How to start catching 'em all with Pixelmon Generations in Minecraft

minecraft pixelmon mod - ash hangs out inside a pokecenter
(Image credit: Mojang)
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Minecraf 1.18 key art

(Image credit: Mojang)

Minecraft update: What's new?
Minecraft skins: New looks
Minecraft mods:  Beyond vanilla
Minecraft shaders: Spotlight
Minecraft seeds: Fresh new worlds
Minecraft texture packs: Pixelated
Minecraft servers: Online worlds
Minecraft commands: All cheats

Fancy installing the Minecraft Pixelmon mod? Minecraft mods have tackled everything from Game of Thrones to Harry Potter, but have modders ever tried to put Pokèmon in Minecraft? The answer is yes, and it was taken down by request of The Pokemon Company in 2017. But now there is Pixelmon Generations, and it's amazing.

Pixelmon Generations is a mod for Minecraft that features the critter-catching gameplay of Pokèmon into Mojang's blocky universe. You'll find Pokèmon wandering around Minecraft's biomes and you can battle, catch, and collect every one of them. There are also shops, gyms, and Pokèmon Centres, and every single critter from generations one through seven (and most from generation eight). By the time the modders finish the whole Pokèdex, they will have modded in around 900 of the cute little beasts.

So this Minecraft Pokèmon mod created by a dedicated team is certainly worth checking out. Below you'll find out how to get Pixelmon Generations with the Forge mod installer so you can catch 'em all on PC.

How to install the Minecraft Pixelmon mod

To download Pixelmon Generations, you'll first need to install Forge version 1.12.2. Forge is a piece of software that lets you install mods for Minecraft, and you'll need it for Pixelmon. If you already have Forge version 1.12.2 installed and are familiar with Minecraft mods, skip to the next bit. 

If not, check out our Minecraft Forge guide, so you can get the mods you need, and manage them nice and easily. 

How to set up Pixelmon Generations

With Forge all set up, it's time to download Pixelmon Generations. Here's how to do it, step-by-step:

  • Go to Pixelmon Generations' official website
  • Navigate to the downloads page and begin to download the latest version of the mod. Take note of the version of Forge you're downloading. 
  • After Pixelmon has finished downloading, it should be in your downloads folder on your PC. 
  • Move the download to your mods folder inside your Minecraft game directory (Users > Username > AppData > Roaming > .minecraft.>mods). 
  • If you don't have a mods folder, simply make one called 'mods' and pop the mod in there.  
  • Boot up the Minecraft launcher and select 'Forge 1.12.2' next to the play button. 
Rachel Watts

Rachel had been bouncing around different gaming websites as a freelancer and staff writer for three years before settling at PC Gamer back in 2019. She mainly writes reviews, previews, and features, but on rare occasions will switch it up with news and guides. When she's not taking hundreds of screenshots of the latest indie darling, you can find her nurturing her parsnip empire in Stardew Valley and planning an axolotl uprising in Minecraft. She loves 'stop and smell the roses' games—her proudest gaming moment being the one time she kept her virtual potted plants alive for over a year.