I Think I Finally Understand The Appeal Of Pokemon Nuzlockes

thegamer.com:

I’ve never been much of a competitive gamer. My friends and family will often get angry when they’re defeated in a game or find themselves up against a seemingly insurmountable obstacle, but I’ve always been one to walk away and try again tomorrow. It’s just a video game, so letting it ruin my day simply isn’t worth it. I ain’t about that life, ya feel me?

When it comes to online games I’m incredibly fussy too. Solo experiences that emphasise experimentation and challenge can turn me off if mechanics appear too complex or I’m expected to jump through multiple hoops in order to actually have fun - which is pretty important for a medium designed around having a good ol’ time. This brings me to Pokemon Nuzlockes, an experience which on the surface feels built on the act of random challenge and luck instead of actually piecing together a cohesive strategy in order to win.

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Game Freak has abided by a tried-and-true formula for decades now, only recently pushing Pokemon forward with the release of Legends: Arceus. Hardcore fans don’t mind too much, and neither do the millions of people who pick up each and every new game in the series. Yet there is absolutely something to be desired, or a deeper, more challenging outing that doesn’t pull its punches and requires us to think outside the box. You could always play competitively against fellow players, but Nuzlockes are another alternative.

I’ve edited countless features written by colleagues about Nuzlockes in recent months and while I understand the appeal of only catching a single Pokemon on each route and throwing aside fainted ones forever as a consequence of defeat, on the surface I just didn’t see the appeal. So