It was the must-play sensation of the summer, but as the weather cools and the nights grow longer, strolling around with your phone in hand might not be the most appealing way to spend your evenings.
To counter that, Niantic, the developers of Pokémon Go, are introducing the game’s first-ever event—a Halloween special running from October 26 to November 1.
The main attraction of the event is an increased appearance rate for some of the game’s eeriest Pokémon: Drowzee, Hypno, Ghastly, Haunter, Gengar, Golbat, and Zubat.
Returning players also have an added incentive to play more frequently over the next few days. In keeping with the Halloween theme, rewards are more generous across the board—players will receive double the candies for catching and transferring Pokémon, while walking with a buddy Pokémon will yield quadruple the usual amount.
For those still engaged with Pokémon Go, the event offers a welcome bonus. However, it pales in comparison to the grand-scale multiplayer experiences Niantic teased prior to the game’s release.
The initial Pokémon Go trailer, released over a year ago, suggested the potential for massive real-world gatherings centered around rare Pokémon encounters.
One memorable moment depicted hundreds of players assembling in New York’s Times Square to battle the legendary Pokémon Mewtwo.
In reality, the game has seen little of that magnitude. The largest gatherings—such as crowds forming along the LA seafront in pursuit of the rare Pokémon Blastoise—have mostly resulted from the sheer number of active players rather than organized in-game events.
Now, however, player numbers have dwindled from a peak of over 50 million to under 30 million. Without major new features, the game may find it difficult to lure back those who have left.
The dedicated players who remain, such as those active in the Pokémon Go subreddit, frequently express frustration over the lack of meaningful endgame content and the steep experience curve required for leveling up in the later stages.
For those who abandoned the game earlier, long before these issues emerged, a Halloween event alone may not be enough to reignite their interest.
