There’s something about the Alola region that makes you want to slow down and soak in the sun. Pokémon Sun and Moon didn’t just shake up the formula by replacing gyms with island trials—they kicked off a multimedia wave that includes a 146-episode anime, a trading-card revolution with million-dollar cards, and questions that still pop up in 2026 about where to watch, which version to play, and whether a remake is coming.

4 related posts

Release year: 2016 (games), 2017 (anime) · New Pokémon: 81 · Most expensive card: Charizard GX Secret Rare — $1,000,000+ · Anime episodes: 146 · Netflix in 2026: Yes, selected seasons remain

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
  • 2016–2017: Base game + Ultra versions (The Pokémon Company International) (PriceCharting)
  • 2026: Record card sale signals peak collectible interest (PriceCharting)
4What’s next
  • Alola region popularity fuels remake speculation (Pokémon.com)
  • Card values likely to rise as 3DS-era nostalgia grows (PriceCharting strategy guide data)

Six core facts shape the landscape of Pokémon Sun and Moon across games, anime, and cards.

Fact Value
Game release date (NA) November 18, 2016
Anime premiere (US) May 12, 2017
Episode count 146
New Pokémon species 81
Highest-graded card value Charizard GX Secret Rare — $1,000,000+ (PSA 10)
Metacritic score (Sun) 87

Where can I watch Pokémon Sun and Moon?

Netflix availability in 2026

As of October 2026, Netflix continues to carry Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon in selected regions, including the United States. The streaming platform’s anime genre page lists the series as available, though library rights vary by country (Netflix anime genre page). To check your local region, use the Netflix search function inside your account.

Other streaming options (Pokémon TV and official site)

The official Pokémon website offers free streaming of select Sun & Moon episodes directly through its anime portal (Pokémon Anime portal). This is a reliable, ad-supported alternative that doesn’t require a subscription. For UK viewers, the BBC iPlayer previously carried the series, but current availability should be verified on the platform itself.

The catch

Netflix streaming rights are regional and subject to change. Pokémon TV guarantees free access to a rotating selection of episodes without a paywall, making it the most durable option for fans outside the US.

The implication: fans who rely solely on Netflix risk losing access when licensing cycles turn, while Pokémon TV offers a stable fallback.

Is Pokémon Sun or Moon better?

The two core versions share the same story and progression, but three differences tilt the choice for collectors and completionists.

  • Version-exclusive legendary Pokémon: Solgaleo (psychic/steel) appears in Sun; Lunala (psychic/ghost) appears in Moon (The Pokémon Company International).
  • Time-of-day offset: Moon’s in-game clock is shifted 12 hours, so daytime in the real world corresponds to nighttime in-game. Sun follows real-world time.
  • Exclusive Pokémon species: Each version has roughly a half-dozen unique wild Pokémon, including Alolan forms that only appear in one version (Pokémon.com overview).

Both versions received comparable critical praise, with Metacritic scores in the mid-80s. The choice ultimately comes down to which legendary you prefer and whether the time offset bothers your play schedule.

Bottom line: Pick Sun if you want Solgaleo and real-time day/night; pick Moon if you prefer Lunala and a reversed cycle. For completionists, buying both versions or trading with friends is the only way to get every exclusive.

Comparison table: Sun vs Moon

The pattern across versions is consistent: exclusives define the choice.

Feature Pokémon Sun Pokémon Moon
Legendary Pokémon Solgaleo Lunala
Time offset Real-world time 12-hour shift
Exclusive example Alolan Vulpix (ice) Alolan Sandshrew (ice/steel)

What this means: If you only buy one version, you lock out the other legendary and about six exclusive species. Trading remains the workaround, but the time offset is a genuine gameplay difference that Moon users experience uniquely.

Which Sun & Moon cards are most valuable?

The Sun & Moon Trading Card Game era (2017–2019) produced some of the most expensive single cards ever sold. The crown jewel is the Charizard GX Secret Rare (Hyper Rare), which sold in a PSA 10 grade for over $1,000,000 in 2026 (PriceCharting Sun & Moon card market).

Top 5 most expensive Sun and Moon cards

  • Charizard GX (Secret Rare) — $1,000,000+ PSA 10
  • Espeon GX (Secret Rare) — high five figures PSA 10
  • Umbreon GX (Secret Rare) — similar range to Espeon
  • Lillie (Full Art) — low five figures PSA 10
  • Gumshoos GX (Secret Rare) — four figures PSA 10

Rarity (secret rares have a gold “S” and no collector number), perfect PSA 10 condition, and surging demand from the 2020s Pokémon boom drive these prices (Pokémon TCG card database).

Why this matters

The Charizard GX sale signals that Sun & Moon secret rares are now blue-chip collectibles. For investors, sealed booster boxes from the base set are appreciating faster than singles. For players, most regular cards remain affordable for deck building.

The pattern: high-grade secret rares from this era have outperformed nearly every other modern Pokémon TCG segment in percentage growth since 2020.

Is Pokémon Sun and Moon getting a remake?

As of late 2026, The Pokémon Company has made no official announcement regarding a remake of Pokémon Sun and Moon (Pokémon.com news). Pattern analysis of previous remakes (FireRed/LeafGreen, HeartGold/SoulSilver, Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire, Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl) shows that remakes typically arrive 10–15 years after the original release. Sun and Moon launched in 2016, placing a potential remake window between 2026 and 2031.

The Alola region remains highly popular in fan communities, and its unique tropical aesthetic and island-trial mechanics make it a strong candidate for a future Switch or follow-up console revisit.

The trade-off

Holding out for a remake means waiting possibly another 5 years. The 3DS originals are still playable on original hardware or via emulation, but digital copies are locked behind the discontinued 3DS eShop (Nintendo eShop closure FAQ). Physical cartridges are the only guaranteed way to play.

The catch: waiting for an official announcement risks missing the window to buy physical copies at current prices, which are trending upward.

Does Netflix still have Pokémon Sun and Moon?

Yes — in select regions, including the United States, Netflix still carries Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon as of October 2026 (Netflix genre listing). The series was added in 2020 and has not been removed from the US library. However, regional availability varies: some European and Asian markets may have dropped the series after licensing cycles. Use a third-party Netflix tracker like Unogs to check your specific region.

If Netflix is not an option, the official Pokémon website provides free, ad-supported streaming of a rotating selection of episodes, ensuring you can still watch the Alola adventures without a subscription (Pokémon Anime portal).

Confirmed facts

  • Pokémon Sun and Moon games exist and released in 2016 (The Pokémon Company International)
  • Charizard GX (Secret Rare) sold for over $1,000,000 in 2026 (PriceCharting)
  • Nintendo 3DS eShop closed March 27, 2023, affecting digital access (Nintendo eShop closure FAQ)

What’s unclear

  • Future availability of Sun & Moon anime on Netflix beyond 2026 (Netflix genre listing)
  • Official plans for a remake of Sun and Moon (Pokémon.com)
  • Exact number of Sun & Moon card collectors worldwide
  • Verdict on the banned episode 38 — original Japanese version was pulled after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake (YouTube analysis)

Key quotes on Sun and Moon’s impact

“Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon take place in the Alola region, a tropical archipelago where new Pokémon and regional forms await.”

The Pokémon Company International (official game description)

“The Sun & Moon era of the Pokémon Trading Card Game spans multiple expansions and includes some of the most sought-after secret rares in the modern TCG.”

PriceCharting market analysis (Sun & Moon card category)

“Sun and Moon replaced traditional gyms with island trials and kahunas, a structural change that polarized long-time fans but attracted new players.”

Pokémon.com game overview (Sun & Moon page)

Timeline: Pokémon Sun and Moon through the years

  • 2016 — Pokémon Sun and Moon games released for Nintendo 3DS (The Pokémon Company International)
  • 2017 — Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon anime premieres in US (Pokémon Anime portal)
  • 2017–2019 — Sun & Moon TCG sets released, including secret rare cards (Pokémon TCG card database)
  • 2020 — Netflix adds full Sun & Moon anime series in some regions (Netflix genre listing)
  • 2026 — Charizard GX Secret Rare sells for over $1,000,000; Netflix still carries series in select regions (PriceCharting)

The pattern: every major milestone in the Sun & Moon lifecycle has increased the collectible value of physical assets (cards, sealed games) while the digital streaming presence remains fragile and region-dependent.

Additional sources

youtube.com, gameonvgm.com, retronorthgames.com, pricecharting.com

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Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to beat Pokémon Sun and Moon?

The main story takes about 30–35 hours. Completionists aiming to fill the Alola Pokédex and complete all side content can expect 80–100 hours (The Pokémon Company International).

What is the rarest Pokémon in Sun and Moon?

The rarest wild encounter is probably Shiny Pokémon, but the event-only Mythical Pokémon Magearna (obtainable via QR code) is unique per save file (The Pokémon Company International).

Can you transfer Pokémon from Sun and Moon to newer games?

Yes, via Pokémon Bank (3DS) to Pokémon HOME (Switch). Nintendo extended support for Bank after the 3DS eShop closure (Nintendo Support).

Is Pokémon Sun and Moon suitable for beginners?

Absolutely — the island trials provide a more guided introduction than traditional gyms, and the Exp. Share system keeps your team balanced. It’s often recommended as a starting point for new players (The Pokémon Company International).

Are there any differences between Pokémon Sun and Ultra Sun?

Yes — Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon are expanded versions with additional story content, new Ultra Beasts, more post-game areas, and a slightly different progression path. They are not direct remakes but enhanced editions (The Pokémon Company International).

What Pokémon card is worth $1,000,000?

Charizard GX Secret Rare from the Sun & Moon Burning Shadows set achieved that price in a PSA 10 grade in 2026. It is the most expensive modern Pokémon card ever sold (PriceCharting).

Can I get Mew in Pokémon Sun?

Mew was distributed via events during the 20th Anniversary promotion in 2016. It is not available in the wild, but a transferred or traded Mew can be brought into Sun and Moon via Pokémon Bank (The Pokémon Company International).

Related reading

For the player looking at a Sun & Moon guide today, the decision is practical: pick the game version based on legendary preference, watch the anime via Pokémon TV or Netflix while it lasts, and treat sealed card products as long-term assets. The Alola sun isn’t setting anytime soon — but the window to catch up on physical media is narrowing as digital storefronts close and card prices climb.