Pokémon GO Turns 10, and It Feels Like a Celebration for Every Trainer

By Drawza

There are very few games that can say they genuinely changed how people spent their free time.

For many of us, Pokémon GO wasn't just a game on our phone. It was late nights walking around local parks chasing a rare spawn. It was rushing out of the house because someone posted in a group chat that a Dragonite had appeared nearby. It was meeting people through Raid Battles, Community Days and special events, and forming friendships that still exist today.

To celebrate ten years of Pokémon GO, Trainers will be able to take part in a special 10th Anniversary Party event from July 4-6, bringing together some of the game's most memorable features with new rewards, returning favourites and a brand-new anniversary Pokémon.

The headline addition is Gimmighoul holding a special 10th anniversary coin, which will be available through Golden Lure Modules and Coin Bags. Trainers may even be lucky enough to find a Shiny version, with some encounters featuring a special anniversary background.

The event will also feature some huge bonuses, including 4x XP and 4x Stardust for catching Pokémon, while event-themed Pokémon appearing in the wild will have an increased chance of being Shiny.

As with many Pokémon GO anniversary celebrations, some familiar faces are returning. Trainers can encounter fan favourites including Pikachu wearing a cake hat, Eevee wearing a party hat and Wurmple wearing a party hat, alongside other themed Pokémon appearing throughout the event.

Special research and Field Research tasks will also be available, giving players more opportunities to encounter event Pokémon and earn rewards during the celebration.

For Trainers looking to strengthen their teams, the event also provides the chance to evolve some classic starters and receive their iconic moves. Venusaur can learn Frenzy Plant, Charizard can learn Blast Burn and Blastoise can learn Hydro Cannon, giving players another reason to dig through their storage and revisit some old favourites.

While the bonuses, Shinies and exclusive Pokémon are exciting, what stands out most about this event is what it represents.

Ten years of Pokémon GO means ten years of memories.

For some, it's remembering those packed parks when the game first launched. For others, it's the Community Days, GO Fests, Raid trains and social gatherings that became regular fixtures on the calendar. It's the people you've met, the stories you've collected and the friendships that started because everyone happened to be standing around the same PokéStop.

This anniversary event feels like it's for everyone who has ever played Pokémon GO. Whether you're still catching Pokémon every day or haven't opened the app in months, it's a chance to celebrate a game that brought people together in a way few others ever have.

And honestly, that's probably Pokémon GO's greatest achievement. Not the Pokémon we've caught, but the memories we've made along the way.