I’ve been playing quite a bit of Pokemon Y and a bit of Omega Ruby over the past few months. For those who are unfamiliar with the Pokemon games, Pokemon Y was released alongside Pokemon X in 2013. In 2014, Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire were released, and soon in November of this year, Pokemon Sun & Moon will be released. Nintendo releases a new set of Pokemon games every 1-2 years, and has been doing so since 1996, providing two versions of essentially the same game with some special exclusives depending on which you choose. This promotes socializing, playing with friends, and finding others who have what you need and vice versa. It’s quite a social game contrary to popular belief.

At its core, the game is about exploration and becoming the best Pokemon trainer possible. You take the role of a young boy or girl, and are at first given one of three starter Pokemon to begin your journey with. Pokemon are fictional creatures inspired by real animals, plants, technology, objects, etc. that live in the wild but are also capable of battling, safely without the fear of death of course, promoting synergy and friendship between Pokemon and trainer. Through your journey you gain the tools to catch more Pokemon, further explore the world, challenge gym leaders that test your skill as a trainer and hopefully become strong enough to challenge the Pokemon League and become the champion. However the game does far more than that, allowing people who love to collect, train, battle with friends and strangers, and much more to enjoy the game far past becoming the champion; as a matter a fact, the game really begins after completing it when you have all the tools needed to become a real master.

Thankfully, not too long ago, I was able to pick up a brand new 2DS system and decided to pick up that copy of Pokemon Y, years after its initial release. I didn’t play a game of Pokemon in over nine years, although it defined my childhood where I would spend days and nights training and catching every Pokemon I could. Now I had a refreshing new experience in my hands, in a new setting, and most importantly through a new perspective. I dove in suspecting a similar grind of time as before and a pleasant experience, but what I found was something unexpected. What I found through Pokemon Y was a little extra bit of happiness. Not the same kind of happiness you get from anything else, but a simple type of happiness. The game did something so few games or entertainment could ever manage to do, it made me smile.

In part this due to nostalgia and also due to a simplicity that can be complex when you want it to be. I’ve been a gamer all my life and proceeded to spend most of my years playing more mature games that involved heavy political themes, intense adventure, and critical thinking. Pokemon helped me take a step back, and remember that it’s okay to have a good time in a world filled with color, adventure and a little relaxation. It was such a great contrast to the games I was used to playing, and while I love those as well for different reasons, Pokemon provided a softer flavor of joy that I really needed.

This game even helped me relieve stress during the school year. Of course I had almost no time to play my PS4 games that require hours of sitting in place to really make progress, and I barely had any time to use my mobile 2DS either way. Nevertheless, it gave me a reason to use my twenty minutes alone on my study break to catch a few Pokemon, perfect them for battle, and trade with others in the most alleviating way possible. The game never rushed me, it never told me where to go, nor did it define who I was. It let me be me, tired old me who just wanted to smile a bit after a long day of studying, me who was home alone and slightly depressed, me who missed a simpler time in his life.

Did this game change my life in a way nothing else could? For many it did. I would say it drove me in the right direction as a child and managed to lead me to the right group of friends and a community of people who were simple, kind and trustful. As an adult, I wouldn’t say it’s changed me much, I think it made that positive impact when I was younger. I would say now, as a pharmacy student in his twenties, who works on his time off from school, who studies all day and commutes at least three hours a day while in a relationship and is still trying to learning how to live life; I’d say for me Pokemon was a beautiful reminder to enjoy the simple things again, to remember that there are many important things in life but not all of it has to be difficult or bleak.

Pokemon Y let me catch my favorite Pokemon once more, it let me sit and enjoy relaxing music, it made me rock my head a bit whenever I got into a comfortable groove, and it made me excited to finish my work day just to have a little adventure. The game brought me closer with my little cousins as well who were Pokemon masters in the making, and I was able to talk and spend more time with them in a way I was never really able to do. Pokemon once again sparked my desire for simpler games, and I went on to buy some Kirby and Mario games that brought me and my girlfriend closer together, providing a gateway into gaming for her and another way for us to spend time together. So no, Pokemon is not a kids’ game. It’s a game for all people of all ages who want to relax, relieve stress, enjoy the nostalgia, make new friends, meet new faces, and perhaps smile every now and then because you know what? That’s okay too. To all who ever had an interest in this game, for those who believe themselves too old for this franchise, or even for those who need a little more brightness in their days, I whole-heartedly suggest picking up a Pokemon game and beginning your own little adventure. Just don’t let it distract you too much, and please don’t forget to smile. It’ll make the experience all the more enjoyable.