Pokémon's generally kid-friendly image, cemented by its "E for Everyone" rating, belies a surprisingly dark undercurrent within some of its creatures. While Pikachu and Eevee dominate the franchise's cute aesthetic, several Pokémon possess unsettling Pokédex entries hinting at kidnapping and even murder. IGN has compiled five particularly creepy examples, though many more deserve mention. Honorable mentions include Mimikyu, a terrifying Pokémon disguising itself as Pikachu; Haunter, a silent stalker who lethally licks its victims; and Hypno, notorious for hypnotizing and abducting children in both the games and the cartoon.
Here are five chilling examples:
Drifloon:
Drifloon, the Balloon Pokémon, adds a sinister twist to the innocent image of a child's balloon. While some entries describe it as formed from spirits, others detail its habit of abducting children who mistake it for a playful balloon. Its appearances are limited to Fridays at the Valley Windworks in Diamond and Pearl, adding to its mysterious and ominous nature. Entries describe its body as filled with souls, expanding with each victim it lures away.
Banette:
Banette, the Marionette Pokémon, embodies a vengeful spirit akin to Annabelle or Chucky. Its origin story revolves around an abandoned doll consumed by resentment towards its former owner. Pokédex entries detail its pursuit of the child who discarded it, inflicting harm through self-inflicted pin pricks, acting as a terrifying effigy. Only by unzipping its mouth or showing it affection can its negative energy be appeased.
Sandygast:
The seemingly harmless sandcastle-themed Sandygast belies a horrifying truth. Pokédex entries warn against leaving unfinished sandcastles, as they risk becoming possessed. Sandygast preys on those who place their hands in its mouth, absorbing them completely. Its evolution, Palossand, further reveals its gruesome nature, described as the "Beach Nightmare" that drains the souls of its victims, leaving behind only bones.
Frillish:
Frillish, the Floating Pokémon, uses its seemingly innocent appearance to lure victims. While appearing helpful, it paralyzes its prey with venomous stingers before dragging them to its underwater lair, five miles beneath the surface, where they presumably drown. This plays on the fear of the ocean's depths.
Froslass:
Drawing inspiration from Yuki-onna and Medusa, Froslass is a chilling ice Pokémon. It lures unsuspecting male hikers to its icy lair during blizzards, freezing them and adding them to its collection of frozen corpses. Its preference for handsome men adds a layer of unsettling selectivity to its predatory behavior.
These entries, while often hidden within the game's lore, reveal a darker side to the Pokémon world, showcasing a surprising depth of horror within a seemingly child-friendly franchise.
