In July, there is no way around “Pokémon GO“, it’s our game of the month.
The wave is already subsiding here in Germany, but there is no doubt about it: The summer hit of 2016 is clearly Pokémon GO.
On Saturday, July 17, our website had a new record day. Almost 350,000 unique users visited our site that Saturday: That was about as many as in the whole month of July of the previous year combined. No doubt, the Pokémon fever had finally reached Germany. It was by far the strongest game in terms of visitor interest in the history of our website – significant events like the Destiny expansion “The Taken King” or the launch of The Division didn’t even come close.
Even two weeks later, the hype wave is still moving, although it has noticeably flattened. But there is no avoiding it: Pokémon Go is our game of the month for July.
5 Reasons Why Pokémon GO is Our Game of the Month
It fulfills a promise made to us in our childhood. The real twist of Pokémon GO: This time we are not playing a Pokémon trainer who has adventures in the outside world, but we become one ourselves through new technology. That does something to us. As good as other games are at letting us indirectly control a hero, we only experience the effect of truly becoming a hero in this form with Pokémon GO. Sure, Ash had noticeably fewer issues with the server or GPS tracking than we do – but … in principle.
The collecting instinct simply works. It’s a concept that just works: Catch them all. What works with Panini stickers or collectible figures becomes an irresistible recipe for success with Pokémon Go.
It’s only the beginning. About 10% of the game is supposed to have been released, a lot is planned for the future. Pokémon GO is also a promise to remain interesting and fresh for years to come.
It’s incredibly social. Germany, yes the whole world has a common topic: Not only gamers talk about Pokémon Go, everyone does. Rarely has a game moved so many people at once. It feels good to be part of it. Some call it “the greatest MMO of all time.”
You finally get outside: Some criticize, “They are outside, but without regard for nature.” – But dear me, there’s always something. If we can motivate couch potatoes to stroll a few kilometers and get them interested not just in fictional worlds or Los Angeles, but also in the park nearby – that’s already a small victory. If we must also emphasize: Folks, your own safety and that of your fellow humans is paramount.
Our games of the month in 2016 so far:
- January – Blade and Soul
- February: Black Desert
- March: The Division
- April: Marvel Heroes
- May/June: Overwatch
