AI Builds Fully Playable Pokemon Clone

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Someone used AI to quickly create a playable game very similar to Pokemon, sparking debate about copyright. Pokemon is a hugely popular video game franchise that has seen many copycat games before, usually made by small independent developers. However, this is one of the first instances of a game so closely resembling Pokemon being created almost entirely by AI, with very little human effort or traditional coding involved.

A lot of developers and gamers think AI can make games better by helping with creative tasks, not just by saving money. Some predict that AI will eventually be able to create entire games from simple descriptions, and see this as the way the industry is headed. While building a complete game with AI is still a big challenge, current AI technology can already make small, basic games based on what users ask for. A recent AI-created game similar to Pokemon, which was shared online, is a great example of this.

Claude 4.6 Builds a Pokemon Clone in 90 Minutes

A Twitter user named Chris (@chatgpt21) recently shared a two-minute video of a *Pokemonlike game created using AI. The video shows the player choosing a starting character and battling with Charmander against Rattata. While the game’s graphics are simple and pixelated, people are impressed that it’s a fully working game with characters, conversations, places to explore, and even sound effects.

Players are able to move around and interact with the world, chatting with characters and browsing shops created by the AI. The game includes a healing center to restore Pokemon’s health and a shop where players can buy items like Poke Balls and potions. Most characters offer helpful tips or guidance, although the video doesn’t show any wild Pokemon.

Chris created a Pokemon-like game using only Claude Opus 4.6. In a Twitter post, they explained they simply asked the AI to make a Pokemon clone, and it spent an hour and a half reasoning to produce the result. Interestingly, the AI independently chose a visual style reminiscent of the original Gameboy games and named it Pokemon Fire Red, likely drawing inspiration from the existing Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen titles.

The AI Pokemon Clone Seems to Include Copyrighted Material

Image via Nintendo

A key issue with this new AI game is that it heavily borrows from the popular Pokemon series, using copyrighted elements like character names and familiar gameplay. It’s even called Pokemon Fire Red directly, without any changes to distance it from the original, and starts with players choosing Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle – the same starter Pokemon. Gameplay videos show players using Poke Balls, a core feature Nintendo has consistently defended as their intellectual property.

This Was Not the User’s Only Attempt at Cloning Games

Checking Chris’s Twitter reveals their AI-generated games go beyond just the Pokémon replica. They’ve also showcased a blocky Minecraftstyle game and previously made other Pokémon* copies, though those didn’t seem as polished or functional as this new Fire Red version.

Cloning Video Games with AI May Have Legal Consequences

Using AI to recreate a video game like Pokemon could lead to copyright issues if the new version is too similar to the original, as previous Pokemon clone cases have shown. Even if you don’t sell or make money from an AI-generated game, companies like Nintendo could still take legal action. Beyond legal problems, you might face strong criticism from fans. Many online communities are very negative towards AI-created content, and even game publishers like Take-Two Interactive are worried about how players will react. Therefore, it’s uncertain how Pokemon fans will respond to the AI-made Pokemon Fire Red.

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2026-02-09 18:04