Pokémon Smash or Pass, Explained

Pokémon Smash or Pass has taken the internet by storm as the meme game has continued to go viral throughout 2022. Here is everything you need to know about the bizarre trend and how it became popular in the first place.

What is Pokémon Smash or Pass?

Although the origins of Smash or Pass are murky, it began to gain prominence on the internet in the early 2010s. The party game is centered around participants judging whether they find someone attractive or not. On February 17, 2022, popular YouTuber Mark 'Markiplier' Fischbach shared his unique spin on the classic game with a video he created called "Smash or Pass: All 898 Pokémon". In the upload, Markiplier went through the entire National Pokédex to declare which of the 898 Pokémon he finds desirable or not. The jokey segment quickly exploded on the video platform, with other content creators giving their own ratings of the beloved Nintendo characters. Following the release of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet in November 2022, the Smash or Pass meme has started to trend again, as the Gen 9 RPGs introduced 102 new additional Pokémon to the long-running franchise. With the National Pokédex growing every year, Pokémon Smash or Pass isn't likely to go away anytime soon.

Related: Which Pokémon is #591, and what does the meme mean?

How do you play Pokémon Smash or Pass?

Pokémon Smash or Pass is pretty easy to play, as there isn't actually much to it. Simply head over to the official National Pokédex, and scroll through the entire list. However, before you move on to the next dex entry, you need to declare whether you would "Smash" or "Pass" the Pokémon you are currently on. Yes, it's that ridiculous, but that is, in fact, how you play it. If you are looking to take on the challenge, prepare to scroll through nine Generations of monsters, as there are now a total of 1008 Pokémon as of December 2022. Despite being a meme, the trend has also taken on a new life of its own, as fans of the Game Freak series have started to use it to rate the series' newest character designs.

Related: Read about the Best Legendary Pokemon of All Time on our sister site, Gamepur.

Want to learn more about Pokémon? If so, check out the Best Pokémon Scarlet & Violet Trade Codes and how to use them on Pro Game Guides.