Summary
Pokemongames usually feature young protagonists, following the classic archetype of a beginner hero on a journey, destined to explore the world while capturing and training their creatures. However, some titles in the franchise break from this traditional convention, offering characters with more mature profiles and, even though how old each of them is may not be so important to the overall adventure, it is a factor that still helps build the world of each game.
Thus, although the exact age is rarely made clear during gameplay, there are specific situations in which it is possible to identify the oldest protagonists in Pokemon games through subtle dialogues or revelations made by the developers themselves in interviews or supplementary materials. These additional details enrich the understanding of the story and allow fans to connect better with more adult characters in the franchise.
Originally introduced to players as theprotagonist of the classicPokemon Snap, Todd Snap stands out among the protagonists for being only 10 years old, information confirmed in the Japanese version of the anime. This characteristic places Todd among the series’ youngest main characters but also older, considering that several other protagonists do not have an officially cited age.
Todd returns years later, older and more experienced, inNew Pokemon Snap, now as a non-playable character who assists the protagonist in a new ecological survey in the Lental region. His evolution throughout the games is notable, demonstrating how iconic characters can mature, offering fans a rare and interesting view of the passage of time within the Pokemon universe.
Among the characters whose age was mentioned in the Pokemon games themselves, Red and Blue stand out for being about 11 years old during their first appearances in the Kanto region, something that seems to be a pattern for many other protagonists in the franchise. This age range became iconic for the series, establishing the Pokemon journey as a common rite of passage for young beginner trainers.
These twoprotagonists also returned in later games in the franchise, such asPokemon Gold, Silver,andCrystal, and reappeared again inPokemon SunandMoon, this time visibly older and more experienced compared with their original versions. This aging of the characters is rare and notable within the series, offering fans an interesting perspective on them and also on the games’ timeline.
Even though few Pokemon games really go into detail about the main characters’ background during the games, with information such as age usually being mentioned by the developers, there are some situations in which it is possible to infer some details. For example, Elio and Selene, protagonists ofSunandMoon, are between 11 and 14 years old, based on the way some interactions occur during the adventure.
For instance, it is mentioned that Hau,the players’ rival in this generation, is the same age as the main characters, and during some interactions he mentions that he joined the Island Challenge at the first opportunity he had, and one can only do this at 11 years old at minimum. It is worth noting that some interactions throughout the game mention an age, such as entry to the Kantonian Gym, which costs less for those under 15.
Considering all the feats and other milestones that players can achieve during the narratives ofPokemon Ruby, Sapphire,andEmerald, including their remakes, the main characters of the game rank among the most powerful in the franchise. In addition todefeating two villainous teams, Brendan and May also managed to become Battle Frontier champions, save planet Earth from Deoxys, and capture several legendaries that existed in the region.
Moreover, they are among the franchise’s oldest protagonists, since, depending on the player’s choice, the age of the other is mentioned by NPCs. Another aspect that truly makes Brendan and May unique among Pokemon protagonists is the presence of their parents, because Norman, the Petalburg Gym Leader, is the father of one of them, while Professor Birch fills that role for the other, varying according to which character the player chooses as the playable character.
As the last fully 2D generation in the franchise, Unova marked an attempt to break from Pokemon’s traditional formula, offering players a kind of definitive version. One sign of this shift is the protagonists’ age: Hilda and Hilbert are 14 years old according to the producer, making them the oldest playable characters in the mainline games up to that point.
This trait is felt throughout the narrative, with both characters facing more complex challenges and also Team Plasma, which, among all the series’ villains, pursues the most intricate goals. Furthermore, becausePokemon Black and Whitehas a follow-up set roughly two years after the first game, Hilda and Hilbert would be about 16, yetthey are not playable in the sequel.
Although Rei and Akari, the two main characters ofPokemon Legends: Arceus, look similar to Lucas and Dawn, protagonists of the franchise’s fourth generation, the connection between them is not officially addressed. Even so, Rei and Akari stand out as some of the oldest Pokemon protagonists, because, according to Cyllene, head of the Galaxy Team’s Survey Corps, they appear to be about 15 years old.
This idea is reinforced by the narrative ofPokemon Legends: Arceus, where the characters’ maturity shows in thestronger focus on exploration and the dangers they face. They can even be attacked by the Pokemon themselves, which gives the adventure a more serious tone. Thus, they take on a crucial role in the Hisui region, working as researchers and helping to develop one of the earliest Pokédex in history.
Contrasting with the lighter tone of the main series, Wes, introduced to players inPokemon Colosseum, is one of the franchise’s oldest and most mature protagonists. According to an interview with the developers, he is about 17 and is also one of the few characters who starts the adventure with two Pokemon, Espeon and Umbreon, and drives a vehicle, making him uniquely designed.
Beyond age and a more mature style, Wes stands out for his uncommon path inside the franchise. Originally a member of the criminal Team Snagem, he betrays the group by destroying its base and stealing the Snag Machine, which lets its users capture even other people’s Pokemon, and then sets out tocatch and purify Shadow Pokemon, leading to one of the series’ darkest storylines.
Detective Pikachu Returns
WHERE TO PLAY
Solve mysteries with Detective Pikachu in this new Pokémon adventureIn this new Pokémon game for the Nintendo Switch™ system, unravel a series of mysteries across Ryme City with a tough-talking, coffee-loving Pikachu and his human partner, Tim Goodman. When a jewel theft occurs, the case sets this great detective duo down a path filled with mystery. Why did Tim’s father, Harry, go missing? What is causing the Pokémon-related incidents around Ryme City? Answer these questions and more by searching for clues, investigating scenes, and using your case notebook to make deductions.Get help from Pokémon! Talk directly with Pokémon to gain information and get to know their distinct personalities.Take a closer look: Search for clues, investigate scenes, and use your case notebook to make deductions.Teamwork: Use some Pokémon’s special skills, like Growlithe’s sharp sense of smell, to uncover clues.
While the mainline games in the franchise usually feature younger leads, the spin-offs take more liberty with their heroes, so Tim Goodman fromDetective Pikachu Returnsranks among the series’ oldest. According to Nintendo, he is already 18 years old right from the start of the first game, studying at university and forming a partnership with a Pikachu.
In the sequel, set two years after the events of the firstDetective Pikachu, Tim Goodman is around 20, making him the oldest main protagonist in the Pokemon games. That fact lets the game tell a story that differs from what players expect, focusing on the hero’s search for his father and avoiding some familiar series mechanics, such as traditional battles.
