Google sends mystery gifts to those who found all 151 Pokémon in Google Maps

By Killian Bell

When Google announced the Google Maps Pokémon Challenge for April Fools’ Day, I immediately opened the app on my phone and began my hunt for little pocket monsters. Unfortunately, the novelty was short-lived, and I only found about 15 before I got bored and stopped looking.

But I’m pretty sure I would have stuck at it and found all 151 if I’d have known a surprise gift from Google was the reward.

That’s right — the search giant is sending free mystery gifts to users who found all 151 Pokémon in Google Maps.

For those who weren’t following the Pokémon Challenge, here’s how it worked: Users simply had to load up Google Maps on an Android or iOS device and tap a button to take part, then spend some time browsing maps to find hidden Pokémon. They were in random places all over the world, and it probably would have taken a good while to find them all. (That’s why I gave up.)

It’s unclear how many people actually completed the challenge, but clearly some did. Google is currently contacting them via Google+ and providing them with a link to a Google Drive document where they can submit their address and other information for a free gift.

They’ll need to verify they completed the challenge by providing a location for Mew, the 151st Pokémon, which appears only after the other 150 have been found.

Once Google has your details, you’ll receive a surprise gift free of charge within 4-6 weeks. No one has any idea what that gift will be yet — that’s the whole idea of a surprise — but knowing Google, it’ll be something awesome.

Did you find all 151 Pokémon, and if so, have you received a message from Google about receiving a free gift?