New York Videogame Critics Circle's Annual Legend Award Won't Go to a Person This Year; It's Going to Pokémon

The New York Videogame Critics Circle has announced the recipient of its annual Andrew Yoon Legend Award, presented ahead of the January New York Game Awards. In a departure from tradition, this year’s honor is not bestowed upon an individual industry luminary but rather on...the Pokémon franchise.

This marks a historic first in the award's decade-long history. Previous honorees have included Sam Lake, Neil Druckmann, Phil Spencer, Tim Schafer, and Reggie Fils-Aimé. However, the definition of eligibility has shown some flexibility over time. In its inaugural year in 2016, the award was granted to a studio: Rockstar Games. Similarly, in 2021, it was shared among four individuals: Jerry Lawson, Hideo Kojima, Brenda Romero, and John Romeo.

Despite these precedents, honoring an entire franchise remains uncommon. Historically, the NYVGCC has described the award as recognizing "a game changer in the video games industry" and "those who have propelled the gaming world forward, celebrating their profound impact on an industry that continues to captivate and connect people worldwide." This year's press release defines the purpose as being able to "recognize industry icons and organizations that exhibited a significant, sustained body of work demonstrating exceptional artistic achievement and innovation."

According to the NYVGCC, Pokémon was selected because it is "an iconic staple of global popular culture, breaking through to video game and mainstream audiences in the mid-to-late 90s with a unique combination of collectibility, strong and approachable RPG gameplay and unparalleled character design." The announcement highlights its $12 billion in global retail sales as of 2024, more than 489 million copies sold since 1996, and its status as one of the highest-grossing media franchises. In our review of the latest title, Pokémon Legends: Z-A, we awarded an 8/10, noting that it "finally feels like Game Freak hitting its stride in Pokémon's 3D era, with a fun setting to explore, a well-written story, and a total battle system overhaul that works surprisingly well."

“How do you articulate the impact of a cultural phenomenon like Pokémon? ‘Legend’ is the only word that comes to mind,” stated Harold Goldberg, founder and president of NYVGCC. “For 30 years, the franchise has grown to become the most recognizable game series in the world and is beloved for its unique monster designs that have compelled players young and old to catch ‘em all. It is a tremendous honor to present the company with the Andrew Yoon Legend Award at our 15th celebration of the New York Game Awards.”

The Pokémon Company will accept the award during the ceremony on January 18, accompanied by two fan-favorite Pokémon characters available for photo opportunities with attendees.

IGN contacted NYVGCC regarding the decision to honor a franchise this year and received the following official statement:

"The Pokémon Company’s Legend Award heralds the second time the New York Game Awards has decided to honor an overall team over a single individual creator. The first was Rockstar Games in 2016. With their influence across entertainment, console and tabletop gaming for 30 years, we felt that the many people who work with The Pokémon Company deserve to share the prestigious Andrew Yoon Legend Award for our 15th anniversary."