Pokémon fever is alive and well in California! While the days of trading holographic cards on the playground may feel like a distant memory, Californians are proving that their love for Pikachu and friends never really disappeared.
A new study from EsportsGG has revealed the states searching for Pokémon the most online, and California ranked as the second most Pokémon-obsessed state in the entire country.
According to the research, Californians search for Pokémon an incredible 4.6 million times every year—equivalent to 387,280 searches per month, 12,732 searches per day, and nearly nine searches every minute.
With Pokémon celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2026, interest in the franchise has surged once again thanks to valuable trading cards, continued popularity of Pokémon Go, and the upcoming Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration expansion pack.
California’s Pokémon love runs deep
California recorded 11,717 Pokémon-related searches per 100,000 residents annually, placing it just behind Nevada in the nationwide rankings.
The state’s strong showing may be partly driven by nostalgia. California’s median age is 37.9 years old, meaning many residents grew up during Pokémon’s original boom in the late 1990s. For countless millennials, collecting cards, watching the animated series, and playing Pokémon games on the Game Boy became defining childhood experiences.
The Golden State is home to some of the country’s biggest gaming and pop culture events, and Pokémon maintains a major presence throughout the year. Fans regularly flock to conventions, tournaments, and special events, while Pokémon attractions continue to draw large crowds at major gatherings including San Diego Comic-Con.
Top 10 States For Pokémon
- Nevada — 11,774 searches per 100,000 residents
- California — 11,717 searches per 100,000 residents
- Texas — 11,113 searches per 100,000 residents
- Utah — 10,939 searches per 100,000 residents
- Washington — 10,856 searches per 100,000 residents
- Hawaii — 10,545 searches per 100,000 residents
- Arizona — 9,916 searches per 100,000 residents
- Virginia — 9,835 searches per 100,000 residents
- Oregon — 9,751 searches per 100,000 residents
- New York — 9,751 searches per 100,000 residents
Here’s how they found the information
Researchers at EsportsGG analyzed Google search data related to Pokémon across all 50 states and calculated the number of searches per 100,000 residents to determine which states are the most Pokémon-obsessed.
Pokémon searches are surging nationwide
The study found that Americans search for Pokémon more than 30.6 million times every year, averaging 58 searches every minute nationwide.
The renewed interest comes as Pokémon enters a milestone year. Between ultra-rare cards selling for millions, hundreds of millions of Pokémon Go downloads worldwide, a steady stream of new games, collectibles, and trading card releases, and even a Pokémon EDM night, the franchise continues to attract both longtime fans and a new generation of trainers.
For California, the numbers suggest that one thing is clear – nearly three decades after Pokémon first arrived in the United States, the obsession is still going strong.
