Pokémon GO has no doubt taken the world by storm, or at least the four countries that it has been released in so far. Here are the reasons you should jump on the bandwagon and download the app, or at least stop posting those annoying memes about how people need to go get a job instead of Pokémon.
1. The amount of exercise it gives you is insane.
And it’s not that “Oh my gosh, I’m dreading this” type of exercise. It’s the kind of exercise that before you know it you’ve walked five miles and still want to keep going. For those who already exercise, this app makes it a little more adventurous, and that’s great, but the real win is for those who don’t usually exercise. A large proportion of Pokémon players are what you’d probably classify as “nerds,” the ones who play video games all day or like to stay inside with their nose shoved in a book. This app has tricked them in to going outside and getting a ton of exercise, all while doing what they love!
2. It’s giving life to small, local businesses.
We all know how much small business has been struggling. Well, thanks to Pokémon GO, that may be changing. Businesses can pay a small fee to have Pokémon at their stores and restaurants, which inevitably draws many people to their business. Also, many businesses are joining in on the Pokémon community and providing incentives, such as free drinks or food, for those Pokémon trainers who come to their businesses. In the end, it’s a win-win for everyone.
3. The app has saved Nintendo.
There’s no denying that Nintendo has struggled in recent years. For the first time in forever, they saw negative earnings and there was no sign that things were looking up. With the launch of Pokémon GO, the value of Nintendo has already increased by over nine billion and is still increasing. For everyone who grew up on the NES, seeing Nintendo go would have been a huge blow to our childhood. Thankfully, they’ve caught their second wind and could now be around for the long haul.
4. It’s actually helping with mental illness.
For years studies have shown that exercise helps combat depression. We’ve already talked about how much exercise the app gives you. But it’s not only that – many people with depression simply feel like they have no purpose. While it may seem cheesy to some, Pokémon GO has given many people a purpose. It’s easy and it’s addictive, and honestly, not many things feel better than capturing those little creatures. It’s the small things that count.
5. It provides opportunities for family bonding time.
I often hear parents and grandparents say that they just can’t connect with their kids because they’re always glued to their gadgets. The older generations say they can’t relate because they didn’t grow up with the technology that kids have nowadays. While that may be true, they did grow up with Pokémon. That’s one of the greatest things about this app: It truly is for everyone!
6. For boomers, it’s a great throwback.
We all wish we could go back to times when things were easy, when we had no jobs and all we had to do was go to school, take a nap, and trade our Pokémon cards to build the best deck possible. When we were kids, all we wanted to be when we grew up was Ash Ketchum. Now, we have that chance. Pokémon GO undoubtedly brings out the kid in everyone and allows the stresses of adult life to move to the back of our minds.
7. It’s showing that we can have a better society.
Unlike most gaming communities, the Pokémon GO community is extremely nice. If you go to nearly any park in your town, you will see many trainers playing the game together. You won’t see them fighting over the Pokémon (unless it’s a friendly competition) and you won’t see people insulting other players. There have been meetups to play the app in towns all over the country and people are making friends with people they never thought possible. With Pokémon, there is no black, white, cop, civilian – we’re all just Pokémon trainers trying to catch ‘em all.
