Coming this summer, Pokémon Sleep is a promising fusion of dreamland and gameplay. This groundbreaking smartphone app from The Pokémon Company transforms sleeping into an interactive gaming experience. By placing your smartphone by your pillow as you drift off to dreamland, the app tracks your sleep patterns and intertwines them with gameplay. This innovative game promises to redefine the concept of a good night’s rest.
An island of slumbering Pokémon awaits players, where they’ll engage in intriguing research on Pokémon sleep styles along a professor with a keen interest in these snoozing creatures, Neroli. The cornerstone of this research? None other than the sleep enthusiast Snorlax. Nurturing your Snorlax is integral to the game; the more you sleep, the bigger your Snorlax grows, and the higher your sleep score. This symbiosis between human and Pokémon sleep patterns shapes the flow of the game.
“Sleep styles” form a core part of the gaming experience. Based on your sleep data, the app categorizes your sleep into one of three styles: dozing, snoozing, or slumbering. Each morning, Pokémon that sleep in similar ways will gather around your Snorlax. This mechanic introduces a unique element of variety, as you might wake up to find rare Pokémon sleeping in the styles seldom seen. The ultimate aim? Filling out your Sleep Style Dex with a variety of Pokémon sleep styles.
The Pokémon Go Plus+ device, set to be released on July 14, offers an enhancement to the Pokémon Sleep experience. This device uses Bluetooth Low Energy technology to connect with Pokémon Sleep and track your sleeping habits with ease. It’ll also use Pikachu’s familiar voice to punctuate the start and end of your sleep with adorable prompts.
Pokémon Sleep’s heart lies in its concept of “drowsy power.” This mechanic is influenced by your sleep score and Snorlax’s strength stat, calculated based on the amount of sleep you get. The higher the “drowsy power,” the more Pokémon appear in your game. Hence, achieving a deep slumber becomes a strategic move to boost gameplay.
The additional features of Pokémon Sleep also include data collection such as sleep and wake times, including the option to record sleep noises. These functionalities add a quirky yet informative edge to the app, letting you keep an eye on your sleep habits. The Pokémon that appear in your game could change based on your sleep style, adding an element of surprise to each sunrise.
The Pokémon Company is promoting healthy habits through gaming, as seen in the walking-focused, Pokémon Go, and in the dental hygiene app, Pokémon Smile. Pokémon Sleep is the latest addition to their wellness-oriented portfolio, aiming to ensure players get their recommended eight hours of sleep in the most entertaining way possible.
The game, set to launch worldwide later this year, promises a refreshing twist on the standard Pokémon game, with sleep at its epicenter.
Ready for some quality shuteye, Pokémon style? Pre-registration for the Android version of Pokémon Sleep is open through the Google Play Store. An iOS version is also expected, though a release date is yet to be confirmed.
Despite its age, the franchise centered on cute and cuddly creatures remain just as strong as ever, with a solid lineup of upcoming projects headlined by the two-part expansion for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. But, while all eyes are fixated on the incoming DLC, leakers believe that the next mainline installment is a sequel to the 2022 title, presumed to be the last entry for the Nintendo Switch before the release of its successor.
