PokeGround guide

Getting started

PokeGround is a free browser-based Pokémon fan game, no download needed. You can create an account (your save lives in the cloud and works on any device) or play as a guest (not saved). Pick your trainer and starter Pokémon and wake up in your bedroom in Pallet Town.

It is an open-world online game: you see other players on the map, chat with them and challenge them, and time of day, weather and season are real.

Controls (PC, mobile and gamepad)

On mobile, tap ⚙️ to move every button wherever suits you. A gamepad also works in supporting browsers.

Real-time battles and PvP

There are no turns here: battles are real-time, right on the map. Every move costs ⚡ energy and has a cooldown; the bar refills on its own. Coloured marks on the ground warn where the enemy hit will land: dodge just before it connects (dodging also costs energy).

Type matchups matter (water beats fire, grass beats water, electric beats flying). Weaken a wild Pokémon before throwing the Poké Ball and switch if the type is against you. You can also challenge other players in PvP and climb the ranking.

Kanto: cities and badges

Travel Kanto from Pallet Town to the Indigo Plateau. Each city has a Pokémon Center (heals your whole team for free, talk to Nurse Chansey), a shop (Meowth sells; high local fame can earn a discount) and, in several, a gym.

To earn each badge you must first beat the local gangs; their level and size grow with your badges. With all 8 you can take on the Pokémon League (Elite Four and Champion). Your quest journal (J) shows the next goal and a golden arrow guides you.

Hoenn step by step

Hoenn is the game's second region. On your first arrival you wake up in your bedroom in Littleroot Town; your mother gives you Poké Balls and Potions and your story begins. Gangs on the first routes are mild; stronger ones appear later.

1. Explore Littleroot and Routes 101–103 to catch your first Pokémon.
2. Head to Rustboro City and beat the gangs its gym asks for.
3. Follow the quest journal (J) to Mossdeep City and beyond.

Gangs and hordes

Gangs are groups of wild Pokémon roaming the routes near every gym city. Before challenging the leader you must beat the gangs in their area (one for the first gym, two for the second, more later): a counter appears at the top, e.g. "Gangs Pewter City 0/1", and a golden arrow guides you to the next one. Several Pokémon fight you at once, and their level and size grow with your badges.

A defeated gang stays put on the map: it no longer attacks and only fights again if you talk to it (rematch). Tall grass can also spawn wild hordes: they start at 2 Pokémon and reach 3–5 once you hold all 8 badges.

Team Rocket raids and events

From time to time a Team Rocket horde invades a city: its grunts (with the R on their chest) and their Pokémon appear in the streets and all players must defeat them together before the timer runs out. An on-screen badge shows the zone, how many you have beaten and the time left; the loot arrives in your mailbox.

There are also themed raids with rewards by phase (at 3, 6, 10, 15, 20, 30 and 40 defeated): Ghost Invasion, Bat Plague and Cursed Harvest. The in-game calendar shows when the next one starts. In the story, Team Rocket holds Pokémon Tower, the Rocket Hideout (under the Celadon Game Corner) and Silph Co., with their bosses and rematches.

Fame, weather, time and real seasons

The world follows the real clock: at night the map darkens, windows light up and Fire or Electric Pokémon glow. The season and the weather are real too and change battles: in sun, Fire +30% and Water −25%; in rain, Water +30% and Fire −30%; there are also storms, fog, snow, blizzards and sandstorms, each with its favourites.

Every zone remembers your fame: it grows as you defeat Pokémon there. With high fame wild Pokémon flee more often, shops give you discounts and Pokémon change what they say depending on time, weather and your reputation.

PvP challenges, ranking and seasons

You can challenge other players from the Arena and fight in real time. Every win or loss moves your Elo, and there are several world rankings: PvP, Pokémon Masters and Shiny Hunters, with rewards. The game runs in seasons: when one ends, prizes are handed out and Elo is softly reset.

Chat, Pokémon links and market

The chat connects every player in the world. The 📎 button links one of your Pokémon: whoever taps it sees its summary. There is also a player market to list and sell, and a mailbox where your payments, prizes and loot arrive.

Daily quests and calendar

Every day brings a daily reward and daily quests that refresh at a fixed time. The in-game calendar shows when they refresh, when the next Rocket raid starts and how long until the season ends. Your quest journal (J) tracks the main goal step by step.

Breeding, egg groups and shiny

Each Pokémon belongs to one or two of the 15 egg groups (Monster, Water 1, Bug, Flying, Field, Fairy, Grass, Human-Like, Water 3, Mineral, Amorphous, Water 2, Ditto, Dragon and Undiscovered). Two Pokémon are compatible if they share a group and have opposite genders (Ditto breeds with almost anything). Undiscovered-group Pokémon cannot breed.

When choosing your starter you will see a different terrain background per egg group. Shiny Pokémon exist in both Kanto and Hoenn: keep catching!

Useful tips

• Pokémon Centers heal for free; the PC lets you swap your team.
• HMs (Cut, Fly, Surf, Strength, Flash) are reusable; TMs are consumed.
• Low ledges are jumped by moving down, one way only.
• Hidden items sparkle as you approach; wild Pokémon may carry items.
• At night windows light up and Fire/Electric Pokémon glow.
• Friendship (0–255) grows as you walk and level up; some Pokémon only evolve with high friendship.
• Talk to everyone: dialogue changes with time, weather and your fame.