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Yes—Google Search has a Pokémon-catching mini-game. It first appeared around April 4, 2025, and is best understood as a Search Easter egg rather than a new Pokémon GO feature. On a phone, you can search for Pokémon species, tap an on-screen Poké Ball and build a virtual collection of the original 151 Kanto Pokémon.
You do not need to download anything or pay to use it. Sign in to a Google Account if you want Google to track your collection, but do not expect the catches to appear in Pokémon GO.
How to play Google’s Pokémon Search game
- Open Google Search on a smartphone using the Google app or a mobile browser.
- Sign in to the Google Account you want to use for collection tracking.
- Search for
Pokémon,151 wild Pokémon hiding on Google, or a simple species name such asPikachuorBulbasaur. - Look for a Poké Ball button, usually near the bottom-right of the mobile results page.
- Tap the Poké Ball and follow the catch animation.
- Repeat the process with other Pokémon names.
- Use the in-game Pokédex to see captured Pokémon and silhouettes for entries you still need.
The exact introductory prompt can vary. If searching for Pokémon does not reveal the feature, searching directly for an eligible species is usually the simplest next step. The feature was reported on April 4, 2025 by 9to5Google.
Which Pokémon can you catch?
The main collection is the original 151 Pokémon associated with the Generation I Kanto Pokédex. That means the goal is not to catch every Pokémon in the modern franchise. Search for individual species names and use the Pokédex to identify missing entries.
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According to coverage from Destructoid, Master Balls are awarded at reported collection milestones of five, 20, 50, 100 and 150 Pokémon. Those special balls are used for the five exceptional entries in the original group:
- Articuno
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- Moltres
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These milestone rewards and the special catches come from secondary coverage and community documentation, so they should be treated as observed game behavior rather than a fully documented Google specification.
Search terms that work—and ones that can fail
Google appears to recognize qualifying Pokémon searches rather than every Pokémon-related query. Start with the standard English species name:
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Adding Pokémon before or after a species name may also work. However, extra wording can interfere with recognition. Searches containing terms such as evolution, a regional form, a game title or a broad guide request may show Pokémon information without creating a catchable target. Inexact names and non-English names may work inconsistently, so try a simple, correctly spelled species name first.
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Does progress save?
Contemporary reports say that collection progress can be tracked when you are signed in to a Google Account. Use the same account for future sessions, but do not treat cross-device, cross-browser or international transfer as guaranteed. This Search collection is separate from any Pokémon Trainer Club or Pokémon GO account.
Google Search Pokémon game vs. Pokémon GO
| Google Search mini-game | Pokémon GO |
|---|---|
| Runs inside Google Search | Requires the Pokémon GO app |
| Search Pokémon names to trigger catches | Uses real-world exploration |
| Collects entries in a Search Pokédex | Includes gyms, raids, battles, items and events |
| No download or payment required | Uses its own app and account system |
| No demonstrated inventory or account integration | Maintains a separate Pokémon GO collection |
The official Pokémon support page describes Pokémon GO as a smartphone app for catching Pokémon in the real world. Google’s feature is a small browser interaction, not a Pokémon GO mode or update.
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- Country of Origin: China
- Recommended Age: 7 years and up. Number of players: 2 - 10 players
- Card Game
- Lots of Pokémon such as Grookey, Scorbunny, Sobble, Zacian, Zamazenta, Mewtwo, Victini, etc
What to do if the Poké Ball does not appear
- Switch to a phone. Mobile is the most consistently reported environment. Desktop behavior may work in some setups, but it is not reliable enough to be the primary method.
- Search Google directly. Avoid an embedded search box or another search engine.
- Use a simple species name. Try
Pikachu Pokémon, then remove extra words such as “evolution,” regional forms or game titles. - Check your account. Sign in to the intended Google Account if you want collection progress tracked.
- Reload or try another mobile browser. Search features can vary by browser, language, location, account and rollout status.
- Consider resetting only as a last resort. Community documentation reports a reset option in the game’s overflow or three-dot menu. If available, it may erase your collection, so do not use it merely to fix a missing button.
Is the game permanent?
Google Search Easter eggs can be altered, limited or removed without the update process associated with a conventional game app. Availability may also differ by country, language, browser and account. If the feature does not appear, that does not necessarily mean the search term is wrong—and downloading an unofficial app or entering payment information is not required to access it.
The short version
Open Google Search on a phone, sign in, search for Pikachu Pokémon and look for the Poké Ball. The game lets you collect the original 151 Kanto Pokémon inside Search. It is free and separate from Pokémon GO, with mobile access the safest option and desktop support varying by environment.
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