A sprite of the male player's clock in Pokémon Ruby Version and Pokémon Sapphire Version
Time is a mechanic introduced in Pokémon Pikachu before debuting in the core series in Pokémon Gold Version and Pokémon Silver Version.
Description[]
Time works in the Pokémon franchise a lot like in real life, affecting the lighting outside the Pokémon World and having days divided in the same types of phases as in real life.
As a game mechanic, time utilizes an internal clock either within the game or, for later consoles, within the system itself. The flow of time in the Pokémon games has been programmed to flow identically to real life. The role of time specific to Pokémon media includes wild Pokémon encounters, certain events, the growth of Berries, and even the evolution of some Pokémon.
Appearances[]
Core series[]
Generation II[]
The player in New Bark Town at night in Pokémon Crystal Version
In Pokémon Gold Version and Pokémon Silver Version and Pokémon Crystal Version, time is separated into three parts of a day: morning, which runs from 4:00 AM to 9:59 AM; day, which runs from 10:00 AM to 5:59 PM; and nite, which runs from 6:00 PM to 3:59 AM. Furthermore, the game also has days of the week. The player can check the current time from the Time function on their PokéGear. The morning depicts the map with a yellowish tint, while the nite depicts a darkened map with light and dark purple tints, in addition to the buildings having illuminated doors and windows.
Non-playable characters can be found outside the most often during the day. Certain wild Pokémon like Hoothoot can be encountered only during the night. Eevee can only evolve into Espeon during the day and into Umbreon during the night.
In the Virtual Console ports, the time in the games is defined separately from the Nintendo 3DS internal clock while still flowing at the same role. As such, if the player changes the time on their system, this does not affect it in the Virtual Console ports.
Generation III[]
In Pokémon Ruby Version and Pokémon Sapphire Version and Pokémon Emerald Version, the player can set the time on their clock just after moving into their bedroom. Unlike the previous generation, time has little function in the game, the overworld lighting is unaffected, and morning is not a recognized time of day. The Like before, Eevee evolves into either Espeon or Umbreon during the day or night, respectively. The largest role of time is its effect on the growth of Berries.
Like the original Generation I games, Pokémon FireRed Version and Pokémon LeafGreen Version has no time function implemented.
Generation IV[]
The player in Jubilife City during the night in Pokémon Diamond Version and Pokémon Pearl Version
Pokémon Diamond Version and Pokémon Pearl Version, followed by Pokémon Platinum Version, are the first games in the core series where the flow of time matches the system's internal clock, with the Nintendo DS being the first Nintendo handheld to have this function. Time has a larger role and reinstates many of the functions from Generation II, namely the overworld lighting and wild Pokémon encounters. The morning occurs from 4:00 AM to 9:59 AM, like in the Generation II games. The day goes slightly longer, from 10:00 AM to 7:59 PM, making the night flow slightly shorter, from 8:00 PM to 3:59 AM. The player can refer to the time on the Digital Watch or the unlockable Analog Watch application on their Pokétch. Some of the music themed are altered slightly during the night.
Time in Pokémon HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version works similarly to the original Generation II. Additionally, the consideration of time is essential when scheduling a rematch against a Gym Leader, in addition to their availability only during certain days of the week.
Generation V[]
In Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version and Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2, the player can look at the current time at the top left of the Touch Screen during a battle or from their C-Gear, once they have received it. Uniquely, time now works in conjunction with the seasons, which affect the length of the morning, day, evening, and night; for instance, the longest days are in summer, while the longest nights are the longest in winter, like in real life. The lengths of each portion of the day between seasons are:
| Season | Morning | Day | Evening | Night |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 05:00-09:59 | 10:00-16:59 | 17:00-19:59 | 20:00-04:59 |
| Summer | 04:00-08:59 | 09:00-18:59 | 19:00-20:59 | 21:00-03:59 |
| Autumn | 05:00-09:59 | 10:00-16:59 | 17:00-19:59 | 20:00-04:59 |
| Winter | 07:00-10:59 | 11:00-15:59 | 16:00-18:59 | 19:00-06:59 |
Generation VI[]
The mechanic of affecting the time based on seasons was dropped in the Generation VI games. The time is based solely on the internal clock of the system instead, like the Generation IV games.
| Time of day | Duration | Lighting |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | 4:00 A.M.-10:59 A.M. | Only a little bit of light |
| Day | 11:00 A.M.-5:59 P.M. | Entirely bright |
| Evening | 6:00 P.M.-8:59 P.M. | Reddish hue |
| Night | 9:00 P.M.-3:59 A.M. | Completely dark, though buildings have their lights on |
Generation VII[]
A Zygarde Cube appears at Paniola Ranch during the day only in Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon
Time in Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon and Pokémon Ultra Sun and Pokémon Ultra Moon flows according to the system's internal clock, like the previous generations. The morning and evening were replaced by a one-hour sunrise and a one-hour sunset, respectively, but a major difference with time flow occurs in Pokémon Moon and Pokémon Ultra Moon, where sunrise occurs at 5:00-5:59 P.M. while sunset occurs at 5:00 A.M.-5:59 A.M. in the morning. Meanwhile, the day spans from 6:00 P.M. to 4:59 A.M. and the night from 6:00 A.M. to 4:59 P.M. The times are the same for Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Ultra Sun, but with A.M. and P.M. switched.
After completing the main story, it is possible to enter a parallel world where the times of day occur in the same manner as the other paired games. To do this in Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Ultra Sun, the player has to enter the Ultra Wormhole with Solgaleo or Necrozma (Dusk Mane) on the Altar of the Sunne between 6:00 P.M. and 5:59 A.M. Meanwhile, in Pokémon Moon and Pokémon Ultra Moon, the same procedure is accomplished with Lunala or Necrozma (Dawn Wings) on the Altar of the Moone between 6:00 A.M. and 5:59 P.M. instead.
When the player enters the parallel world, a new day/night is generated, always beginning at 6:00 A.M. in Pokémon Sun and or 6:00 P.M. in Pokémon Moon and Pokémon Ultra Moon, regardless of the time on the internal clock. The player can exit the parallel world at any point, even without the aforementioned Pokémon in their party.
Some Zygarde Cubes appear during the day only, such at the one at Paniola Ranch, and others at night only, such as the one in Iki Town.
Time is not a mechanic used in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee!.
Generation VIII[]
Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield[]
In Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield, time only flows normally in the Wild Area at first, according to the internal clock. In other areas, time is predetermined depending on the player's progress in the story and does not flow identically to the Wild Area until the player has become the Pokémon Champion. Wild Pokémon encounters are not affected by the time.
A day starts with the morning from 06:00 to 09:59 A.M., followed by the afternoon from 10:00 A.M. to 6:59 P.M., then a one-hour evening from 7:00 to 7:59 P.M., and lastly the night from 8:00 P.M. to 5:59 A.M.
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl[]
The time in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl is designed to function mostly the same as in the original Generation IV games.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus[]
In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, time is no longer divided into phases back on the internal clock. Instead, time is measured by one minute in real life being one hour in-game, similarly to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. A month in the game is the equivalent to 16 days in real life. The time can change in certain occurrences, such as. The player can affect the time of day by resting either on their bed in Jubilife Village or at a base camp.
Besides time, the lunar cycle between new moon and full moon plays a role. One of the missions is dependent on the lunar cycle, as is the evolution of Ursaring into Ursaluna.
The duration of the different phases of the day in-game and the corresponding number of real minutes are listed below:
- Morning: 04:00–10:59 (7 minutes in real time)
- Day: 11:00–16:59 (6 minutes in real time)
- Evening: 17:00–19:59 (3 minutes in real time)
- Night: 20:00–03:59 (8 minutes in real time)
Generation IX[]
In Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet, the flow of time does not correspond to the internal clock, working more similar to Pokémon Legends: Arceus than Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield. During the tutorial, it is continuously day time until the player obtains Koraidon in Pokémon Scarlet or Miraidon in Pokémon Violet.
The time of day is essential, as some of the Pokémon can be encountered only during the day or night. The player cannot affect the time of day in any way.
The different phases of the day are measured by minutes. The in-game time has shorter mornings and evenings but longer nights than in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, but the length of each phase occurs for several more minutes except evenings, which are still three minutes long.
The duration of the different phases of the day in-game and the corresponding number of real minutes are listed below:
- Morning: 6:00-11:59 (18 minutes in real time)
- Day: 12:00-17:59 (18 minutes in real time)
- Evening: 18:00-18:59 (3 minutes in real time)
- Night: 19:00-5:59 (33 minutes in real time)
The auctioned items at the Porto Marinada Market changes with every in-game day, which is the equivalent of 72 real minutes (1 hour and 12 minutes). The player can also fight Team Star bosses in their respective bases once per day.
The system's internal clock does affect the Tera Raid Battles and mass outbreaks, which change when the clock reaches 12:00 A.M., the start of a new day.
Spinoffs[]
Pokémon Pikachu[]
In Pokémon Pikachu, time is measured by a clock, and the game also allows the player to set an alarm.
Pokémon Channel[]
In Pokémon Channel, the time matches what is set on the Nintendo GameCube internal clock. Time has an essential role during the plot, as some events require the player to wait until the next day. The Pokémon that appear in the outdoor areas also depend on the time of day, somewhat similarly to wild Pokémon in games of the core series with a time function.
Pokémon GO[]
In Pokémon GO, the flow of time corresponds to the time zone where the player is. Time affects the background and Pokémon encounters, similarly to the core series.
Pokémon Sleep[]
In Pokémon Sleep, time is uniquely measured by the meals of the day, with breakfast going from 4:00 AM to 11:59 AM, lunch from 12:00 PM to 5:59 PM, and dinner from 6:00 PM to 3:59 AM. The area where sleep research occurs has different lighting and background music between the morning, day, evening, and night.
External links[]
Further reading[]
- Time on the Zelda Wiki