The pitifully weak Pokémon has been showing up in some embarrassing places, including one that shows a preference for a rival company’s video games.
Despite being based on a Japanese franchise and designed by an American software developer, Pokémon GO, the first mobile game in Nintendo’s beloved monster rearing series, launched first in Australia and New Zealand. While the rest of the world is finally just getting or still waiting for its turn to play the augmented-reality title, lucky gamers in the two southern-hemisphere countries are already living the dream of searching for Pocket Monsters in the real world.
While it’s not yet known just how many of the hundreds of pre-existing Pokémon will show up in Pokémon GO, we do know that the fish-like Magikarp has made the cut. The creature occupies a unique position in the series, in that while trainers patient enough to nurture it into its evolved form will be rewarded with a powerful ally, in its normal form, Magikarp is so weak as to be practically useless.
Because of this, Pokemon GO players can’t help but laugh at some of the less-than-dignified places they’ve been finding Magikarp specimens.
▼ Some say eating a beast gives you its power, but Magikarp hardly has any power to give.
dad was cooking fish tonight and my phone buzzed and pic.twitter.com/4WbeF45d6z
— ✦ rhonnie ✦ 🔜 melbnova #248 !! (@ryonello) July 6, 2016
▼ Cleanup on Aisle 4!
▼ Wait a second, does Nintendo know Magikarp is browsing the PlayStation corner of this game shop?
▼ Well, it is a water-type Pokémon, after all.
▼ Having a conference room that’s also a Pokémon habitat is a surefire way to make sure employees show up for meetings.
▼ Magikarp? More like Magikrotch.
This feels a bit weird, however I obviously want to catch a Magicarp #PokemonGO pic.twitter.com/RQZaT4HjPD
— Joel Jarman (@joeljarman) July 6, 2016
But remember, as amazing as it is to see Magikarp appear against actual backdrops, Pokémon GO is still a video game. The Pokémon that show up on your screen aren’t really there, so there’s no need to actually reach out and grab the physical environment to catch your quarry.
Source: Yurukuyaru via Jin
Follow Casey on Twitter, where all this talk of Magikarp has him feeling nostalgic for Baseball Star’s SNK Crushers, that Shining Force gopher, and other video game characters that suddenly spike in power.

Pokémon Magikarp Jump Game Launches for iOS, Android Devices
How to hatch your Pokémon GO eggs without taking a single step
Pokémon Go players discover unusual gym locations around Japan
Pokémon finally comes to iPhone and Android as the augmented reality game Pokémon GO 【Video】
Starbucks branch gives blended ice welcome to Pokémon GO players with cool Pokémon Frappuccinos
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Foreigners accounting for over 80 percent of off-course skiers needing rescue in Japan’s Hokkaido
Sanrio changes Hello Kitty lead designer for first time in 46 years
Paying for prostitution isn’t illegal in Japan, but it could be soon
McDonald’s Japan hack: What happens when you put an apple pie inside a Big Mac?
Our reporter is willing to die on the pseudo-Italian restaurant Olive Hill
East Japan’s 10 most magical winter scenery experiences, as chosen by travelers
Shohei Ohtani’s hometown creates rice paddy art and manhole cover in his honour
National Geographic names Yamagata Prefecture on its “Best of the World 2026” travel destinations
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting the lines at a popular Tokyo gyukatsu restaurant?
Three beautiful places to see Japan’s plum blossoms after starting your day in downtown Tokyo
Downloads of 39-year-old Guns N’ Roses song increase 12,166 percent thanks to Gundam
A look back on 40 years of Japanese schools banning stuff
New Family Mart cinema opens inside Japanese airport
Take a trip to Japan’s Dododo Land, the most irritating place on Earth
Man arrested in Japan after leaving car in coin parking lot for six years, racking up three-million-yen bill
Huge Evangelion Unit-01 head appearing in lights in Japan to celebrate anime’s 30th anniversary
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Japan releases first official sakura cherry blossom forecast for 2026
Archfiend Hello Kitty appears as Sanrio launches new team-up with Yu-Gi-Oh【Pics】
China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning looks to be affecting tourist crowds on Miyajima
Studio Ghibli releases new “komorebi” plush toys from Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away
Yokai are descending upon Tokyo this spring in the latest immersive art experience
Japan’s Naruto theme park now offering real-world version of Minato’s kunai ninja weapon
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
New Pokémon mobile game, Pokémon Sleep, promises to turn sleeping into entertainment【Video】
Volunteers being sought for field test of Pokémon Go mobile game
Here’s how the awesome new Pokémon GO mobile game will look on your smartphone
Kyoto temple becomes Pokémon Go gym in Japan, provides special phone chargers for players
Insane Japanese Twitter user does the unthinkable: beats Pokémon Sun/Moon only using Magikarp
Creators of Pokémon Go apologise for game’s late arrival in video address to players in Japan
Mini stampedes in Tokyo’s Ueno Park as it becomes a nest for rare Pokémon GO character【Video】
Updates on Nintendo’s revolutionary Pokémon Go: Gyms, teams, location-specific Pokémon and more
Pokémon GO players in Japan discover strange new hybrid species of monsters in the game
Pokémon Go released in Japan? We spot a rare “Glasses Pikachu” at Tokyo’s Nintendo headquarters
Exercise-hating Pokémon GO player discovers another way to find and hatch Pokémon without walking
Pokémon GO Plus Accessory Launches on September 16
The Magikarp kiss — Japanese woman explains why the Pokémon-like smooch is so terrible
Leave a Reply