The Nuzlocke Challenge

About

The Nuzlocke Challenge is an optional video game challenge performed while playing the Pokémon series of video games in which the player must permanently release a Pokémon when it faints, thus declaring it "dead," and must also catch the first Pokémon they encounter in each area. The challenge was started in late 2010, peaking in popularity in 2012.

Origin

During the winter of 2010, webcomic creator Nick Franco,^[1] known as "Nuzlocke," created and posted the first of a comic series titled "Pokémon: Hard-Mode" to 4chan's /v/ board, in which he illustrates his current game of Pokémon: Ruby while following the rules of the "Nuzlocke Challenge," a method of playing Pokémon games that Nuzlocke invented himself that makes them more difficult (shown below).^[2] To follow the challenge, players must set their Pokémon free if they die, encouraging the player to level their Pokémon up and play more strategically, and gain a greater appreciation for each Pokémon. They must also catch the first Pokémon they encounter in every area and nothing else.

When he posted the comics on the /v/ board, it quickly became popular, mostly due to a drawing of "Nuzlocke," a Nuzleaf which was drawn with the likeness of John Locke from "LOST" (shown below).^[3]

The comic's original thread inspired others to take the Nuzlocke Challenge, changing the rules at times to suit their tastes. It wasn't long before people also started chronicling their own run-throughs of the challenge and sharing them online.

Spread

Since the original Nuzlocke Challenge comic was shared, other comic artists started sharing their playthroughs via webcomics as well (examples shown below, left and right).

In 2010, Nuzlocke created a website for him to share the rest of his comics of the Nuzlocke Challenge (examples shown below). This further encouraged other people to share their experiences with the challenge.

In 2010, Nuzlocke Forums opened for players to share their playthroughs.^[4] Nuzlocke Challenge playthroughs can also be found on YouTube, with the practice remaining popular over a decade after starting. For example, on November 10th, 2019, YouTuber^[5] Jaiden Animations started a series where they animate their Nuzlocke playthrough, garnering over 55 million views in a year (shown below).

On January 17th, 2011, Know Your Meme interviewed the creator of the Nuzlocke Challenge.

Rules and Variations

Many variations of the original challenge have been made, but the first two rules must be intact in order for it to count as a Nuzlocke run. While not an official rule, it is agreed that all caught Pokémon must be nicknamed in order to "grow a stronger bond with them."

Rule variations include: Adjusting the first encounter rule to ban duplicate captures, considering a blackout/whiteout to be "game over," banning the use of potions and healing items, banning the use of Pokémon Centers, limiting Pokémon Center visits to a certain number per town, etc. The flowchart below provides a good example of a few of the variations on the challenge.

Various Examples

Search Interest

External References