5 Kanto Pokémon Everyone Still Loves After 30 Years

Published Nov 1, 2026, 3:00 PM EST Austin King is the Senior Editor of Gaming at ScreenRant and has been with the site since 2020 with a focus on RPGs and tabletop games. He previously managed content for Geek to Geek Media, and has served as a writer for sites like Nintendad, Geek Fitness, and more. In addition to his work at ScreenRant, he also hosts the Dragon Quest FM podcast and is the author of several books, including co-writing Nimbus (a #1 bestseller in 2013). His latest is the nonfiction The Dragon Quest Book, available now. He's written about pop culture, video games, and genre studies over the course of his career. You can find him on BlueSky, X, and at Dragonquestaustin.com Sign in to your ScreenRant account There's no denying that after all this time, the first generation of Pokémon games are still immensely popular. In fact, some of the most popular Pokémon of all time are included in the original lineup of Kanto creatures. With the 30th anniversary underway, many of these Gen 1 Pokémon are getting new designs and/or new merchandise focused on them. That's not wholly surprising, given how popular Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow are (and how important they are to Pokémon's legacy). And some of these Kanto Pokémon have the distinction of being the most widely adored. A lot of Pokémon’s 30th anniversary celebration has been on Gen 1. With the exception of Rayquaza, the franchise's collab with Adidas only focused on Kanto Pokémon like Gengar, Charizard, Mewtwo, and Pikachu earlier this year. Even the Pokémon TCG's 30th Celebration set leaned into the original 151. FireRed and LeafGreen were even released on Switch and Switch 2 via the eShop, offering fans a chance to return to the Kanto region in 2026. From all of this, one thing is clear: Pokémon fans adore Gen 1. There are a ton of beloved 'Mon from Kanto, but there are a few that are simply the best of the best, getting repeatedly plastered on official merchandise and becoming the faces of the franchise. And after 30 years, these Pokémon might be even more beloved today than they were in the '90s. 5 Eevee There's an argument to be made that Eevee's evolutions, particularly Espeon and Umbreon, might be even more popular than Eevee itself. However, none of those so-called Eeveelutions would exist without the base Eevee from Gen 1. In Kanto, Eevee can be evolved into Vaporeon, Jolteon, and Flareon thanks to Evolution Stones. Perhaps it was the variety, or perhaps it's the outlandishly cute designs, but whatever the reason, Eevee and its evolutions have remained popular parts of the Pokémon franchise. In the years since, Eevee has taken up a role as a co-mascot to Pikachu, often appearing on merchandise for the holidays and even starring in its own Let's Go, Eevee! video game for the Nintendo Switch in 2018. More than any other Pokémon besides Pikachu, Eevee has become ubiquitous to the franchise over the course of three decades. 4 Mewtwo Mewtwo is a Legendary Pokémon, but it's also legendary in the sense that it's one of the most talked-about Pokémon of all time. When the Gen 1 games first came out, Mewtwo was the ultimate Pokémon to catch. It even got its name in the title of Pokémon's first movie, Mewtwo Strikes Back, wowing millions of people in theaters across the globe. For people like me, who saw the movie in theaters when it was new, you probably have Mewtwo's coolness permanently etched into your brain. Over the last 30 years, Mewtwo has been featured on some of the coolest Pokémon cards and has been a core part of the franchise's marketing. Adding Mewtwo into a game, whether it's a mobile title like Pokémon GO or a console exclusive like Legends: Z-A, has always been a big deal. Wherever Mewtwo goes, hype is sure to follow. 3 Pikachu This one is perhaps obvious, but Pokémon's mascot is easily its most famous critter. Disney has Mickey Mouse, Nintendo has Mario, and Pokémon has Pikachu. Even people who don't play the games know who Pikachu is. As Pokémon has ascended to becoming one of the most popular IPs on the planet, Pikachu's star has likewise risen. The adorable Electric-type mouse has been the face of the franchise for three decades, cementing its stardom thanks to being Ash's sidekick in the Indigo League anime. Since then, no Pokémon celebration is complete without Pikachu, and the same goes for the games. On top of being featured on the 30th anniversary logo, Pikachu also got a mini-collection of 30 cards all to itself within the 30th Celebration set in the Pokémon TCG. There's no denying Pikachu is the most famous Pokémon of all time, but very few fans seem to ever place it as their all-time favorite, which is why Pikachu doesn't rank higher on this list. 2 Gengar Custom image by Katarina Cimbaljevic Gengar's longevity in the Pokémon franchise is maybe a bit surprising. The Ghost-type could only be obtained via a Link Cable trade in the '90s, making it one of the hardest Kanto Pokémon to obtain. Despite only a few memorable appearances in the anime, Gengar's popularity seems to have grown out of a sheer coolness factor. Maybe it's the purple hue, or maybe it's the spooky look, but people love Gengar's design, and it's become one of the most widely adored Gen 1 Pokémon of all time. From shoes and shirts to gaming chairs and controllers, Gengar has been featured on just about every kind of merchandise you can think of it. Gengar also regularly appears in Halloween-themed events and products, which has perhaps contributed to its staying power. A cool Mega Evolution has also helped it remain at the forefront of people's favorite Pokémon, and after 30 years, Gengar appears to just be getting more and more popular. 1 Charizard Charizard was pretty much famous from the get-go. This orange and blue dragon was on the cover of Pokémon Red and also happens to be featured on the biggest chase card of all time. Thanks to Ash's Charizard in the anime being a source of comedic power (never listening to Ash) and blatantly cool combat sequences, this Fire-type evolution of starter Charmander has stayed one of the most popular Pokémon of all time. In terms of Gen 1 Pokémon from Kanto, Charizard has the distinction of being popular from the very beginning, all while remaining a fan-favorite and icon for three decades. It's no surprise Charizard is regularly featured on the most valuable Pokémon cards, even in new sets, and is also routinely featured on shirts, shoes, statues, controllers, plushes, and pretty much all other kinds of merchandise you can think of. If Charizard isn't considered your favorite Kanto Pokémon, then you definitely know someone who does. In another 30 years, there are no doubts it'll still be ranking as one of the Pokémon franchise's all-time greats. TV Show(s) Pokémon Video Game(s) Pokemon Red and Blue, Pokemon Yellow, Pokemon Gold and Silver, Pokémon Crystal, Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire, Pokemon Sapphire, Pokemon Diamond and Pearl, Pokemon Platinum, Pokemon Black and White, Pokemon Black and White 2, Pokemon X and Y, Pokemon Sun and Moon, Pokemon Sword and Shield, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, Pokemon Winds and Waves, Pokemon Legends Arceus, Pokemon Legends Z-A First Film Pokemon: The First Movie First TV Show Pokémon First Game Pokemon Red and Blue Genres RPG Pokémon is a Japanese multimedia franchise created by Satoshi Tajiri and Ken Sugimori, launched by Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures in 1996. Centered on fictional creatures called Pokémon, the series spans video games, trading cards, animation, films, merchandise, and competitive events. Players assume the role of Trainers who capture, battle, and trade Pokémon. It is one of the highest-grossing entertainment franchises in history.