Nintendo Explains How the Heck Pokémon Sleep Actually Works

Nintendo has finally explained how its upcoming sleep tracking game Pokémon Sleep will actually work.

Outlined in a gameplay video above, the long-awaited smartphone app will let players add Pokémon to their Sleep Style Dex by, well, sleeping. Players must place their smartphones or Pokémon GO Plus+ next to their pillow overnight and the app will track the quality and style of their sleep.

Snorlax will be players’ main companion in the app, but sleeping in different styles — dozing, snoozing, or slumbering — will bring in additional Pokémon who sleep in the same way. Pokémon also have several different styles of sleep and therefore have multiple forms to add to the Sleep Style Dex.

Having a better quality sleep, like by sleeping for longer, will get players points that increase Snorlax’s Drowsy Power, letting it draw in more Pokémon. Sleeping for eight and a half hours will give Snorlax 100 points, for example, while sleeping for only four hours will get Snorlax around 50.

The game will also seemingly reward players with different Pokémon depending on their type of sleep. Shifting around a lot was shown alongside a Togepi in a Rocking Sleep, for example, and speaking during sleep was shown alongside a Jigglypuff in Singing Sleep.

Players will be given a new site and Snorlax every Monday, with these changes also attracting different Pokémon.

The game was announced way back in May 2019 but still lacks a launch date, though finally awoke from its slumber in February this year with new details and a summer release window.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.