- Pand Land is an original IP and a “maritime adventure RPG”
- Game Freak used WonderPlanet’s mobile expertise to create its first mobile-exclusive game
Pokémon developer Game Freak has introduced a new mobile-exclusive game in Japan called Pand Land, which is a “maritime adventure RPG”.
This marks a departure for Game Freak from its well-known Pokémon franchise and serves as the studio’s inaugural mobile-exclusive project. In Pand Land, players team up with up to 400 friends to explore the seas and hunt for treasure.
Game Freak, primarily known for creating main series Pokémon games for Nintendo consoles, typically releases independent projects on PC or console platforms rather than mobile. Therefore, Pand Land represents a new frontier for the studio.
A Console-like Experience on Mobile
Until now, Game Freak’s mobile presence has been through cross-platform titles like Pokémon Quest, Pocket Card Jockey, and Pocket Card Jockey: Ride On!
Transitioning from console to mobile gaming, Game Freak designed Pand Land to offer a console-like experience in a one-handed, easy-to-play format suitable for mobile gamers.
Released on both Android and iOS on June 24th, Pand Land was co-developed and published in collaboration with WonderPlanet, a renowned Japanese studio behind popular titles like Jumputi Heroes, Sonic Beat feat. Crash Fever, and the puzzle RPG Alice Fiction.
By partnering with WonderPlanet, Game Freak leveraged the latter’s mobile expertise to create a game tailored for casual mobile players while retaining the depth and quality expected from the experienced Pokémon developer.
However, this collaboration did pose some challenges between the development teams…
Game Freak developer representative Masashi Saito remarked, “This is a rare mobile title for Game Freak. We have worked tirelessly to create a grand adventure similar to a console game, yet accessible and simple enough to be held in one hand. With WonderPlanet’s support, known for their success in mobile games, we proudly unveil this project.”
WonderPlanet Chief Product Officer Masaaki Sumi added, “When I first learned about the Pand Land project from Game Freak’s Saito-san a few years ago, I was excited. It echoed WonderPlanet’s mission of bringing joy to people around the world. Crafting a mobile game that captures the essence of Pand Land was challenging, but through collaborative efforts with Game Freak, we struck a balance between casual playability and depth.”
Pand Land’s art style is reminiscent of Pokémon Quest, Game Freak’s only other mobile Pokémon spinoff. While Game Freak continues to lead Pokémon’s console lineup, The Pokémon Company has partnered with various developers for mobile offerings, ranging from Tencent to DeNA to Niantic.
