Game Freak, the acclaimed Japanese studio behind many of Pokémon’s most beloved video games, just quietly released a new title outside of the franchise.
Although Game Freak has come into question in recent years for troubled launches with the likes of Pokémon Legends: Arceus, there’s no denying the team’s legendary history.
From the classic Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow games in the 1990s to the mega-popular Black and White, Ruby and Sapphire, and even the more recent Scarlet and Violet, they’ve led the charge through it all. They’re also still hard at work on the upcoming Pokémon Legends: Z-A.
What you may not know, however, is that the company developing these games isn’t wholly controlled by The Pokémon Company. As such, they occasionally release titles outside of the typical fanbase, and now, a brand-new release has just made it to market, though with little to no fanfare surrounding it.
Pokémon devs quietly release new mobile game
Back in 2024, Game Freak released a new title exclusively in Japan. Now, one year on, that very same game has been released around the world.
Pandoland is its name, and it’s a mobile-exclusive RPG of sorts, described as a “casual adventure.” Much like Pokémon, players travel across a number of distinct regions, become friends with unique characters, and unearth powerful upgrades to make combat that little bit easier.
The game features both cooperative multiplayer along with a traditional PVP experience as well. At this stage, however, it’s exclusive to Android and iOS devices. There’s been no word about a PC or console release at this point in time.
Given the stature of the team behind it, Pandoland is arriving to a surprisingly quiet reception. At the time of writing, the English trailer has a mere 2,700 views on YouTube, and early reviews aren’t particularly favorable.
While free to start, the game is highly monetized, with premium bundles available for those who wish to skip in-game advertisements. According to one player on Reddit, one of the first items presented in the store runs for $99 USD.
Pandoland features a mix of PVE and PVP content.
We’ll have to wait and see if the game is able to pick up any momentum, or if it’ll end up another footnote in the legacy of the Pokémon developers.
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