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Pokémon Sun and Moon

Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon are a pair of role-playing video games developed by Game Freak and published by The Pokémon Company for the Nintendo 3DS.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

Pokémon Sun and Moon are a pair of role-playing games for the Nintendo 3DS, released in 2016 as the first mainline entries of Generation VII. They take place in the tropical Alola region and introduced new mechanics like Z-Moves and Alolan forms.

What it is

Developed by Game Freak and published by The Pokémon Company, Pokémon Sun and Moon are the seventh generation of the main Pokémon series. The games are set in the Alola region, an archipelago inspired by Hawaii, and feature a distinct tropical culture and ecology. They launched in November 2016, with North America, Japan, and Australia receiving the games on November 18, and Europe on November 23.

Key details

The games introduced several new features: Z-Moves (powerful one-time attacks), Alolan forms (regional variants of older Pokémon), and Ultra Beasts (mysterious creatures). Pokémon Moon uses a 12-hour time shift relative to real time, while Pokémon Sun follows the system clock. Different version-exclusive Pokémon and content encourage trading between the two versions.

Why it matters

Pokémon Sun and Moon marked the 20th anniversary of the franchise and refreshed the series with a new setting and mechanics. They were widely popular in Canada and globally on the Nintendo 3DS, continuing the franchise's tradition of paired releases that reward player interaction.

In short

  • First mainline games of Generation VII, set in the Alola region.
  • Introduced Z-Moves, Alolan forms, and Ultra Beasts.
  • Pokémon Moon has a 12-hour time shift; Sun follows the system clock.
  • Released in November 2016 for Nintendo 3DS.
Canadian angle

Pokémon Sun and Moon were released in Canada on Nintendo 3DS and were part of the globally distributed mainline Pokémon series that remained popular with Canadian players.

Quick questions

What are Pokémon Sun and Moon?
They are paired role-playing video games in the Pokémon series, released for Nintendo 3DS and set in the Alola region.
How are Sun and Moon different?
Pokémon Moon has a 12-hour time shift relative to real time, while Pokémon Sun follows the system clock. They also include different version-exclusive Pokémon and content.
What new features did they add?
Major additions included Z-Moves, Alolan forms, Ultra Beasts, and revised battle and training mechanics.

Sources

  1. Pokémon Wiki (Fandom) — https://pokemon.fandom.com/wiki/Pok%C3%A9mon_Sun_and_Pok%C3%A9mon_Moon
    Supports: Identifies Sun and Moon as the first pair of Generation VII games.
  2. Pokémon Database — https://www.pokemondb.net/sun-moon
    Supports: States platform, release dates, and director information.
  3. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pok%C3%A9mon_Sun_and_Moon
    Supports: Summarizes setting, gameplay features, and Generation VII status.
  4. Fun Kids Live — https://www.funkidslive.com/new/everything-need-know-pokemon-sun-pokemon-moon/
    Supports: Describes the Alola setting, version time difference, and version-specific differences.
  5. Nintendo — https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/News/2016/October/Learn-all-about-Pokemon-Sun-and-Pokemon-Moon-in-our-in-depth-interview-1149779.html
    Supports: Confirms Nintendo 3DS family system release context.