Pokémon fans rejoice, for 2016 is bringing us yet another gift!

As part of their 20^th anniversary, The Pokémon Company has already released monthly event legendary Pokémon, new merchandise and the augmented reality game Pokémon GO, which has reached globally viral popularity and spawned oh so many internet memes. They have also announced Generation VI of Pokémon. Pokémon Sun and Moon will bring an incredible new region and storyline to the Pokémon franchise. Here’s what we know about the games so far:

Explore a new region and meet new characters!

Pokémon Sun and Moon is set in the Alola region, based on real-life Hawaii. The region is broken up into four natural islands, each with their own guardian protector, and an artificial island, each separated by a stretch of ocean.

You play as a teenager who has just moved to Melemele Island where you’re given your first starter Pokémon from Hala, the island’s strongest trainer. You also meet Hau, the son of the island’s kahuna, who apparently LOVES malasada (donuts) and can’t seem to shut up about them; guess who your rival is. You’ll also meet the local expert (with the constantly open shirt) Professor Kukui who is apparently studying Pokémon moves and his mysterious assistant Lillie, a pale blonde lady in an elegant white sun dress and hat combo. Lillie carries a bag that seems to have something mysterious living in it.

Plenty of new Pokémon for you to catch!

_{They’re so cute! I WANT THEM ALL!}

The Alola region is home to both old and new Pokémon for you to catch, train, trade and feed little cakes to. You start out with one of the three starters, as usual, here are your picks this time around:

• Rowlett – The Grass/Flying-type Grass Quill Pokémon, this tiny owl can spin its head 180 degrees to look back at its trainer, like that scene from The Exorcist only less creepy. Rowlett knows the new move Leafage as soon as you get it.
• Litten – The Fire-type Fire Cat Pokémon, say hello to this kitty who can shed its fur in a blaze of fire and uses its hairballs as fuel for fiery attacks (I’d hate to see the litterbox). Litten knows Ember from the start of the game.
• Popplio – The Water-type Sea Lion Pokémon, arguably the most adorable one of the three, -Popplio can shoot water balloons from its nose and pulls off a cute triumphant pose during battle, it’s also great for kids parties. Popplio knows Water Gun from the beginning and can learn Disarming Voice when levelled up.

Then there are the Alola region’s legendary Pokémon:

• If you’re playing Pokémon Sun, you meet the Sunne Pokémon Solgaleo, a lion known as “the beast who devoured the sun.” Solgaleo ignores stat changes with its ability Full Metal Body and can harness the sun’s power for its signature attack, Sunsteel Strike!
• If, like me, you’re playing Pokémon Moon, we’ll be meeting the Moone Pokémon Lunala, a bat, known as “the beast that calls the moon”. Lunala takes less damage when at full health thanks to its ability Shadow Shield, and absorbs light then converts it into energy, allowing it to use its signature attack, Moongeist Beam!
• The first Pokémon introduced from Generation VI: the Steel/Fairy-type Artificial Pokémon, Magearna. This adorable robotic bunny-looking Pokémon is the focus of the upcoming movie “Volcanion and the Ingenious Magearna” and will be event-exclusive in Sun & Moon.
• The games also introduce the previously announced 10% and Complete formes of Zygarde from Pokémon X&Y, though it’s not known how they will be integrated into the game.

There are also some great new species in Sun and Moon such as Mimikyu, a ghost who wears a costume of old Pikachu merchandise so that it can be loved, the way we love Pikachu. There’s also Comfey, based on flower chains who spins like mad when it attacks.

_{There’s also Bruxish, the fish Pokémon out to steal your man with better lips than you’ll ever possibly have.}

New gameplay features to mix up how you play!

Pokémon Sun and Moon adds some neat features to make gameplay easier and more immersive foe both new and experienced players:

• The graphics have been improved and human characters now have more realistic proportions
• The grid system of movement in previous games has been removed so you now have free and total control of where your character walks and runs in the world.
• Whenever you approach a trainer, the screen will dim in a “!” shape to alert you that you’re about to enter a battle.
• The touch screen has also been redesigned for easier battling. You can now tap the Pokémon icons to display information about the Pokémon currently on the field, such as stat changes and typing.
• After you have already encountered a Pokémon, you will then be able to see how effective your moves are when selecting them in-battle.
• There’s a shortcut button to throw a poke ball in a wild battle, making the whole process faster.
• There’s now a Pokémon living in your pokedex! The Rotom pokedex allows you to see the Pokémon you’ve captured, a map of the local area and comes with a built-in QR scanner that allows trainers to share codes to register a Pokémon as ‘seen’ in the pokedex. QR codes are also used to distribute event Pokémon.
• The Pokédex now shows how many potential evolutions and pre-evolutions a newly-caught Pokémon has.
• There is also a new Battle Royal mode, a free-for-all battle mode for up to 4 players. Players face off against each other and the battle ends once someone loses their whole team. The winner is then decided by a point system, including how many Pokémon you have left and how many you’ve defeated.
• Players can also create their own custom tournaments and rules online over the Pokémon Global Link.
• Trainers who have a level 100 Pokémon can now use the new Hyper Training system to increase their Pokémon’s IVs and train their Pokémon even further.
• Several features are returning such as rideable Pokémon, character customisation, Pokémon-Amie and Pokémon bank compatibility

Pokémon Sun and Moon will release simultaneously worldwide on November 18^th, 2016 in both standard and collector’s editions. In the meantime, get out there with your phone and catch some Pokémon in your town and city with Pokémon GO!