Pokémon Has a Spooky Side: The 5 Creepiest Pokédex Entries

Pokémon is renowned for its child-friendly nature, with all mainline games sporting an "E for Everyone" rating, inviting even the youngest players into its vibrant universe. Yet, beneath the charm of beloved characters like Pikachu and Eevee, some Pokémon possess surprisingly dark backstories. The Pokédex entries for certain creatures weave tales of kidnappings and even brutal murders, adding a layer of horror to the franchise that might surprise many fans.

IGN has gathered what we believe to be the five creepiest Pokédex entries, though there are more lurking in the shadows. Notable mentions include Mimikyu, which disguises itself as Pikachu to make friends but harbors sinister intentions towards the mascot; Haunter, known for stalking humans in dark alleys and causing death with a mere lick; and Hypno, infamous in the Pokémon children's cartoon for hypnotizing and kidnapping children to feed on their dreams.

It was a joyful Friday morning in Floaroma Town, and the young girl couldn't wait to start her weekend of flower picking. Eagerly, she rushed to the Valley Windworks, a serene spot known for its unique blooms. Though she knew it was risky to venture alone without a Pokémon, the tranquility of the area reassured her.

As she arrived, she was greeted by a sea of vibrant flowers, but her attention was soon captured by a mesmerizing purple balloon drifting in the breeze. Enchanted, she grabbed its string, only to be met by the balloon's eerie face—a yellow cross and two empty, black eyes. The balloon tugged gently, and the girl, laughing, followed. But as it pulled her higher and higher, the string wrapped around her wrist, and she was never seen again.

Drifloon, the Balloon Pokémon, adds a chilling twist to the innocent image of a child's toy. While some of its Pokédex entries are relatively benign, mentioning its origin from the spirits of people and Pokémon, others delve into darker territory. Entries warn that Drifloon "tugs on the hands of children to steal them away," and that those who mistake it for a balloon "could wind up missing." Its body, filled with souls, expands with each victim it lures away. Drifloon's appearances in the games, limited to Fridays at the Valley Windworks, enhance its mysterious and sinister aura.

Banette

The boy's health deteriorated rapidly, his fever soaring and his skin turning grey. Desperate, his parents tried every toy in his collection to comfort him, but he rejected them all, weakly muttering, "My doll." After a frantic search, they found it—a faded, ragged doll with glowing red eyes and a golden zipper for a mouth, hidden under the bed. The mother recognized it as one she had discarded years ago, replaced by newer, shinier Poké Dolls.

As she reached for it, the doll's gaze locked onto hers, causing her to scream and drop it. It leapt out the window, and almost immediately, the boy's condition seemed to improve. Banette, the Marionette Pokémon, embodies classic horror tropes, reminiscent of Annabelle or Chucky, with a backstory akin to Jessie's from Toy Story 2, but with a vengeful twist.

Its Pokédex entries describe it as "a doll that became a Pokémon over its grudge from being junked," relentlessly seeking "the child that disowned it." It haunts dark alleys, and its ultimate goal is to exact revenge on the one who abandoned it, using pins to inflict harm. Only by unzipping its smile or showing it love can its malevolent energy be dispelled.

Sandygast

On a serene summer day at Big Wave Beach in Melemele Island, children were busy building sandcastles. As the sun began to set, a boy remained, determined to perfect his creation. Unbeknownst to him, the other sandcastles on the beach began to shift, morphing into a sinister form.

When he finally turned around, he was confronted by Sandygast, a Pokémon resembling a sandcastle with a gaping mouth and soulless eyes. Mistaking its approach for friendliness, the boy reached for a red spade in its head, only to be engulfed by the creature. As he struggled, his entire body was slowly absorbed into the sand.

Contrary to the joy sandcastles usually represent, Sandygast's Pokédex entries reveal a darker truth. "If you build sand mounds when you’re playing, destroy them before you go home, or they may get possessed and become Sandygast," one warns. Another chilling entry states that "Sandygast mainly inhabits beaches. It takes control of anyone who puts their hand into its mouth, forcing them to make its body bigger." Its evolved form, Palossand, is known as the "Beach Nightmare," dragging victims into the sand and draining their souls, with bones of its victims buried beneath its castle-like body.

Frillish

An elderly woman relished her morning swim in Undella Town, enjoying the peace that came with the off-season. Despite the choppy waves, she swam with vigor, unaware that the current had carried her far from the shore. As she attempted to return, she found herself exhausted and making little progress.

Suddenly, Frillish, the Floating Pokémon, emerged from the water. Initially, the woman thought it had come to help, and she gratefully clung to it. But as she tried to swim back, she realized she was paralyzed, unable to move. Frillish, with its veil-like arms, dragged her deeper into the ocean, where she met her end.

Frillish's seemingly innocuous appearance belies its deadly nature. Its Pokédex entries describe how it wraps its thin, poisonous arms around its prey, paralyzing them before dragging them to the ocean floor, five miles below the surface. The victims remain conscious as they are pulled to their watery grave, intensifying the horror.

Froslass

In the midst of a fierce blizzard on a remote mountain, a man ventured out after hearing a woman's cry for help. Despite the treacherous conditions, he searched tirelessly but soon found himself lost. Seeking shelter, he stumbled upon a cave, hoping to survive the night.

Inside, the cave was unnaturally cold, with walls coated in thick ice. As he lit his lantern, he saw his reflection, only to realize it was not his own face but that of another man, frozen within the ice. Panic set in as he noticed more bodies encased in the icy walls. Before he could escape, Froslass, an icy Pokémon, floated towards him. It exhaled a frozen breath, and as the man's body stiffened, he became another icy decoration in its lair.

Froslass combines elements of the Japanese Yōkai Yuki-onna and the Greek Medusa. Its Pokédex entries reveal that it is "the soul of a woman lost on a snowy mountain possessed an icicle, becoming this Pokémon. The food it most relishes is the souls of men." It targets handsome men, freezing them during blizzards and turning them into chilling decorations in its icy den.