Most of us here at Gamespot grew up watching and playing Pokémon -- the game has been a part of our lives for six generations and over 20 years. In that time, a lot of Pokémon have been introduced. Like, a lot, lot.

Of course, only a select few of the nearly thousand pocket monsters actually matter. Whether they're cherished first generation starter Pokémon, the legendary you chased for days, a Smash favorite, or a character from the Pokémon anime that you simply can't imagine life without, these -- and only these -- are the Pokémon that really and truly matter.

To start: Even before Sun & Moon launched, we all fell in love with Mimikyu. Its heartbreaking story is a huge part of the reason: He drew Pikachu's face on himself because Pikachu is a more popular Pokémon than he is. Mimikyu is super lonely and just wants to make friends.

(Image credit: The Pokémon Company)