Games of the Decade: The world would be better if we all played Pokémon Go Eurogamer.net If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy. Games of the Decade: The world would be better if we all played Pokémon Go Life's a ball. Feature by Tom Phillips Deputy Editor Published on 29 Nov 2019 55 comments Remember the summer everyone played Pokémon Go? The world seemed a nicer place, for a while. People would stop to point out Jigglypuff to strangers on street corners, then run together with others across a park for a Dragonite. I've heard genuine nostalgia for this time; a thought things might feel a little brighter if everyone still played, the world just a bit better than what we've got today. But that old world still exists. Of course it does. That feeling from 2016 - yes, the halcyon summer of all the way back three years ago - is still out there, even if it might seem a little harder to find. Positive interactions with others because of the games we share continue to take place all around us, regardless of how things sometimes seem. And that feeling is only amplified when these interactions take place in real life - something Pokémon Go continues to excel at. Watch on YouTube Whether asking you to meet up to tackle tough Pokémon battles, or encouraging the sharing of local knowledge when a rare quest or creature pop ups nearby, Pokémon Go is built to foster a community amongst its players. And for those who aren't of the age they should be hanging around in Discord or Facebook groups with strangers, there's the more passive feeling of being part of a community when walking around a park on a Community Day alongside friends or family, where you feel inescapably part of something else. From friends lists which show what others are up to, virtual postcards with gifts from places you've visited, and trading to allow you to help others fill their Pokédex, the game has grown its multiplayer feature set considerably over time. And while its most recent addition is high-level content for solo play, next year will bring full support and in-game leagues for its growing multiplayer battling scene, and - even more up my street - an AR mode where you can simply hang out and feed you and your friend's favourite creatures. There's plenty of life in Pokémon Go yet. This weekend I was walking into town - the long way, as usual. I passed a Pokémon gym currently under attack from a rival team and noticed a group of Chinese students on their phones, obviously playing Pokémon Go together. I stopped, reversed a few paces, held up my phone to show I was playing too. We laughed, and they held out their hands to high five. And that was it - we high-fived. But it meant: you're someone doing the same thing I am, out playing this game. We're on rival teams, but we're alike, you and I. And I am genuinely thankful Pokémon Go exists to spark these interactions - we need them now more than ever. Become a Eurogamer subscriber and get your first month for £1 Get your first month for £1 (normally £3.99) when you buy a Standard Eurogamer subscription. Enjoy ad-free browsing, merch discounts, our monthly letter from the editor, and show your support with a supporter-exclusive comment flair! Support us View supporter archive More Features Digital Foundry Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090: a new level in graphics performance The Digital Foundry video review - and how the new GPU champion delivers for 4K 120fps gaming. 14 Feature Evercore Heroes wants to wind people up the right way "There's less rage at them, because they didn't end your fun." Feature What games get wrong about horses And what they could do about it. 34 Feature Shout out to all the Overwatch supports - where would we be without you? Merci. 55 Latest Articles Digital Foundry Sennheiser's legendary HD 599 open-back headphones are just £70 at Amazon in the Prime Early Access Sale Comfortable with neutral sound and a wide sound stage. Preview Football Manager's new Console edition is the best you'll get without a PC Getting Touch-right. 1 Splatoon 3 Amiibos will be out next month Ink-coming! 3 Fans think Phil Spencer's shelf is teasing the Xbox Game Pass streaming box UPDATE: Xbox confirms old Keystone prototype. 61 Supporters Only Premium only Off Topic: Take a minute to appreciate Cookin' with Coolio's incredible scallops recipe. What a great book. Premium only Off Topic: Reading City of Glass in comic form "Where exactly am I going?" Premium only Off Topic: Il Buco is a transporting film about a really big hole Underlands. Off-Topic Netflix handled Sandman brilliantly It was Dreamy. 9 Buy things with globes on them And other lovely Eurogamer merch in our official store! Explore our store