Pokémon is renowned for its child-friendly appeal, with all mainline games sporting an E for Everyone rating, welcoming even the youngest gamers into its vibrant universe. However, beneath the cheerful façade of Pikachu and Eevee, some Pokémon harbor darker tales. From kidnappings to chilling murders, certain Pokédex entries delve into horror, adding a surprising layer of depth to the franchise. These eerie stories occasionally surface, adding an unexpected thrill to the otherwise joyful world of Pokémon.
IGN has compiled a list of what we believe to be the five creepiest Pokédex entries, though this is just the tip of the iceberg. Notable mentions include Mimikyu, who disguises itself as Pikachu to make friends while secretly plotting against the mascot; Haunter, who stalks humans in dark alleys and causes death with a single lick; and Hypno, infamous for hypnotizing and abducting children to consume their dreams, a plot even featured in the Pokémon children's cartoon.
AnswerSee ResultsDrifloon --------
It was a delightful Friday morning in Floaroma Town, and a young girl eagerly anticipated the weekend's flower picking. Eager to explore the Valley Windworks, known for its unique blooms, she ventured out alone, despite the risks of traveling without a Pokémon. Her excitement led her to a field of vibrant flowers, but her attention was soon captured by a mesmerizing purple balloon gently floating in the breeze. Enchanted, she grabbed its string, only to be met by its eerie gaze—two black, empty eyes and a yellow cross marking its face. As the balloon tugged gently, the girl followed, laughing at first. But the balloon pulled her higher and further, until she vanished, never to be seen again.
Drifloon, the Balloon Pokémon, mirrors the terror of the horror franchise IT by infusing a chilling element into the beloved image of a child's toy. While some Pokédex entries describe it as formed by the spirits of people and Pokémon, others delve into darker territory, stating that "it tugs on the hands of children to steal them away," and warning that "any child who mistakes Drifloon for a balloon and holds on to it could wind up missing." Its body, filled with souls, expands with each abduction, adding a macabre twist to its already mysterious presence in the games, appearing only on Fridays at the Valley Windworks in Diamond and Pearl.
Banette
A young boy's health deteriorated rapidly, leaving his parents in despair. As his condition worsened, he whispered a desperate plea: "My doll." Despite offering him new toys, he rejected them all, searching for something specific. Under his bed, his parents found a faded, ragged doll with glowing red eyes and a golden zipper for a mouth. This was the doll his mother had discarded years ago, now hauntingly transformed. As the boy reached for it, the doll leaped from the mother's hands and out the window, seemingly bringing a slight relief to the boy's condition.
Banette, the Marionette Pokémon, embodies the classic horror trope of a possessed doll, akin to Annabelle or Chucky. Its origin story echoes that of Jessie from Toy Story 2, but with a vengeful twist. Pokédex entries reveal its transformation from a discarded doll, fueled by a grudge. "A doll that became a Pokémon over its grudge from being junked. It seeks the child that disowned it," one entry reads. Banette lurks in dark alleys, seeking revenge by inflicting harm through self-inflicted pins, only finding peace through love or by unzipping its sinister smile.
Sandygast
On a picturesque summer day at Big Wave Beach in Melemele Island, children reveled in building sandcastles. As dusk approached, a determined boy stayed behind, perfecting his masterpiece. Unbeknownst to him, the other sandcastles began to morph into a sinister form. A shadow loomed over him, revealing Sandygast, a Pokémon resembling a sandcastle with a gaping mouth and soulless eyes. Mistaking its approach for friendliness, the boy reached for a spade, only to be engulfed by the creature. His arm was consumed, and like quicksand, his entire body was slowly absorbed.
Sandygast, far from the innocent sandcastle it resembles, harbors a dark secret. Its Pokédex entries warn that "if you build sand mounds when you’re playing, destroy them before you go home, or they may get possessed and become Sandygast." Another chilling entry notes that "Sandygast mainly inhabits beaches. It takes control of anyone who puts their hand into its mouth, forcing them to make its body bigger." Upon evolving into Palossand, it becomes the "Beach Nightmare," using sand to drag prey down and absorb their souls. The grim reality is confirmed by entries revealing that "buried beneath the castle are masses of dried-up bones from those whose vitality it has drained."
Frillish
An elderly woman relished her morning swim in the quiet waters of Undella Town, enjoying the solitude after the tourist season. Despite the choppy waves, she swam with vigor, only to realize she had ventured too far from shore. As she struggled to return, a Pokémon appeared—Frillish. Initially cautious, the woman embraced the creature, believing it wanted to help. However, as she tried to swim back, she found herself paralyzed, unable to move. Frillish's grip tightened, and they sank together into the depths of the ocean, where the woman met her watery end.
Frillish, the Floating Pokémon, hides a deadly nature behind its simple appearance. Its Pokédex entries tap into common fears of the ocean's unknown depths. "With its thin, veil-like arms wrapped around the body of its opponent, it sinks to the ocean floor," one entry states. Another reveals that "its thin, veil-like arms have tens of thousands of poisonous stingers," which paralyze prey before dragging them to lairs five miles below the surface. The victims remain conscious, fully aware of their impending doom as they drown in the dark depths.
Froslass
A man ventured out into a fierce blizzard on a mountain, driven by the sound of a woman's cry for help. Lost in the storm, he sought refuge in a small cave, only to find it unnaturally cold. As he lit his lantern, he discovered the cave walls encased in ice, reflecting not his own face, but that of another man, frozen in time. Horrified, he realized the cave was lined with bodies suspended in ice. Before he could escape, Froslass, an icy Pokémon, appeared. Its frozen breath enveloped him, turning him into another icy decoration in its chilling lair.
Froslass draws from the myth of the Japanese Yōkai Yuki-onna and the Greek Medusa, creating a haunting blend of folklore and horror. Its Pokédex entries describe it as "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." It targets handsome men, freezing them during blizzards and turning them into eerie decorations in its icy den. These chilling tales add a dark, thrilling dimension to the world of Pokémon, contrasting sharply with its typically cheerful atmosphere.
