Pokemon Go Is Apparently Still a Thing and About To Overrun New Jersey

Pokémon ignited my imagination when I was younger in a way I never would have expected. Hell, it does now, too! I haven’t played a new Pokémon game in several years (and am grateful I haven’t gotten a Switch because the new games look like they would ruin my life). But I will still fire up an old Nintendo DS on occasion and explore the worlds of Kanto and Sinnoh, catching and training those pocket monsters with the help of my trusty Ninetales. But there is more to the games (and the anime) than simply catching Pokémon.

The world of Pokémon is rich with lore and history. The stories about legendary Pokémon, which the games are often centered around, tell magical tales about ancient beings that shaped the world. There are cults and criminal organizations built around worshiping these giant (or tiny) monsters. It’s a lot of fun and turns the games and shows into exhilarating and awe-inspiring adventure stories (that also involve cute lil monsters fighting with their powers). It rules, I love it, and I wholly expected to love Pokémon Go when it dropped in 2016. I did not.

The mobile game, which uses AR technology to populate our world with catchable Pokémon, took off like a rocket. I was as swept up as everyone else, but it also helped that when it dropped, I had been fired from a job I’d had for seven years. Your boy was as unemployed as unemployed could be, and had plenty of time to explore Washington Heights, catching Pokémon on my phone. But I grew tired of it pretty quickly. It drained my phone’s battery like crazy and used up a lot of data (and I didn’t have an unlimited plan at the time). Most importantly, the story elements were missing.

Maybe some of my complaints have been addressed in the last eight years. I’m sure there have been advancements, but I moved on pretty quickly and never looked back. Mobile games for your phone lost appeal to me as well, as they are mostly bird feeders that you have to attend to constantly unless you feel like spending money on something you don’t really own. While I may not be the only person who thinks this way, I am likely in the minority because Pokémon Go is still going strong, so much so that it may disrupt my life this weekend.

I live in Jersey City and have been here for about a year and a half. Yesterday was the first day I told my wife that it was starting to feel like home. That doesn’t mean it is without its issues, though. For instance, Jersey City transit gobbles big ole salty goat balls, uncooked and slathered with pus (sorry, but it really is that bad). I spent 16 years riding the NYC subways, and those aren’t perfect, but NJ Transit makes them look golden chariots powered by happy thoughts and positive vibes. Jersey will host the final match of the 2026 World Cup at MetLife Stadium, and I honestly think it will break the buses. They couldn’t even handle Shakira.

So, I was more than worried when I saw an article on Patch about NJ hosting the Pokémon Go Fest this weekend, and basically admitting that they aren’t prepared for it. “Liberty State Park will host Pokémon GO Fest from Friday, June 6 through Sunday, June 8,” a directive from the State read. “This large-scale event is expected to attract thousands of attendees each day. Motorists and park visitors are advised to expect heavy traffic in and around Liberty State Park during this period, especially along Freedom Way, Phillip Street, Morris Pesin Drive, and Audrey Zapp Drive.” New Jersey is one of the most densely populated states, and the Fest will bring around 90,000 people to one location to look at their phones. Fun!

Jersey goes on to pitch public transportation as an alternative for travelers, but again, their public transportation is bad. The apps for tracking buses and trains are confusing (and often don’t work). Scheduled buses and trains will arrive much later or earlier than stated on the apps without any warning, and that’s if they show up at all. If you miss your 4:15 bus, you could be f***ed, as the next might not come for an hour. The only consistent train I’ve ridden in Jersey is the PATH, but it doesn’t go far, and I’m sure if I rode it more regularly, I would have complaints.

I am not blaming Pokémon Go players for enjoying the event or the game. Everything sucks; find your happiness. But it was incredibly jarring to discover that something I once dabbled in was still very popular and possibly going to disrupt my life this weekend. I’ll look at the good side as well. We are in Primary Election season in NJ. If inefficiencies in transit are highlighted this weekend, maybe people will want change and Pokémon Go to the polls! Hey, that was pretty good. Someone should say that on a national stage!