Magikarp Jump Is an Endearing Tribute to Pokémon's Least-Loved Fish

The mobile game is a loving parody of the mainline Pokémon games, about the tragedy and beauty of the lowly Magikarp.
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The Pokemon Company

Few Pokémon suffer the disrespect inflicted upon the lowly Magikarp. The orange fish isn't capable of much—largely useless in battle, it does little more than flop on its side, flailing helplessly as it wonders why you yanked it from the water in the first place. Look into the eyes of a Magikarp, and you see only eternal sadness.

The Pokémon Company's new mobile game, Magikarp Jump, celebrates the tragedy and beauty of that lowly fish. This loving parody of the mainline Pokémon games takes place in a small town where only one monster matters. That's right: Finally, after decades, Magikarp gets his.

OK, well, Magikarp still can't do much. The charm of Magikarp Jump lies in this contradiction, which the game mines for humor and presents with genuine affection. This game offers two primary diversions; you feed your Magikarp, and you send your Magikarp into battle with other Magikarps to see which one can flop highest into the air. Your goal is to beat a number of leagues, just like in the standard Pokémon games, only each league is just a bunch of leaping Magikarp.

The Pokemon Company

Magikarp Jump, as a result, takes what could be a mean joke about one of Pokémon Company's sillier creations and turns it into a pleasant, engaging little game about companionship and raising a school of beautiful baby fish. When your first Magikarp reaches maturity, you gain experience as a trainer and can catch another Magikarp that grows even larger and jumpier. Let them swim around your pond, feed them, and train them with a variety of exercises to help them reach their full (albeit limited) potential. As with most mobile games, you can pay for bonuses that help your Magikarp grow up faster, but they're unobtrusive and don't break the game.

Just make sure to know your limits. After all, there are only so many things you can expect your Magikarp to accomplish, no matter how big and strong it grows. Last time I played, I pressured my poor orange fry to collect a piece of fruit from a nearby tree. A bird Pokémon swooped down and carried him off, never to be seen again.

I named my next Magikarp Replacement. I'm not very good at raising fish.