful one across different games. To highlight Squirtle’s popularity, look no further at the variety of merchandise dedicated to this Starter Pokémon. CheatCC is in no way affiliated to Walmart. But– is worth showcasing the variety of Squirtle plush toys that are available.

Squirtle has also made a lot of appearances in the official Pokémon anime–fans have noted that, along with stars like Pikachu, Squirtle occupies a lot of screen time in the show. Out of the starter Pokémon, Squirtle is extremely popular along with another entry in this list. So much so, that Squirtle is a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and even Pokken: Tournament (on top of other Pokémon games in the main series and outside of the main series.

Lucario

Another popular choice in both the Pokémon games and the Super Smash Bros. franchise, Lucario first made an appearance in Generation IV as the evolution of Riolu. Although Riolu is also a recognizable Pokémon, Lucario was a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Super Smash Bros. 4. Throughout his career in the Smash franchise, Lucario received a variety of buffs for a period of time–boosting his popularity amongst Smash players and Pokémon fans.

In some corners of the internet, fans wonder why Lucario has such a high popularity. Some have attributed his ability’s similarities to the iconic Kamehameha move from the Dragon Ball franchise to play a role in how many fans enjoy his kit. And the numbers show it–with 102,259 votes Lucario won second place in an official popularity poll back in 2020 hosted by The Pokémon Company’s official social media platform. Nintendo officially considers Lucario to be one of the top 5 most memorable Pokémon characters. So, it makes sense for him to be added to this list.

Eevee

Known for its several evolutions, Eevee’s popularity allowed this Pokémon to be the icon of a Nintendo Switch-exclusive installment called Pokemon: Let’s Go Eevee! which is currently available in stores for the many fans of this Normal-type Pokémon. It’s not a surprise considering the long-standing history of Eevee in the franchise, first making an appearance in Generation I.

During Generation I, Eevee was able to evolve into either Vaporeon the Water-type, Jolteon when exposed to a Thunder Stone, or Flareon upon being exposed to a Fire Stone. The following generation saw the addition of Espeon and Umbreon–the latter would skyrocket in terms of popularity, with the official 2020 Pokemon poll reporting over 67,000 votes for the Dark-type Eevee. Leafeon and Glaceon were added during Generation IV, with the list of evolutions being completed with Sylveon during Generation V.

Eevee and their evolutions have made several appearances in other games and media. Similar to Squirtle, fans often notice a lot of screen time for Eevee and other evolutions. Pokemon: Unite, Pokemon Go, and other games also feature the Normal-type in adjacency with either Sylveon, Glaceon or other evolutions.

Charizard

We’re reaching the end of our list of the top 5 most memorable, but for this entry we will include two Pokémon: Charmander, and Charizard. On the one hand, Charmander was one of the starting Pokemon and is the only one of the three to be more popular than Squirtle. Evidence can be seen in several popularity polls online, including one hosted by the official Twitter account of the Pokemon Company. Many players consider Charmander to be the most powerful Pokemon from the three starters of that generation.

Perhaps an accomplishment that led to his popularity, and a reason that he is included, is Charizard’s role in  Pokémon Origins. It was during this anime series that Charizard became the first Pokémon to Mega Evolve into Mega Charizard X–a tactic that allowed him to defeat Mewtwo, another Pokémon known for his strength. Not only is Charizard the mascot of Pokémon Red, but he has also appeared in the box art of several games, cards, merchandise items and more!
Because of Charmander’s history and popularity, as well as the many appearances of Charizard, they both earned a spot in the list.

Pikachu

Despite Pikachu not being the first Pokemon to be introduced, this Electric-type has earned a lot of popularity thanks to his role in the anime. As Ash Ketchum’s companion for decades, Pokemon fans and folks who watch the anime have seen this mouse-like creature have associated the image of the franchise with those red cheeks against yellow fur.

In fact, it is said that Pikachu serves as a mascot for both The Pokemon Company–and Japanese pop culture as a whole. The only mascot internationally who stands a chance against Pikachu is Hello Kitty, and even that is still under debate. Like every other Pokemon in the list, Pikachu is memorable for appearing in other forms of media.

Pikachu is playable across many Super Smash Bros. games, Pokken Tournament, and seen in the Pokemon playing cards. Unlike other entries, however, Pikachu has something no one else does–a monument in Louisiana dedicated to him.

That concludes our list of the top 5 most memorable Pokémon characters!

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Pokemon.com.