Can you play Pokemon in Minecraft? It might seem like a random question, but the answer is a resounding yes. Thanks to the wonder of modding, there are multiple ways to catch 'em all inside Minecraft, whether you just want to turn Minecraft mobs into Pokemon or change the entire world into a fully-realized first-person Pokemon game including berries, pokeballs, and gym battles.
Pixelmon is one of the most well-known Minecraft mods thanks to its incorporation of Pokemon into the sandbox game, but there are now multiple downloads that allow you to build and battle your own team of monsters, be it on your own or on a Pokemon-themed Minecraft server. Here's everything you need to know about the best of them, and how to add Pokemon to Minecraft.
How to play Pokemon in Minecraft
You can't play Pokemon in Minecraft without first installing one of the incredible mods that make it possible. We list the two best Minecraft mods below, Pixelmon and Cobblemon, and discuss what makes them different. In short, Pixelmon is more true to Pokemon, while Cobblemon remains more faithful to Minecraft. Your choice, then, may depend on which style and gameplay you prefer.
Both mods incorporate battling, breeding, and catching Pokemon, so you might even want to try both out to see which you prefer, especially since both can be downloaded and installed for free.
Pixelmon
The Pixelmon mod truly brings the essence of Pokemon gameplay into a pixelated Minecraft world, and is almost a truer crossover, of sorts. With more faithful Pokemon sprites appearing throughout the world, this mod can look a little disjointed, but if you're looking for a Pokemon PC game, this could be what you're after.
As you explore the world around you, you can battle wild Pokemon, pick berries from trees, and craft Pokeballs. You might also encounter familiar items, such as Focus Bands, TMs, and held items. Pokemarts can also be discovered throughout the world, as can Gyms.
Cobblemon
While Pixelmon brings more realistic Pokemon sprites to your Minecraft world, Cobblemon instead makes Pokemon look a little more like they belong in Minecraft. As you can see from the image above, Cobblemon's sprites are much more suited to their surroundings, but they don't look as close to the original.
Alongside the graphics being more inline with the Minecraft experience, the actual gameplay feels more like Minecraft with Pokemon, rather than the other way round. Minecraft fishing mechanics are utilized, and items specific to the crafting game, such as smithing templates, are integrated into Pokemon gameplay with the ability to combine them with Pokeballs. Minecraft structures and landscapes more seamlessly blend with Pokemon content, while some Minecraft mobs still exist.
What's more, Cobblemon allows you to bring your very own Pokemon designs to life by uploading them into the system and turning them into an in-game model. Check out the mod's official website for the guide on how to do it.
Minecraft Pokemon servers
Both Pixelmon and Cobblemon have multiple open Minecraft servers you can join, allowing you to play Pokemon with others players around the world. Since anyone can host their own Minecraft server with these modpacks installed, there are a few to choose from, so look at the details carefully before joining. While there is no official Cobblemon server, the team behind the mod has verified a list of safe servers here, while a Pizelmon forum thread shares loads of great Pixelmon dedicated servers to try. Alternatively, you could launch your own private server for you and your friends using our guide to Minecraft hosting.
So there you have it, it's pretty simple to bring hundreds of Pokemon into your Minecraft world - no ultra wormholes required. When you start your own Pokemon world, make sure you're using the best Minecraft seeds. Plus, take a look at some of our favorite Minecraft houses and other build ideas for inspiration on what to create in your new world.