For many Pokemon Go enthusiasts, 2024 felt somewhat underwhelming. Despite the introduction of Dynamax raids and the new in-person Pokemon Go Safari events, the perceived lack of new wild spawns left many players wanting more. The controversial “Rediscover Kanto” theme, focusing heavily on the original 151 Pokemon, further fueled this sentiment. Perhaps nothing exemplifies this disconnect between Niantic and its player base more than the infamous November Community Day choice: Mankey.
Throughout the spring and summer of 2024, Niantic doubled down on the “Rediscover Kanto” theme, attempting to revitalize interest in the original Pokemon through the newly introduced biomes. However, players were still grappling with the widely criticized avatar update, and the overabundance of familiar Pokemon, rather than exciting new spawns, frustrated many. By November, players anticipated encountering a rarer Pokemon for Community Day. Instead, they got Mankey. The decision to feature such a common spawn was met with widespread disappointment, especially considering the abundance of rarer Pokemon available. One player on Reddit succinctly captured the prevailing sentiment: “Every day is Mankey community day.” https://www.reddit.com/r/pokemongo/comments/1fy8zbn/comment/lqt3kcl/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
Admittedly, the event wasn’t entirely without merit. It provided an opportunity for players to evolve Mankey into the PvP powerhouse Annihilape, thanks to a temporary change in its evolution requirements. Despite this, the event has become a running joke within the Pokemon Go community, frequently resurfacing as Niantic discusses plans for 2025. Some players jokingly speculate that the only gift from Niantic this holiday season will be another Mankey Community Day. This, of course, isn’t entirely accurate, as several new costumed Pokemon debuted during the Pokemon Go Holiday Part 1 and Part 2 events. The festive Wooloo proved particularly popular, and Shiny Cetoddle was also a welcome addition.
2025 Plans and Player Reactions
Niantic has started revealing some of its initial plans for 2025, including another Eggs-pedition Access ticket and a Global Challenge to unlock the first new Pokemon debut of the year. The first Community Day Pokemon has also been announced: Sprigatito. While not Mankey, the choice of a Paldean starter, already featured prominently in 2024 events, has been met with lukewarm enthusiasm. The relatively uneventful schedule of announced events has some players apprehensive about the year ahead.
Related: Pokemon Go Is Asking Players Which Community Days They Want to See
One player jokingly suggested the 2025 content calendar is filled with nothing but Mankey, further fueling the ongoing meme. Another player chimed in with a humorous suggestion of a weekly “non-Mankey hour,” while another made a clever “Oops, all Mankey” reference, reminiscent of the classic Captain Crunch cereal.
While another Mankey Community Day is unlikely in the near future, the meme highlights players’ desire for fresh content. With the next generation of Pokemon still on the horizon, Niantic seems content with a slow rollout of new additions, much to the frustration of some players.
Despite the initial underwhelming announcements, Pokemon Go will likely have some surprises in store for 2025. The 2024 update introducing Dynamax Raids, while not universally loved, demonstrated Niantic’s willingness to introduce new features. And even if nothing else exciting happens, Pokemon Go players will always have the enduring legacy of the Mankey Community Day meme.
