List of cross-generational references

This article contains fan speculation. There is no solid evidence for or against some parts of this article.

The seven generations of Pokémon games, taking place in the same universe, have had multiple references to each other. Not only do the games reference their same-generation counterparts (with the player's default name being the version played and the rival's being the counterpart version in the first two generations), but games released later in the series typically will feature references to events of past generations.

This does not include Pokémon. While Pokémon released in previous generations will always appear, they are not a reference to the generation itself.

List of references

Generation II

To Generation I

• Not only is the Kanto region a playable area during the games, but several of the events of Generation I are spoken of as having happened three years prior. Many characters also reappear because of this, though some of them undergo design changes.
• Red, the player character of the first games, is found training in Mt. Silver and can be battled.
• Blue, the rival character of the first games, has become the Gym Leader of Viridian City. His team is based on the Pokémon he used in the final battle in Pokémon Red and Blue.
• A man in the Violet City Pokémon Center states that the former Team Rocket was broken up by a "young kid."
• The parents of the Copycat in Saffron City mention that her Clefairy Doll was given to her by a boy three years before.
• The Berserk Gene, a held item, is found near the former entrance of the now-collapsed Cerulean Cave, where Mewtwo once hid.
• There is a Pokémon doll of a Surfing Pikachu available to decorate the room, which references the special minigame in Pokémon Yellow.
• A man in Cerulean City says there used to be a cave near the city with powerful Pokémon.
• If the player checks the poster in the Rocket Game Corner, the player will be informed that there's nothing there, referring to the secret switch under the poster in Generation I.
• The master of the Saffron City Fighting Dojo, Kiyo, can be found and battled in Mt. Mortar. Like in Generation I, he gives the player a Fighting-type Pokémon upon defeating him.
• In a Celadon City restaurant, a woman says that no one will give the player a Coin Case here and that he/she should look in Johto. A man in the same place gives a Coin Case in Generation I.

Generation III

To Generation I

• Brawly is said to have once trained alongside Bruno, who is a member of Kanto's Elite Four. Also, both of them are Fighting-type Pokémon users.
• The Oceanic Museum in Slateport City has two water samples on the top floor, one of which is from Kanto (though this reference is removed in Emerald). Its background music theme is also an arrangement of the S.S. Anne theme.
  • There is also a miniature scale model of the S.S. Anne on the top floor of the Oceanic Museum.
• In Lanette's house, there is a computer displaying e-mails from Bill about the Pokémon Storage System.
• On Faraway Island, a series of smudged messages, which may have been left by Mr. Fuji, appear on a signpost.
• A boy in Lilycove City says that he and his family came from the Kanto region before he asks if there are any Pokémon found only in the Hoenn region.
• In the Victory Road in Kanto, there is a small crater where Moltres used to be.

To Generation II

• In Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, the player character is said to have moved at the beginning of the game with his/her family from the Johto region, the main setting of the Generation II games. In Pokémon Emerald, the character who said this instead states that the player character's family moved there from a faraway place.
• The internal data of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire contains remastered versions of the themes played on Routes 38 and 39, Team Rocket encounter, Legendary beasts' battle, and Saffron City.
• The Oceanic Museum in Slateport City has two water samples, one of which is from Johto (though this reference is removed in Emerald).
• A man in Mt. Moon says that Brock sometimes helps excavate Fossils there. This explains how he acquires the Kabutops and Omastar which he uses in Generation II.
• At the Cerulean Cape, a dame says Misty has high hopes about the location, which is known as a famous dating spot. In the Generation II games, she is first encountered there with an unknown male character.
• Janine, Koga's daughter and future Leader of Fuchsia Gym, appears in Fuchsia City, and tells the player that she is training to use Poison Pokémon like her father. She is misnamed as Charine in the English translation of Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, however.
• The branch of Team Rocket in the Sevii Islands seems to be the same branch which attempted to revive Team Rocket during Generation II, with plans to use magnetic waves to evolve Pokémon. Their lead scientist also claims that Giovanni's child has red hair, a reference to Silver.
• One of Professor Oak's assistants will state that he is to get a radio show sometime in the near future.
• Celio mentions that some members of Bill's family live in Goldenrod City.
• A woman on Two Island in Bruno's section of the Fame Checker mentions the RageCandyBar.
• A child in Indigo Plateau in Lance's section of the Fame Checker says he has a cousin who is a Gym Leader somewhere far away.
• Whitney, Jasmine and Pryce lookalikes appear as audience members in Pokémon Contests.
• The man who digs Three Isle Path and gives the player a Nugget says that he'd like to buy a house in Kanto. He may be the same person who gives away a Nugget in Generation II in his house on Route 2.
• The themes used on the Sevii Islands are remastered versions of the routes around Mahogany Town as well as remastered versions of Violet/Olivine City and Azalea Town/Blackthorn City.
• In Mt. Battle, there is an Abra that can Teleport players to the entrance every 10 battles. In the Generation II games, the player can use an Abra at Indigo Plateau to Teleport home.

Generation IV

To Generation I

• Professor Rowan is said to have developed the Sinnoh Pokédex with help from a Pokémon Professor from Kanto.
• Professor Oak himself comes to Sinnoh to give the player the National Pokédex, and can always be found in a house in Eterna City thereafter. He gives the player an Up-Grade, which was sent to Oak by his acquaintance from Kanto.
• In the gate east of Canalave City is a guard who complains that he is thirsty, like the guards in Kanto who will allow the player to enter Saffron City if they are brought a drink. Unlike those guards, however, this one does not do anything if brought a drink.
• One of the Elite Four, Bertha, shares a similar name (in Japanese and English) and design to Agatha. It is possible they are related, or that Bertha was at least modeled after Agatha.
• Black Belt Eddie from Victory Road mentions that he trained at the Fighting Dojo in Saffron City.
• In Amity Square, some Pokémon may be let out of their Poké Balls to follow their Trainer around. One of the few available is Pikachu, which did the same (however, throughout the game) in Pokémon Yellow.
• Bebe's friend Bill is mentioned to have developed the basic storage system.
• Part of the Veilstone Game Corner music theme is a techno remix of the Rocket Game Corner music theme.
• One of Lucas's alternate names was Ash in the English versions of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. This is one of the default names of Red in the games Red, Blue, Yellow, FireRed, and LeafGreen. It may even be a reference to the anime's main character.

The wallpaper

• As a direct tribute to the original games, one of the wallpapers has been designed to resemble the design of the routes of the first games, complete with the graphics and sprites when the games are played on the Game Boy. The wallpaper showcases typical features like both types of fences, low and high grass, normal ground, a signpost and a house.
• As Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver are remakes of Pokémon Gold and Silver, the references present in the original games to Generation I return.
• During a special Celebi event, the player will, in fact, travel in time back to shortly after Red has defeated Giovanni. Giovanni tells his son that he has decided to disband Team Rocket. Afterwards, he will run towards the Johto region and is found in a cave. When the player defeats him, he will make a remark that the player reminds him of the boy that made him disband the team in the first place.
• In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, a man mentions that Professor Oak once said there were 150 Pokémon, the amount known during Generation I, although there are now over 400 (which appears to imply that all the games, or at least the remakes, take place at the same time as Generation IV).

To Generation II

• A news report of a red Gyarados begins Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. The cameraman who filmed the documentary appears at the Survival Area.
  • In Pokémon Platinum, the game instead begins with a report about Professor Rowan. However, the cameraman from the red Gyarados report is seen blocking the entrance to Lake Valor, hoping to get a shot of the Legendary Pokémon said to live there.
• A man, who gives the player a Happiny Egg in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, says that Professor Elm announced that Eggs kept with a Trainer will eventually hatch.
• Jasmine, one of Johto's Gym Leaders, appears to give the player HM07 (Waterfall) and participates in Sinnoh's Pokémon Super Contests.
• A man in Valor Lakefront states that he would like to see a silver-colored Pokémon that resides in the Whirl Islands, a rainbow-colored Pokémon that resides in the Tin Tower, and Clefairy dancing in Mt. Moon sometime during his life.
• A Ninja Boy on Route 210 near Celestic Town says he wants to train with a ninja Gym Leader in a faraway land.
• Dragon Tamer Hayden on Route 224 mentions that he left the Dragon's Den several years ago.
• The Poké Ball design on the floor of the Sinnoh Pokémon Centers is colored gold and silver. Park Balls are also colored gold and silver, and the normally black stripe in the middle is actually a light blue, crystal-like color.
• Dragon Tamer Geoffrey on Route 225 mentions a Dragon Tamer Champion.
• The Eevee which Bebe gives to the player was obtained originally from her friend in Johto.
• Cynthia gives the SecretPotion, the medicine from Cianwood City that cured Amphy in Generation II, to the player to cure the group of Psyduck blocking Route 210.
• In Stargazer Colosseum in Pokémon Battle Revolution, some of the Pokémon in the last battle depend on which game is linked to the Wii. If Pokémon Diamond is linked, one of the Pokémon is Ho-Oh, Gold's game mascot, and if Pokémon Pearl is linked, one of the Pokémon is Lugia, Silver's game mascot.
• When a Shiny Clefairy appears during a slot game in Veilstone Game Corner, a remixed version of Mt. Moon Square music theme from Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal is played.
• In Pokémon Platinum, one of the women in the basement floor of the Veilstone Department Store mentions that the store is sold out of RageCandyBars, the local specialty in Mahogany Town.
• In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, the Gym guide of Vermilion Gym states that the Gym's traps were temporarily out of order, a reference to Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal.
• In the Pokégear's description of Cerulean Cave, it states that the cave had collapsed.
• A Hiker in the Route 3 Pokémon Center states that the Pokémon Center didn't exist when he was climbing the mountain, which is only true in Generation II.
• In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, the man at Indigo Plateau mentions that nobody uses his Abra to Teleport home anymore (which it used to do in Generation II) since they usually Fly to and from instead.

To Generation III

• A man in Hearthome City, who says he is from the Hoenn region, will show the player to the Contest Hall, a feature originally introduced in Hoenn.
• A man in Valor Lakefront states that he would like to see a rocket launch from the Space Center in Mossdeep City sometime during his life.
• A woman in Valor Lakefront claims to have lost her Suite Key. If the player finds it near the Hotel Grand Lake using the Dowsing Machine, she will offer a reward of one Lava Cookie, a specialty of Hoenn, possibly implying that her home is in that region.
• A Swimmer south of the Valor Lakefront says she would like to vacation in Hoenn because it has more routes on which to Surf.
• A woman west of Pastoria City used to work at the Weather Institute of Hoenn and will give out weather-changing TMs for Shards.
• An old woman living at the base of Stark Mountain acts in the same way that another woman does on Route 111 in Hoenn, insisting that the player keep healing his/her Pokémon with her in a creepy manner. Strangely, they both also live just north of a sandstorm-ridden desert.
• A Swimmer north of Sunyshore City wishes to visit Hoenn's seas.
• A Socialite in the Valor Lakefront restaurant will occasionally mention the sauce of her dish was made from spicy Cheri Berries with a Hoenn-style recipe.
• Bird Keeper Audrey on Route 225 says she was born in Hoenn.
• A woman in the Battle Tower claims to have been from Hoenn, where another Battle Tower resides. In Pokémon Platinum, her reference could mean either the Battle Tower itself or the Battle Frontier that is present in Hoenn.
• A catalog in Rad Rickshaw's Cycle Shop in Eterna City advertises the Acro Bike and Mach Bike.
• In Stargazer Colosseum in Pokémon Battle Revolution, some of the Pokémon in the last battle depend on which game is linked to the Wii. If Diamond is linked, one of the Pokémon is Kyogre, Sapphire's game mascot, and if Pearl is linked, one of the Pokémon is Groudon, Ruby's game mascot.
• The fourteen foreign Pokédex entries in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl are all from the respective translated versions of Pokémon LeafGreen.
• In Pokémon Platinum, the Adamant Orb and Lustrous Orb are required to summon Dialga and Palkia, much like the Red Orb and Blue Orb were required to summon Groudon and Kyogre.
• In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, many buildings and lengths of most Routes and areas in Kanto are heavily based on Generation III Kanto rather than Generation II Kanto. Furthermore, many areas and other aspects not present in the Generation II Kanto have returned in order to resemble the Generation III Kanto more closely.
• Mr. Pokémon is said to have gotten the Red Orb^SS or Blue Orb^HG from a friend in Hoenn.
• Steven, Hoenn's former Champion, is present in Vermilion City, and will speak of a strange Hoenn-native Pokémon that has been reported roaming Kanto.
  • He also appears in the Silph Co. building in Saffron City after the player defeats Red and gives the player one of the Hoenn region's starter Pokémon.
• When the player first encounters Bill in the Ecruteak City Pokémon Center, he will mention that Lanette from Hoenn helped him develop the Pokémon Storage System.
• When the player battles the Frontier Brains in Pokémon Platinum, a remix of Pokémon Emerald's Frontier Brain theme can be heard.

Generation V

To Generation I

• Blue's theme as Kanto Champion is remixed in the final battles of official competitions.
• After a Swimmer in Undella Bay is defeated, he claims he will challenge the Gym Leaders all over the world. He then asks where he can find Water-type Gyms, asking for confirmation that they're in Kanto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh.
• A Black Belt in the Icirrus Gym says that he trained in a Fighting Dojo in Kanto.
• An Ace Trainer aboard the Royal Unova mentions that she is from the Kanto region.
• A female Swimmer in Humilau City references Misty by her Gym Leader title, "Tomboyish Mermaid".
• A Lady in Humilau City references a Youngster on Kanto Route 3 when she says "This dress is comfy and easy to wear..."
• Shauntal references Agatha in a quote from her novel during the player's post-National Pokédex challenge. She also references Bertha and notes the similarity in appearance between the two.
• The Generation II Gym Leaders of Kanto (plus Giovanni) can be battled at the Pokémon World Tournament. Blue also works as Kanto's representative in the Champions Tournament.

To Generation II

• Shauntal mentions the Silver Wing and the Rainbow Wing in one of her conversations at Caitlin's Villa. These are the main items used to summon Lugia and Ho-Oh, respectively.
• The lone Team Rocket Grunt who stole the Machine Part from the Kanto Power Plant is revealed to live in Unova. He says that while he had planned to revive Team Rocket, soon after returning home he fell in love and then married.
• The RageCandyBar returns. The wife of the Ex-Team Rocket Grunt, as well as Professor Juniper, gives the RageCandyBar to the player. The wife mentions that the candy is the favorite sweet of one of her husband's past coworkers in Team Rocket.
• Team Rocket's Radio Tower takeover theme can be heard in the Game Freak headquarters in Castelia City.
• When Mr. Lock opens the Lock Capsule, he also finds a letter that explains that TM95 has been kept hidden from Team Rocket.
• Zorua is said to have waited for Celebi for a long time.
• According to one of the Team Plasma Grunts in N's Castle, "Team Galactic and Team Rocket drew too much attention to themselves. That's why their plans were thwarted."
• A Clerk aboard the Royal Unova mentions that he came from Johto for a business trip.
• A Lass on Skyarrow Bridge describes the trucks rounding the bend with onomatopoeia, calling it the dialect of Goldenrod City.
• Gym Leaders of Johto can be battled at the Pokémon World Tournament. Lance and Red also work as Johto's representatives in the Champions Tournament.
• Before being battled at the Pokémon World Tournament, Norman mentions how he used to live in Olivine City before moving to Petalburg City.

To Generation III

• A man in the Desert Resort will mention that he doesn't need Go-Goggles to go through the sandstorm there, a reference to how they were needed to do so in Hoenn. In Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, he also mentions the Mirage Tower.
• Some of the music themes, such as N's final battle theme, the Team Plasma battle theme, and the Elite Four theme have segments of Hoenn themes in them.
• The Riches, the family who offers their own battle challenge to the player, may be compared to the Winstrate family in Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald.
• Returning to the former HM Dive, which is required to access Abyssal Ruins, may be paralled with the underwater in Hoenn.
• In Undella Town, two residents that reside there during the summer mention that they came from the Hoenn region for a vacation. One of them also mentions Steven Stone.
• A Hiker in Clay Tunnel mentions that the soil here is similar to the soil in the Hoenn region.
• In Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, in Icirrus City, there is a married couple that used to be members of Team Magma and Team Aqua.
• When the player obtains the Bicycle, the sprite is that of Acro Bike, rather than the normal one.
• The Pokémon Emerald Gym Leaders of Hoenn can be battled at the Pokémon World Tournament. Steven and Wallace also work as Hoenn's representatives in the Champions Tournament.
• Before fighting Norman in the Pokémon World Tournament, he will mention having been beaten by his child, referencing Brendan or May's victory over him in Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald versions.

To Generation IV

• In Nacrene Gym, the book called "Sweets for Pokémon" describes Poffins and mentions that they are made in the Sinnoh region.
• Caitlin of the Battle Castle appears as an Elite Four member in Unova. She references her prior inability to battle, and mentions the Battle Castle's presence in Sinnoh and Johto.
• Looker appears in search of the Seven Sages of Team Plasma. He is absent in Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, but Shauntal mentions him as part of one of the novels she is writing.
• Cynthia will meet the player at Caitlin's Villa in Undella Town after getting the National Pokédex. The player will be able to battle her in Spring and Summer.
  • In addition to this, after defeating her in a battle for the first time, she will mention that the player looked like the Trainer who faced Giratina.
• According to one of the Plasma Grunts in N's Castle, "Team Galactic and Team Rocket drew too much attention to themselves. That's why their plans were thwarted."
• Shauntal mentions the Distortion World in one of her conversations at Caitlin's Villa. She states that the only Pokémon living in the Distortion World was spectacular.
• Before her rematch, Shauntal quotes a line about Volkner, which comes from her novel. In Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, she also mentions Volkner's close friend in another line from her novel.
• A man who gives away Fossils every day at Twist Mountain said that when the player looks carefully and digs at the walls of empty places like caves, the player will find many different kinds of items such as Fossils, a possible reference on how the player can dig up different kinds of items, especially Fossils, at the Sinnoh region's underground.
• Ace Trainer Henry aboard the Royal Unova mentions that he is from the Sinnoh region.
• Upon meeting Skyla for the first time, she tells Cedric, "You are talking like places like Kanto and Sinnoh are right around the corner!"
• In Lentimas Town, a Hiker mentions Stark Mountain. Both it and the nearby Reversal Mountain are where Heatran reside. The Magma Stone also appears as a Key Item needed to awaken the Legendary Pokémon.
• In Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, Crasher Wake appears on Route 18, much like how he appeared on Route 47 in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver.
• On board the Plasma Frigate, a Team Plasma Grunt mentions that he used to be part of Team Galactic.
• In Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, a show on the Variety channel mentions that Aaron used to be a Bug Catcher and a Gym Leader before joining the Sinnoh Elite Four.
• Shauntal references Bertha in a quote from her novel during the player's post-National Pokédex challenge. She also references Agatha and notes the similarity in appearance between the two.
• After defeating her in battle, Shauntal says she wants her novels to be full of heart and soul.
• A lady at Village Bridge references the Pokéathlon as a very popular competition in Johto.
• After defeating a Pokémon Ranger at Route 11, he considers training by standing under a waterfall, referencing Chuck's training method.
• Gym Leaders of Sinnoh can be battled at the Pokémon World Tournament. Cynthia also works as Sinnoh's representative in the Champions Tournament.

Generation VI

To Generation I

• The layout of Santalune Forest is an almost exact copy of Viridian Forest.
• Several moves originating from Generation I, including Psychic and Hyper Beam, use their original sound effects.
• A man in Santalune City will trade a Farfetch'd for a common Normal-type Pokémon.
• Professor Sycamore gives new Trainers one of the three Kanto starter Pokémon.
• Cassius in Camphrier Town mentions how Bill sent him there to work with the PC.
• A Youngster on Route 5 will mention that he likes to wear shorts because "they are comfy and easy to wear."
• A sleeping Snorlax is blocking Route 7, and the Poké Flute is required to awaken and get past it.
• A remix of the wild Pokémon battle music from Generation I plays when battling Mewtwo and the Legendary birds, using exactly the same soundfont as that of the Game Boy music. The remix also contains the boulder pushing sound effect from Generation I.
• A non-player character at Magenta Plaza mentions that Professor Oak's grandson visited Kalos to study abroad, and would frequently end conversations with "Smell ya later!" However, she also says that he got "bonjour" down just fine, which is how he greeted the player while aboard the S.S. Anne.
• A Battle Girl in the Fighting Dojo on the third floor of a building at North Boulevard mentioned that her sensei came all the way from the Kanto region to open a Fighting Dojo.
• Lysandre Labs is a high-tech facility inhabited by a villainous team where the player needs to use spin tiles and warp tiles to navigate around, much like the Silph Co. and the Team Rocket Hideout.
• The Unknown Dungeon uses the same name as the Cerulean Cave in Generation I. Also, both of these locations are the only places in their respective games where Mewtwo can be encountered. Additionally, an NPC blocks the entrance of each Unknown Dungeon until the player becomes the Champion, both NPCs tell the player exactly the same thing if he/she interacts with them, and mysteriously vanish after their conditions are met.
• The Poké Ball Factory in Laverre City shares many similarities to Silph Co.. In both cases, an evil team (Team Rocket or Team Flare) infiltrates the facility, and thwarting them rewards a Master Ball. However, Team Rocket's goal is to steal the plans for the Master Ball, whereas Team Flare apparently wants to steal Poké Balls. Another similarity is that in both cases, the event happens in the sixth town that rewards the player with a Badge (Saffron City or Laverre City).
• A female NPC in Restaurant Le Nah says she is from Kanto.
• A female NPC in Kiloude City says that she is preparing a Cinnabarian hamburger steak. This may also be a reference to the Cinnabar Volcano Burger that was the player's mom's specialty in Johto.
• An old male NPC in Mauville City, who tells the player that he was born in Sinnoh, also tells that his son lives in Kanto.
• A Backpacker in Lilycove City's Contest Spectacular Trainer Fan Club says he came all the way from Kanto to see Lisia.
• A stone in a vitrine in Steven's house is from Rock Tunnel.
• A sample of water from Kanto is on display at the Oceanic Museum.

To Generation II

• The Furfrou chase puzzle at the Parfum Palace is similar to the Farfetch'd chase puzzle in the Ilex Forest.
• Unlike with other Pokémon, while Surfing on a Lapras, the Pokémon gains an alike overworld sprite. Whenever Surf was used outside of battle in Generation II, the overworld sprite of Lapras was used.
• Gym Leader Valerie is said to be from Johto.
• A painting of Ecruteak City appears in the Lumiose Museum.
• Like in the original games, the player character and his/her family are originally from the Johto region in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire.
• A stone in a vitrine in Steven's house is from Mt. Mortar.
• The Oceanic Museum contains a water sample from the Johto region.
• Two Rage Candy Bars can be found at the Trick House during one of the puzzles.
• A girl in Sootopolis City tells that dedicated fans flock there "from as far away as Kanto and Johto" for "the coolest Water-type Gym Leader".
• When the Magnemite Croquette line in Mauville Food Court becomes available, a boy will note that the dish uses specially made sauce from Johto when entering for the first time.

To Generation III

• A Swimmer in Azure Bay claims that he swam to Kalos from the Hoenn region.
• A painting of Mr. Briney and Peeko appears in the Lumiose Museum.
• A little girl in Laverre City will mention that her uncle is from Hoenn when spoken to.
• A Tourist will mention the hot springs in Lavaridge Town when spoken to.
• An old woman on the second floor of Hotel Richissime mentions that the 40th and 45th wedding anniversaries are the ruby and sapphire anniversaries, respectively, while her husband next to her mentions that their first date was at the Oceanic Museum.
• When the player can't afford a ride on the Lumiose City cab, one of the Drivers will say when defeated, "Now I won't even have a copper to send back to my family in Hoenn..."
• A woman staying at Hotel Richissime on the fifth floor during the bed making job compares it to the Resort Gorgeous on the Sevii Islands.
• The introduction of Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire reflects to the original games, including the music.
• The DexNav interface resembles to the layouts from the original Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. It also uses the original tileset.
• A Bug Catcher tells the player that he "heard that Pokémon Centers used to have two stories until 10 years ago" and had "a special area known as the Pokémon Cable Club". The last game to utilise this feature, Pokémon Emerald, was first released in 2004, 10 years before the remakes were released.
• In the Rustboro Gym and the Treasure Hunter's house, a display of the map of Hoenn from Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire by Midori Harada is seen.
• A man at Mt. Pyre mentions how there used to be holes in the floor, a thing that was true in Generation III.
• When the player shows Norman the Eon Ticket, he says that it has been 11 years since he last saw the ticket. Eon Ticket was originally distributed in 2003, 11 years before the remakes' release.
• Mirage Island is referenced in Route 130's description on the AreaNav, which describes its nature. Although Mirage Islands appear in different parts of Hoenn, none appear on that route.
• The Battle Frontier in Pokémon Emerald is referenced several times at the Battle Resort. A man in Battle Maison will mention Scott and the Pike Queen. Another NPC will say to the player that the Battle Resort is planned to be replaced by the Battle Frontier in the future. There is also a model of the Battle Tower on top of the hill.
• The pattern the triangular object at the end of the Delta Episode darts around before Deoxys emerges is in the same pattern of the Birth Island puzzle from Pokémon FireRed, LeafGreen, and Emerald.
• The Primal Pokémon battle theme contains small bits of the original weather trio battle theme from Generation III.
• The music that plays inside the Sky Pillar is a remix of the theme that plays when Rayquaza appears to stop the battle between Groudon and Kyogre in Sootopolis City in Pokémon Emerald.
• During the Delta Episode, Wallace battles the player with his Champion team from Pokémon Emerald. In addition, during the cutscene at the end of the Delta Episode, Steven is seen requesting Wallace to take his place as Champion when he one day leaves the Pokémon League to travel the world, referring to their respective roles in Emerald.
• When Lisia is talked to after defeating her and her uncle Wallace in a Pokémon Contest, she mentions that Wallace has a mentor named Juan, who appears in Pokémon Emerald to replace Wallace as the Leader of Sootopolis Gym after Wallace becomes the Champion.

To Generation IV

• Drasna of the Elite Four claims her grandparents moved to Kalos from a city where the past lives on in a faraway region, and that they raised her on the stories of the Pokémon of time and space.
• Looker returns as the main character of a post-game side story and at one point compares his assets to the size of Mt. Coronet. He also appears in Hoenn in the Battle Resort, suffering from amnesia.
• Paintings of the Sinnoh Battle Frontier and the Sinnoh Underground appear in the Lumiose Museum.
• An NPC in Snowbelle City will play a remixed version of the music from Jubilife City when spoken to.
• A Maid who wanders between hotels will eventually trade the player an Eevee from Sinnoh, referring to it as "Mr. Backlot's Pokémon". The Eevee's OT is "Elena" (Japanese: ヘレン Helen), the name of one of the Maids in the Pokémon Mansion in Pokémon Platinum.
• A male Scientist on the second floor of Professor Sycamore's lab in Lumiose City says that Sycamore studied under Professor Rowan in Sinnoh when he was younger.
• Lumiose City's layout bears a strong resemblance to the logo of the Battle Frontier in Generation IV.
• A female NPC in Snowbelle City Pokémon Center tells the player about a long-standing tradition in the Sinnoh region where people give Gracidea flowers to each other as a sign of appreciation. She will also give the player a Gracidea flower if the player shows her a Shaymin. A male NPC in the Berry Master's house on Route 123 will make a similar reference and give a Gracidea to the player under the same conditions.
• The Oceanic Museum contains a water sample from the Sinnoh region.
• An old male NPC in Mauville City tells the player that he was born in Sinnoh.
• A painting in Lilycove Museum depicts Giratina in "an odd landscape with bizarre and fantastic scenery". Another painting depicts Arceus.
• A stone in a vitrine in Steven's house is from Mt. Coronet.
• A letter found at Sea Mauville mentions the loss of an Odd Keystone donated by the Oreburgh Mine. After reading the letter, it is possible to encounter a Spiritomb in the same room.
• Two Old Gateaus can be found at the Trick House during one of the puzzles.
• On Route 115, Ruin Maniac Hayes mentions having visited some ruins in the Sinnoh region.

To Generation V

• A Tourist eating outside of a café in Lumiose City mentions having visited the café in Striaton City.
• A Monsieur in the Stone Emporium talks about ores that he adores, before saying, "this is where you should laugh".
• Statues of Reshiram and Zekrom can be found in the courtyard of Parfum Palace. Two Tourists in the courtyard explain that the two Pokémon are Legendary Pokémon of the Unova region, and that Kalos and Unova must have been in contact with each other.
• A Hiker found at the Ambrette Town Fossil Lab, who gives the player the four Drives if shown a Genesect, says that he got the Drives from an acquaintance of his in the Unova region.
• At the Ambrette Town Fossil Lab, there are two skulls on display that resemble the Dragon Skull from the Nacrene Gym.
• A Backpacker on Route 10 mentions that Colress told him that the big rocks on that route emit some kind of special energy.
• A male Ace Trainer in Coumarine City will play a remix of the song "An Unwavering Heart" from Generation V when spoken to.
• A Beauty in Coumarine City explains that Dr. Fennel of the Unova region created Game Sync.
• A female Scientist in Coumarine City mentions that Pokémon dream when they're tucked in with Game Sync.
• A Lass in Coumarine City explains that Triple Battles and Rotation Battles got their start in the Unova region.
• A male Pokémon Breeder in the Magenta Plaza Pokémon Center mentions Team Plasma "making news a while back in the Unova region".
• A Waitress on the first floor of the building containing the Fighting Dojo asks about the whereabouts of The Riches, before mentioning that she's looking for Master Miles.
• A woman on the first floor of the building containing the Fighting Dojo mentions that she recently moved from a very rural part of Unova.
• Paintings of both Castelia City and the Battle Subway appear in the Lumiose Museum.
• One of the items that the player may be asked to find during the lost-and-found job in Hotel Richissime is a Brycen-Man Figure.
• A Tourist at the Lumiose Station mentions how the trains at the station are completely different from the subways in Unova, where she comes from.
• A Fairy Tale Girl on Route 14 says that she can't wait to finish reading Shauntal's new book.
• Sky Trainer Clara on Route 16 says that her hometown is Mistralton City.
• According to the television show "Gym Freaks", Wulfric is a fan of the Brycen-Man Series, and Clemont is secretly saving up money to visit the amusement park in the Unova region.
• An Ace Trainer at the Lumiose Museum mentions that his partner learned the move Dragon Tail in the Village of Dragons.
• A globe in Wally's house has a pin stuck in the place of Unova.
• A Scientist at the Devon Corporation tells the player that he's working on a machine that can visualize a Pokémon's dreams, and mentions that a rival of his is working on a similar project in the Unova region.
• The Oceanic Museum contains a water sample from the Unova region.
• Aarune tells the player upon meeting him that he is originally from the Unova region.
• An old male NPC in Mauville City, who tells the player that he was born in Sinnoh, also tells that his great-grandson is "off dreaming in Unova".
• A Backpacker in Mauville City mentions he is from Castelia City.
• A stone in a vitrine in Steven's house is from Chargestone Cave.
• A model of then-unfinished Royal Unova can be found at the Oceanic Museum.
• Two Casteliacones can be found at the Trick House during one of the puzzles.
• A man in Pacifidlog Town mentions how he once dreamed of playing at the Big Stadium. He also gives the player TM56 (Fling).
• When first met in the Granite Cave, Zinnia talks to the player about truths and ideals, referencing to Reshiram and Zekrom, respectively.
• A Backpacker in the basement of S.S. Tidal mentions that he is from Unova.

To Generation VII

• A Backpacker that can be found in one of the various Hotels in Kalos speaks about the region he is from, separate from the regions of the first five generations. He also gives the player a Strange Souvenir. This is so far the only reference to a future generation seen within the core series.

Generation VII

To Generation I

• The player character in Pokémon Sun and Moon and Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon and his/her family have moved to Alola from the Kanto region.
• Red and Blue make an appearance at the Battle Tree in Alola.
• Heahea City was said to be formed by people who traveled from Kanto and Johto long, long ago and came together in the Alola region.
• A Sightseer in Heahea City says that he wants to document all the differences between Diglett's Tunnel in Alola and Diglett's Cave in Kanto.
• A poster within the Geothermal Power Plant on Blush Mountain talks about the Kanto Power Plant. It mentions some of the events in the Johto section of the series, specifically about how the loss of the Machine Part put the entire plant out of operation. It also goes on to say that the Legendary Pokémon Zapdos appeared there once.
• An NPC at Aether Paradise mentions that her group is there to study how things are done there, and compares it to how things are done at the Safari Zone in Fuchsia City.
• Malie Garden is colloquially called "Nugget Garden" and has its own Nugget Bridge along with a similar challenge of battling a number of Trainers on it. The Trainers even use the same Pokémon and lines dialogue as the Trainers on the original Nugget Bridge in Pokémon Red and Blue.
• An NPC at Aether Paradise mentions that the PC Boxes for Pokémon Storage System were developed by Bill in the Kanto region. He adds that Bill is "apparently a real Pokémon maniac".
• In Sun and Moon, Lillie takes Lusamine to see Bill in the chance he could help make Lusamine better after she got bonded with Nihilego after hearing about how Bill got combined with a Pokémon.
• A woman in the Hau'oli City Mall next to a poster says "Hey! Under this poster... There's nothing! Of course there's no switch, silly!", referencing the secret switch under the poster in the Rocket Game Corner that gave access to the Team Rocket Hideout.
• Professor Kukui tells the player about his travels in the Kanto region and how he challenged the Pokémon League there.
• One phrase that the player may receive from the Johto Tent at the Festival Plaza is "You better have Burn Heal!" This line is also spoken by Blaine before his Gym battle.
• On Route 14, a Hiker mentions how he once saw a Pikachu that could use Surf.
• In Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, Malie City houses the Kantonian Gym, which is modeled after the Gym in Vermilion City. Defeating the Leader of the Gym rewards the player with a Surge Badge, a reference to the Thunder Badge and the Gym Leader who hands it out, Lt. Surge.
• The woman selling fossils in Olivia's jewelry shop in Konikoni City mentions that Olivia brought the Dome and Helix Fossils to Alola from the Kanto region.
• Team Rocket makes a return as Team Rainbow Rocket, with Giovanni once again as its leader. Giovanni also uses a Mewtwo to battle the player.
• Giovanni's battle theme in Team Rocket's Castle contains remixed bits of the Team Rocket Hideout theme.
• In Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, Gladion travels to Kanto and Johto to train. When he returns during the post-game, he uses the fully evolved form of a Kanto starter Pokémon.
• In Pokémon Quest, the player is accompanied by a drone named MoBee IV, which is mentioned to have been manufactured by the Silph Co.
• Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! are modified remakes of Pokémon Yellow.
• In Cerulean City, one of the Bicycles on display at the Bike Maniac's house is described to be a limited edition Bicycle that was popular a while ago and costs $1,000,000, referring to the Bicycle in Generation I that cost this amount and was thus unbuyable.
• In Vermilion City, a man with a Farfetch'd nicknamed Dux mentions how he's planning to go catch a Spearow soon, referencing the Generation I in-game trade where the player can trade a Spearow for a Farfetch'd named Dux in the same city.
• In Celadon City, a Team Rocket Grunt ponders the possibility of making more money with the Game Corner if they offered Pokémon in exchange for Coins, which is how the Game Corner functioned in Generation I.
• After being defeated, Punk Guy Hideo on Route 16 mentions that he and his friends used to ride their bikes up and down the road a long time ago, referring to Route 17's status as the Cycling Road in previous generations, as well as to the fact that the Punk Guys in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! are modeled after the Generation I Bikers.
• When the player visits Professor Oak's Laboratory after defeating the seven first Gyms, Professor Oak pretends to have forgotten Blue's name and asks what it is, referencing the opening of the Generation I games, where he asks the player the same question.
• After being defeated, Lance briefly jokes that Professor Oak will be the player's final battle at the Pokémon League, alluding to the scrapped battle against Professor Oak in the Generation I games.

To Generation II

• Heahea City was said to be formed by people who traveled from Kanto and Johto long, long ago and came together in the Alola region.
• Malie City was also said to be formed by people from Johto settling in Alola.
• Malie Garden also has a lake inside of it in the shape of a Gyarados, an allusion to the Lake of Rage in Johto.
• A Sightseer in Malie City mentions that she is from Johto and finds it odd that people in Alola don't use Fly to travel, before giving the player the TM for the move.
• Lana mentions having reeled in a Red Gyarados once. In the end, she was just trying to trick the player into believing her.
• On Mount Lanakila, Professor Kukui mentions facing the Indigo League and how tough the battle with Lance was. Lance was the Champion of the Indigo League in the Generation II games and their remakes.
• The player is able to obtain one Apricorn Ball each per game. These are the special Poké Balls that Kurt makes by hand in the Johto region. In Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, the player can also receive one of each Apricorn Ball from a Game Freak employee in Heahea City by showing him a Pokémon from a Virtual Console version of a Generation II game.
• A Rage Candy Bar is given to the player in Pokémon Center Cafés when buying a drink for the first time on Tuesdays.
• In Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, Gladion travels to Kanto and Johto to train.
• In Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, a Gentleman in the Akala Ferry Terminal in Heahea City mentions Kurt and the rare GS Ball, claiming that its name stands either for the "greatest smith's ball" or "Gold-Silver Ball".
• In Detective Pikachu, Mewtwo is mentioned to possess the Berserk Gene, which was also a Generation II-exclusive item heavily related to Mewtwo. It is used to make a drug called "R", which temporarily boosts a Pokémon's power while also causing them to go berserk, referencing the Berserk Gene's effect of boosting a Pokémon's Attack upon consumption, while also confusing it.
• After Giovanni has been defeated at the Viridian Gym and he's left to train alone, Blue takes charge of the Gym himself, just like he had done in Generation II. In addition, when he's challenged for a rematch during the post-game, he mentions how he's planning to remodel the Gym, which he's seen to have done in Generation II.
• After being defeated in a rematch, Sabrina mentions how she won't be facing another challenger like the player for three years, referencing the three-year gap in-between the events of Kanto and Johto games and her future battle against the Johto player character.
• After being defeated in a rematch for the first time, Koga mentions how he has plans to join the Elite Four, which he's accomplished by the time of the Johto games. From the second rematch onward, he will also mention his daughter before the battle.

To Generation III

• Wally makes an appearance at the Battle Tree in Alola.
• A Scientist at Vast Poni Canyon mentions that his idol is Professor Birch.
• Lana jokes that Kyogre could be found in Brooklet Hill's waters.
• Anabel appears in the post-game as a member of the International Police and Looker's superior. She is mentioned to have "protected some tower" in the Hoenn region and having been a powerful Trainer, referring to her status as the Frontier Brain of Hoenn's Battle Tower in Pokémon Emerald. She can also be found at the Battle Tree.
• When examining the shelves in Thrifty Megamart on Royal Avenue, the player is informed that the shop has a sale on shipping-damaged Lava Cookies.
• A Lava Cookie is given to the player in Pokémon Center Cafés when buying a drink for the first time on Saturdays.
• While describing Hypno, Ilima mentions how "the Pokédex from a distant land says that the arching movement and glitter of its pendulum lulls its foes into a deep state of hypnosis", referencing Hypno's Pokédex entry from Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire.
• The woman selling fossils in Olivia's jewelry shop in Konikoni City mentions that Olivia brought the Root and Claw Fossils to Alola from the Hoenn region.
• In Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, the man in the Ula'ula Ferry Terminal in Malie City who gives the player a Nugget says that he dug up lots of Nuggets on the Sevii Islands. This heavily suggests that this man is the same one who can be found mining for gold at Three Isle Path in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, further supported by their similar dialogue.
• Maxie and Archie, in their Generation III designs, appear as members of Team Rainbow Rocket, using Groudon and Kyogre, respectively, to battle the player.
• The Bike Maniac's Bicycle collection in Cerulean City includes Acro and Mach Bikes.
• On Route 19, Swimmer David mentions "a move in another region that lets you dive underneath the water", likely referring to Hoenn (where Dive was first introduced) and its underwater areas.

To Generation IV

• Cynthia makes an appearance at the Battle Tree in Alola.
• A Sightseer in the Pokémon Center on Route 8 questions who would win in a matchup between the Masked Royal and Crasher Wake.
• In order to research how the Ultra Beasts emerge from portals, the Pokémon Giratina, Palkia, and Bronzong are noted at the Dimensional Research Lab.
• When examining the shelves and fridges in Thrifty Megamart on Royal Avenue, the player is informed that the shop has a sale on Mt. Coronet Fresh Water, as well as on Sinnohan Poffin Assortments.
• The laboratory in Aether Paradise contains files about the development of Type: Null. According to the one of them, materials for the development were collected from Canalave Library.
• Looker appears in the post-game as Anabel's subordinate.
• An Old Gateau is given to the player in Pokémon Center Cafés when buying a drink for the first time on Thursdays.
• The woman selling fossils in Olivia's jewelry shop in Konikoni City mentions that Olivia brought the Skull and Armor Fossils to Alola from the Sinnoh region.
• The designs for the male and female Pokémon Breeders greatly resemble those of the Sinnohan Ranchers and Cowgirls, respectively.
• In Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, the player can find a bottle message at Ula'ula Beach, which they can deliver to Rising Star Kainoa at the Malie City Outer Cape. He will tell the player that the message is from a friend of his named Arabella, who works as a Gym Trainer in Kanto. This is a reference to Ace Trainer Arabella, who can be battled at the Viridian Gym in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver.
• Cyrus appears as a member of Team Rainbow Rocket, using either Dialga^US or Palkia^UM to battle the player.
• Archer appears as a member of Team Rocket. During the post-game, he mentions his plans to leave Kanto and one day bring back Team Rocket, referencing his role as the leading Executive of Team Rocket in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver.

To Generation V

• Professor Burnet makes her core series debut in Pokémon Sun and Moon, working at the Dimensional Research Lab in Heahea City, and being married to Professor Kukui. She also gives the player the Reveal Glass, referencing her origin game.
• An Aether Foundation Employee mentions that she once worked in Driftveil City, helping Pokémon that got separated from their Trainers, most likely due to the actions of Team Plasma.
• Colress makes an appearance on Route 8, and talks about his wish to bring about the full potential in Pokémon. After the player has become Champion, he'll reappear and give the player Genesect's Drives. He also makes an appearance at the Battle Tree. In Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, he can also be seen at the Tide Song Hotel in Heahea City, thinking about the Trainer he once met.
• Grimsley can be found on Route 16, and registers Sharpedo on the player's Poké Ride. He can also be found in the Battle Tree.
• A Casteliacone is given to the player in Pokémon Center Cafés when buying a drink for the first time on Wednesdays. A Sweet Heart can be received on Sundays under the same conditions.
• The woman selling fossils in Olivia's jewelry shop in Konikoni City mentions that Olivia brought the Cover and Plume Fossils to Alola from the Unova region.
• Ghetsis appears as a member of Team Rainbow Rocket, using either Zekrom^US or Reshiram^UM to battle the player.

To Generation VI

• Dexio and Sina, Professor Sycamore's assistants from Pokémon X and Y, appear in Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon, telling the player about Zygarde and its Cells and giving the player a Zygarde Cube, which is stated to have been discovered by Professor Sycamore. They later appear on Poni Island and inform the player about Mega Evolution, giving the player a Key Stone and an Alakazite. They also make an appearance at the Battle Tree.
• When encountered for the first time on Route 8, Colress wonders out loud if the Z-Ring's power can surpass that of the Mega Ring.
• A man on the first floor of the Dimensional Research Lab in Heahea City mentions having heard about "some rare Pokémon that can use rings to teleport itself through space", obviously describing Hoopa.
• A Collector on Route 11 says that there is a Pokémon in the Kalos region with bamboo leaves in its mouth, referring to Pancham and Pangoro.
• A poster within the Geothermal Power Plant on Blush Mountain talks about the Kalos Power Plant. It mentions that it draws its energy from space with microwaves and send back to the planet's surface. The people in Kalos work with Porygon in space.
• In Sun and Moon, Samson Oak mentions that the Rotom Pokédex was built with the help of a "young fellow" from Kalos. This could be a reference to Clemont, given his reputation as a genius inventor.
• After becoming the Champion, Swimmer Girls Kylie and Ashlyn on Poni Breaker Coast will tell the player that they come from the Kalos region. They also talk about Trainer PR Videos and about being known in Kalos for their skills in HM-making.
• A Lumiose Galette is given to the player in Pokémon Center Cafés when buying a drink for the first time on Mondays. A Shalour Sable can be received on Fridays under the same conditions.
• In Hau'oli City, Ilima's mother gives the player a Lumiose Galette and explains that it's his favorite food from the Kalos region, where he went to study abroad.
• There is a Sushi High Roller in Malie City. A Sightseer who is dining there says that he once visited the branch in Kalos.
• During Acerola's trial at the Thrifty Megamart, a picture of Pikachu Pop Star can be seen amongst the many Pikachu pictures in Totem Mimikyu's room.
• In Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, a Team Skull Grunt in Po Town says he's from the Kalos region.
• The bottom floor of Resolution Cave has a practically identical layout to Zygarde's chamber in Kalos's Terminus Cave. In Sun and Moon, a Zygarde Cell is found in the center of the chamber, while in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, a 50% Forme Zygarde is there instead, like it was in Terminus Cave in X and Y.
• After becoming Champion, a mysterious man appears in Haina Desert, apparently suffering from amnesia. If the player shows him a Solrock^SUS/Lunatone^MUM, he will regain his memories and mention that he first encountered the Pokémon shown to him 30 years earlier, and that the "star pulses" it bestowed upon him have been passed down to "a group of wonderful men". This is likely a reference to the old guys and the O-Powers they give to the player in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire.
• The woman selling fossils in Olivia's jewelry shop in Konikoni City mentions that Olivia brought the Jaw and Sail Fossils to Alola from the Kalos region.
• In Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, a boy in the Akala Ferry Terminal in Heahea City mentions the factory in Kalos that makes Poké Balls.
• Lysandre appears as a member of Team Rainbow Rocket, using either Xerneas^US or Yveltal^UM to battle the player. He also mentions the ultimate weapon, forcing the player character to make a similar choice between two buttons as he did for the Kalosian player character in X and Y.
• When the player enters the S.S. Anne, Blue gives them a Shalour Sable.

Related articles

• List of cross-canon references