Nintendo Power

NP redirects here. For the Nintendo Black Star Promotional TCG cards, see Nintendo Black Star Promos (TCG). For the wiki that the prefix "NP" redirects to, see Nookipedia.
If you were looking for the cartridge, see Nintendo Power (cartridge).

Nintendo Power was the official magazine of Nintendo games and platforms in the United States. It was published by Nintendo of America from 1988 until 2007. Between the end of 2007 and the end of 2012, the magazine was published by Future US, a San Francisco-based company which also publishes the official magazines of Nintendo's rival brands, Microsoft and Sony.

Nintendo Power's logo

Many features and promotions associated with Pokémon ran through the magazine during the franchise's history including previews and reviews, strategies, covers, comics, contests, mini-magazines, trading cards, posters, and promotional VHS cassettes.

Nintendo Power ceased publication at the end of 2012.

Pokémon-related content in Nintendo Power

Generation I

Main article: Nintendo Power/Generation I

Between the January 1998 and August 2000 volumes, Nintendo Power covered Pokémon's success in Japan leading up to the eventual North American releases of Pokémon Red and Blue and other Generation I games on the Game Boy and Nintendo 64. When Pokémon was first released for the Game Boy, Nintendo Power included 6 mini-issues titled "Pokémon Power" which featured tips and strategies for Pokémon Red and Blue.

Generation II

Main article: Nintendo Power/Generation II

Between September 2000 and January 2003, the magazine covered the Generation II games starting with Pokémon Gold and Silver and continued coverage of other Pokémon games on the Nintendo 64, Game Boy Color, and Nintendo GameCube.

Generation III

Main article: Nintendo Power/Generation III

From February 2003 until February 2007, the magazine covered the Generation III games, beginning with Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire on the Game Boy Advance and including other games on the GameCube and Nintendo DS.

Generation IV

Main article: Nintendo Power/Generation IV

From March 2007 until January 2011, the magazine covered the Generation IV games, beginning with Pokémon Diamond and Pearl and including other games on the Nintendo DS and Wii (including Pokémon games on WiiWare and the Virtual Console).

Generation V

From February 2011 until May 2012, the magazine covered the Generation V games on the Nintendo DS, beginning with Pokémon Black and White.

Cover Volume - Date Content Article (if available) Notes
  264 - February 2011 Back in Black (And White); Nintendo DS Essentials  
  • Back in Black (And White) announces features for Pokémon Black and White
  • Nintendo DS Essentials revisits the exclusive Pokémon version of the Nintendo DS Lite as well as the must-have HeartGold, SoulSilver and Platinum versions. The article also makes mention of Black and White as possible future essentials.
  265 - March 2011 Breeding the Fifth; First Catch; Readers' Choice; Reviews: Monochrome Masterpieces
  • Breeding the Fifth includes an interview with Junichi Masuda and Ken Sugimori answering questions about Pokémon Black and White.
    • Includes The Birth of Game Freak and A Visit to the Pokémon Center side-panels.
  • First Catch announces the Liberty Pass over Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.
  • Readers' Choice names Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver the Best Role-Playing/Strategy Game of 2010.
  • Reviews: Monochrome Masterpieces rates Pokémon Black and White a 9.0 out of a possible 10.
269 - July 2011 eShop 'Til You Drop; Power Profiles
270 - August 2011 Warp Zone; Download; Freebies
271 - September 2011 Power Up; Download; The Nintendo 64 Age of Innovation; Community
272 - October 2011 PGL Halloween Hijinks; Wii Millionaire's Club; Download; Ready to Rumble
273 - November 2011 Battle and Boogie; Warp Zone; Download; Think Outside the Cube; review: Rumble Pack; Community
274 - December 2011 Deck the Halls; Warp Zone; Download; Nintendo Power Holiday 2011 Buyers' Guide
  • Deck the Halls covers the Dream World holiday decorations
  • Warp Zone looks back at the December 2001 Super Smash Bros. Melee cover story.
  • Download features the Cobalion, Terrakion and Virizion AR Markers for Pokédex 3D.
  • Nintendo Power Holiday 2011 Buyers' Guide suggests Pokémon Black and White as a gift for the role-player.
275 - January/February 2012 Wonders Never Cease; 2011 Nintendo Power Awards Nominees
  • Wonder Never Cease announces PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond.
  • Pokémon Black and White are nominated for Nintendo DS Game of the Year and Best Role-Playing/Strategy Game.
276 - March 2012 2011 Nintendo Power Awards; review
  • Pokémon Black and White won Nintendo DS Game of the Year (Readers' Choice) and Best Role-Playing/Strategy Game (Readers' Choice).
  • Parks and Recreation rates PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond a 5.5 out of a possible 10.
277 - April 2012 Back in Black (and White); Community
  • Back in Black (and White) covers the announcement of Pokémon Black 2 and White 2
  • Community covers homemade plushes of each of Kirby's Smash Bros. hats and a blog that offers videogame-inspired recipes, including Poffins.
  278 - May 2012 The Warrior Within
  • The Warrior Within is a full preview of Pokémon Conquest. In the article is also a small section that takes note of three popular spin-off titles from previous years.

Cover count

# Pokémon/Character # of appearances
025 Pikachu 8
245 Suicune 3
243 Raikou 2
244 Entei 2
249 Lugia/Shadow Lugia 3
382 Kyogre 2
383 Groudon 2
Ash/Red 2
003 Venusaur 1
004 Charmander 1
006 Charizard 1
007 Squirtle 1
052 Meowth 1
084 Doduo 1
133 Eevee 1
150 Mewtwo 1
201 Unown 1
250 Ho-Oh 2
251 Celebi 1
252 Treecko 1
384 Rayquaza 1
483 Dialga 1
484 Palkia 1
487 Giratina 1
Wes 1
Kellyn 1
Kate 1
495 Snivy 1
498 Tepig 1
501 Oshawott 1
643 Reshiram 1
644 Zekrom 1


Official Nintendo Player's Guides

Nintendo Power also published several strategy guides, branded as the "Official Nintendo Player's Guide". In 2007, Nintendo Power magazine announced that they were no longer publishing strategy guides, instead referring to Prima Games as a licensed alternative.

List of Player's Guides published by Nintendo Power

Core series

Side series

Spin-off games

See also

External links


  This article is part of Project Mass Media, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on official Pokémon publishing, broadcasting, communications, and other media.