In recent weeks, groups of MFS students have gathered in spots such as in front of the DHC and Van Meter Hall, huddled around their phones to catch Pokémon during “raids” while playing the mobile game Pokémon Go, and many are wondering what caused the sudden popularity to the game at MFS. 

Pokémon Go was first launched in July 2016 and received immense popularity following the year of its release. During its first quarter in 2016, the app received 228 million downloads worldwide, but its popularity began to wind down in the following years. In the fourth quarter of 2023, the app generated just more than 8.5 million downloads worldwide, showing a sharp decrease in popularity according to Statista.com. Due to the app’s popularity dying down almost seven years ago, it is surprising that so many students at MFS have rediscovered the game and find enjoyment in playing it again.

Pokémon Go is a game based on the popular 90s and 2000s franchise Pokémon. The game uses augmented reality and GPS technology to allow players to explore their surroundings to find and catch virtual creatures called Pokémon. Players can visit real locations to collect Pokémon and participate in raids where multiple players can work together to defeat a powerful Pokémon, also known as a Raid-Boss. 

After playing Pokémon Go in 2018, junior Brandon Snow decided to “pick up the game again with [his] friend Janiel [Garcia ‘26] because [he] was bored.” He said, “I found out my friend Tony [Reyes-Howell ’26] started playing again. Then, I found out Bodhi [Vance-Harris ’26] started playing again too, and it all just snowballed from there.” 

A special part of Pokémon Go is the raids during which many players can work together to tackle powerful Pokémon. 

Snow explained, “We all do raids at school because there are two raid-gyms that spawn at the clock tower in front of the DHC and at Van Meter Hall, and there’s a bunch of raids that spawn there during lunch or after school. We try to do them more at lunch because that’s when most people are available.”

Junior Antonio Reyes-Howell ’26 also decided to reinstall the app after seeing many of his friends play. He explained, “We all just gathered more and more people to play with us and we made a giant group to take down raids and get better Pokémon.” 

Through the game, Howell said he has made stronger connections with other Pokémon Go players at MFS. 

“I’ve made a lot of close bonds with many people, and it’s really fun to see and communicate with more people that I wouldn’t normally talk to because of things like raids and our shared interest [in] the game,” Howell said. 

Another aspect that students enjoy about the game is the physical activity it requires. Dean Simpson ’26, for example, said he enjoys how the game includes “getting outside and getting to go see nature.” He said, “I live near a park, and I never go to the park, but once I started playing Pokémon Go I’ve been going twice a week [to collect Pokémon]. It’s nice to be out and just be in nature.” 

To Snow, the most fulfilling part of the game is “catching all [the Pokémon], because there’s no greater feeling than catching them all and trying to get the strongest Pokémon.”