Source: Pokemon Journeys, episode: “Splash, Dash, and Smash for the Crown! Slowking’s Crowning!”

I’ve been rekindling my Pokémon obsession, which has, in my opinion, remained pretty budget-friendly. While rekindling that obsession, I was reminded of the Magikarp Jump game that I used to play a lot. It’s a free-to-play game and one that I was actively playing for a long time and one which recently inspired a panel idea of mine that I have since completed, presented, and posted about last month (please feel free to check it out!).

Now, as I am nearing the end of my third playthrough, I feel inspired—thanks in part to reviewing Krow’s drafts of game reviews and by my love of the game—to give this charming little game (and carp!) the spotlight it deserves. I especially want to talk about it because I sometimes worry that the game will become discontinued due to lack of use as software continues updating and this game slowly loses the few remaining players it seems to have.

For context, Magikarp Jump was released in 2017 for both iOS and Android. The game is still available for download today and I really want to encourage you all to play it at least once, as this casual game is best suited for short bursts such as in between classes or when you have a few minutes and want to do something that you can easily leave to get back to work. It’s a lighthearted, casual game where players train a Magikarp to compete in jumping contests.

One of the best aspects of Magikarp Jump is that it’s completely free to download and play. While optional in-app purchases for extra diamonds or coins exist, the game never pressures players to buy them, nor are they necessary for progress. Even when I first started playing, the game only occasionally mentioned purchases as an option at the beginning, and I quickly forgot they were even available. Having completed two full playthroughs without spending a dime, I can confidently say that buying anything is entirely optional! For my third playthrough, I did decide to purchase the diamond-mining object to see if it made a difference. While it did help by reducing waiting times for getting support Pokémon, I found that it wasn’t necessary for success. In a fourth playthrough, I’d likely skip it entirely.

The goal is simple: raise and train Magikarp by feeding them and making them exercise to increase its Jump Power (JP). In doing so, the game embraces Magikarp’s status as a joke Pokémon, re-contextualizing its infamous Splash and Bounce moves for this new, fun purpose. You can also learn new things about this little fish, such as learning how to distinguish male from female Magikarp! Magikarp can come in many different patterns, such as calico or golden, adding an extra layer of collectability. I want to note this because, unlike traditional Pokémon games where capturing and documenting is the main focus, Magikarp Jump emphasizes bonding with your Magikarp. Retired Magikarp even swim around in the background as a fun reminder of your journey. Still, for those who love completionism, there is a catalogue of different Magikarp patterns to collect.

Throughout the game, quirky events can occur as well—sometimes, for example, Magikarp might wander off or, in a tragic moment, get eaten by a Pidgeotto for splashing around! Fortunately, support Pokémon like Pikachu and Piplup are also around to boost training efforts.

If you’ve seen Pokémon Journeys episode JN026, “Splash, Dash, and Smash for the Crown! Slowking’s Crowning!”, then you already have a good idea of what this game entails. Just like in the episode, your job as a trainer is to get your Magikarp pumped through workouts and food so it can jump higher than anyone else. Once a Magikarp reaches its max potential, it retires, and you start training a new one. The cycle continues until you become the ultimate Jumping Master!

So, if you’re looking for a casual, nostalgic, and budget-friendly Pokémon experience, Magikarp Jump is worth checking out. It’s an easygoing game that celebrates one of Pokémon’s most infamous creatures in a fun and creative way. So why not give it a try?

If you’ve played Magikarp Jump, I’d love to hear your thoughts—comment below and share what you enjoyed most! Let’s spread the Magikarp love! If you haven’t tried it yet, I hope this post inspires you to give it a go!

Also, if you haven’t seen it yet, maybe check out the episode from Pokémon Journeys that I mentioned above. Here are a few highlights from the episode that made me laugh:

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Copyedited by: Katherine Cañeba | @kcserinlee