Fansided

Fandom 250: Pokémon fans named best in the gaming category

By Josh Hill

Fans gather to watch the Pokemon Go virtual reality game mascot Pikachu parade during a promotional event at the Changi International airport terminal in Singapore on November 18, 2016.Hundreds of Pokemon fans gathered at Changi Airport's Terminal 3 on November 18 to watch the Pikachu parade and Gingerbread House display which are part of the airport's year-end events. / AFP / Roslan RAHMAN (Photo credit should read ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/Getty Images)
Fans gather to watch the Pokemon Go virtual reality game mascot Pikachu parade during a promotional event at the Changi International airport terminal in Singapore on November 18, 2016.Hundreds of Pokemon fans gathered at Changi Airport's Terminal 3 on November 18 to watch the Pikachu parade and Gingerbread House display which are part of the airport's year-end events. / AFP / Roslan RAHMAN (Photo credit should read ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/Getty Images) /
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Pokemon fans were ranked atop the gaming category in this year’s Fandom 250, the ultimate ranking of fanbases.

Every year, the Fandom 250 seeks to rank the best fanbases in the world. Not only does this include sports franchises, movies and television shows, but the individual actors and athletes.

Fandom 250: Full ranking of 250 fanbases

Why Pokemon?

The motto is “Gotta Catch ‘Em All”, and Pokemon fans have taken that to heart. Our editorial panel didn’t have to look far for examples of why this fandom deserved the top spot in the gaming category this year.

Last summer was the boom of Pokemon Go, but as mainstream buzz for the game tapered off the passion that fans had raged on. The fandom of Pokemon was literally on the go this past year, meeting up in real life (!!!) to hunt together. No other gaming fan base does that, as most are confined to staying inside and virtually fighting alongside one another.

Beyond the mobile game, Pokemon released console games as well with rave success. Pokemon Ultra Moon was released and sold over one million copies in three days, showing that there’s still a hunger for the game among fans.

Not all Pokemon fans are hardcore gamers. Some have assimilated their love of the franchise into their everyday lives. Pikachu backpacks are still a regular site, and you at least once a day see some sort of symbol that comes from the game. Around the holiday season, fans will incorporate Pokemon into their holiday decoration — a true sign that this fandom is a year-round passion.

All of the gaming fandoms that made the list this year are worthy of a spot. But there’s a reason our editorial panel settled on Pokemon as the best fandom in both the virtual world and our own.

Full Gaming Category:

  1. Pokemon
  2. The Legend of Zelda
  3. eSports
  4. Nintendo
  5. FIFA
  6. Call of Duty
  7. League of Legends
  8. Madden
  9. Rocket League

To see where these 9 gaming fandoms rank amongst the other fandoms on the list, check out the full Fandom 250 list.

What is the FanSided Fandom 250?

The Fandom 250 is the ultimate ranking of fandoms. From sports teams and movie franchises to Instagram celebrities and brands, if something has an avid, sometimes rabid, fanbase, FanSided wants to honor those fans and — in the spirit of healthy competition — rank ‘em.

The Fandom 250 is divided into 16 categories: NBA, MLB, NFL, NHL, Soccer, NCAA, Sports Figures, Celebrities, Music, Movies, TV Shows, Comics, Gaming, Brands, Internet Famous and Other. All 250 qualifying fandoms will be ranked both within their categories and against the field, so fans can see how the object of their devotion stacks up against its peers and in the fan landscape at large.