Pokémon Of The Year Winner Crowned: New Titleholder Beats Charizard, Pikachu, Other Favorites

On Thursday, a new Pokémon of the Year winner was revealed. The results followed a Google contest where fans could vote leading up to Pokémon Day 2020. Here's who took home the title.

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Gengar, who was initially introduced in Generation 1, came in 10th place. The ghost Pokémon, who is an evolution of Gastly and Haunter, marked one of the few first generation to make their way into the top 10.

Gardevoir, who exhibits psychokinetic energy, came in ninth, while Rayquaza, a dragon and flying type, appeared in eighth place.

Coming in seventh through fifth were Garchomp, a dragon and ground type, Sylveon, a fairy type, and Umbreon, who fans will recognize as a dark type.

Fan-favorite Charizard came in fourth place, which likely surprised some fans of the franchise as it has been a long-standing staple of the Pokémon world.

Rounding out the other spots were Mimikyu in third, which is a species that does not evolve into anything, and Lucario in second, which is a fighting type that can read the thoughts and movements of others.

Finally, the top spot went to Greninja, which may have come as a surprise to some voters as it is not a Generation 1 Pokémon. However, according to Engadget, a 2016 poll also placed Greninja at the top a list of favorites that year. The attention that has been earned by this specific Pokémon may partially be attributed to the fact that Greninja has also made an appearance in Super Smash Bros.

Aside from the new Pokémon of the Year winner, the series has continued to stay relevant over the years in a variety of ways. Not only have special collections of Pokémon cards sold for over $100,000 at auction, but during the summer of 2019, Pokémon Fusion also made an unexpected comeback. Additionally, the popularity has also inspired Pokémon-themed weddings and new movies, such as "Detective Pikachu," which could potentially be getting a sequel in the future.