Playing Pokémon Go as a Millennial Mum in 2026

I never expected to still be playing Pokémon GO in 2026.

Back in 2016, like most people, I downloaded it during the absolute chaos of peak Pokémon Go summer. Parks were full of people wandering around staring at their phones, everyone suddenly knew what a PokéStop was, and local Facebook groups were treating rare spawns like national emergencies.

And then, like a lot of people, I drifted away from it.

Until recently.

Now somehow, ten years later, I’m back walking around parks catching imaginary creatures while my children ask me why I’m excited about “a shiny thing”.

Honestly? I kind of love it.

There’s something really comforting about having a hobby that gets me outside without feeling like exercise for the sake of exercise.

As an adult — especially as a mum — it’s weirdly easy to stop doing things purely because they’re fun. Everything starts needing a purpose. Productivity. A reason. You can end up spending all your time either working, cleaning, parenting, organising, or feeling guilty about the things you should be doing.

But Pokémon Go tricks my brain into going outside.

I’ll say I’m just quickly checking a nearby gym and suddenly I’ve accidentally walked around the entire park.

It also feels strangely nostalgic for millennials specifically.

Pokémon itself was such a huge part of childhood for so many of us. We grew up with Pokémon cards shoved into school bags, Game Boys with nearly dead batteries, arguing over starter Pokémon choices, and trying desperately not to lose our save files.

So there’s something oddly healing about revisiting that as an adult.

Only now instead of playing on a Game Boy under a duvet at midnight, I’m wandering through a park with coffee in one hand and lower back pain in the other.

Growth.

One thing I didn’t expect was how many adults still actively play it.

You’ll quietly spot them everywhere once you know what to look for. Someone slowing down near a PokéStop. Somebody casually standing near a raid gym pretending they’re definitely not waiting for enough players to join.

There’s almost an unspoken understanding between Pokémon Go players in public.

Like yes, we all know why we’re suddenly walking very slowly near this church at 8pm.

I’ve also realised it gives me content to talk about online.

Recently I filmed my first outdoor talking video while walking around playing Pokémon Go, and although I felt ridiculously awkward talking to my phone in public, it actually made filming easier because I had something to focus on.

That’s the thing with hobbies as an adult. They don’t have to be impressive to matter.

Not everything has to become a side hustle or a productivity goal.

Sometimes it’s enough for something to simply make you happy for half an hour.

And honestly, in a world where adulthood can feel relentlessly serious, there’s something quite nice about still getting excited over catching a shiny pixel creature while walking around your local park.

Even if my children do think I’m deeply uncool.