James Batchelor
@jamesbatchelor.bsky.social
Comms Manager at @digitalbandidos.bsky.social. Runs Non-Violent Game of the Day (@nvgotd.bsky.social). Former journalist
Author (The Best Non-Violent Video Games, Wandless, Blow The House Down) www.jamesbatchelor.me
Father. Gamer. Soundtrack Nerd
Author (The Best Non-Violent Video Games, Wandless, Blow The House Down) www.jamesbatchelor.me
Father. Gamer. Soundtrack Nerd
The History of the Pokémon Games is now available to buy!
🎮 Over 150 games covered
📖 The making of Gens 1-9
🎙️Foreword by @theveronicat.bsky.social (the original Ash Ketchum)
Available from @penandswordbooks.bsky.social, Amazon, Waterstones, Foyles, and more
Links to buy: bit.ly/4a9jpb3
🎮 Over 150 games covered
📖 The making of Gens 1-9
🎙️Foreword by @theveronicat.bsky.social (the original Ash Ketchum)
Available from @penandswordbooks.bsky.social, Amazon, Waterstones, Foyles, and more
Links to buy: bit.ly/4a9jpb3
January 30, 2026 at 11:42 AM
The History of the Pokémon Games is now available to buy!
🎮 Over 150 games covered
📖 The making of Gens 1-9
🎙️Foreword by @theveronicat.bsky.social (the original Ash Ketchum)
Available from @penandswordbooks.bsky.social, Amazon, Waterstones, Foyles, and more
Links to buy: bit.ly/4a9jpb3
🎮 Over 150 games covered
📖 The making of Gens 1-9
🎙️Foreword by @theveronicat.bsky.social (the original Ash Ketchum)
Available from @penandswordbooks.bsky.social, Amazon, Waterstones, Foyles, and more
Links to buy: bit.ly/4a9jpb3
Look, Mum, I'm in the Times! (The Braintree and Witham Times)
Get your copy (of the book, not the paper) here: www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-History-...
Get your copy (of the book, not the paper) here: www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-History-...
January 29, 2026 at 9:56 AM
Look, Mum, I'm in the Times! (The Braintree and Witham Times)
Get your copy (of the book, not the paper) here: www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-History-...
Get your copy (of the book, not the paper) here: www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-History-...
Having extensively covered every Pokémon game ever*, I can confidently rank the generations as follows (IMHO):
2 > 1 > 4 > 8 > 9 > 5 > 3 > 7> 6
But the best Pokémon game of all time is Legends: Arceus
Feel free to @ me!
(*Where, you ask? Why, here: www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-History-...)
2 > 1 > 4 > 8 > 9 > 5 > 3 > 7> 6
But the best Pokémon game of all time is Legends: Arceus
Feel free to @ me!
(*Where, you ask? Why, here: www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-History-...)
January 28, 2026 at 1:51 PM
Having extensively covered every Pokémon game ever*, I can confidently rank the generations as follows (IMHO):
2 > 1 > 4 > 8 > 9 > 5 > 3 > 7> 6
But the best Pokémon game of all time is Legends: Arceus
Feel free to @ me!
(*Where, you ask? Why, here: www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-History-...)
2 > 1 > 4 > 8 > 9 > 5 > 3 > 7> 6
But the best Pokémon game of all time is Legends: Arceus
Feel free to @ me!
(*Where, you ask? Why, here: www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-History-...)
It's MeHoldingMyNewBookTheHistoryOfThePokemonGamesOutThisFridayPreOrderTodayachu
www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-History-...
Published by @penandswordbooks.bsky.social
www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-History-...
Published by @penandswordbooks.bsky.social
January 26, 2026 at 5:41 PM
It's MeHoldingMyNewBookTheHistoryOfThePokemonGamesOutThisFridayPreOrderTodayachu
www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-History-...
Published by @penandswordbooks.bsky.social
www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-History-...
Published by @penandswordbooks.bsky.social
January 26, 2026 at 3:52 PM
I'm doing a livestream to launch The History of Pokémon Games - and you're invited! (Yes, you. Specifically you)
Tune in at 8pm UK on Fri, Jan 30 for:
📖 Live Excerpt Reading
🧠 Pokémon Quiz: Win a copy of the book
❓Ask Me Anything
Watch it here: www.youtube.com/live/gQvlOi1...
Tune in at 8pm UK on Fri, Jan 30 for:
📖 Live Excerpt Reading
🧠 Pokémon Quiz: Win a copy of the book
❓Ask Me Anything
Watch it here: www.youtube.com/live/gQvlOi1...
January 24, 2026 at 2:37 PM
I'm doing a livestream to launch The History of Pokémon Games - and you're invited! (Yes, you. Specifically you)
Tune in at 8pm UK on Fri, Jan 30 for:
📖 Live Excerpt Reading
🧠 Pokémon Quiz: Win a copy of the book
❓Ask Me Anything
Watch it here: www.youtube.com/live/gQvlOi1...
Tune in at 8pm UK on Fri, Jan 30 for:
📖 Live Excerpt Reading
🧠 Pokémon Quiz: Win a copy of the book
❓Ask Me Anything
Watch it here: www.youtube.com/live/gQvlOi1...
My copies have arrived and they are beautiful. Thank you @penandswordbooks.bsky.social
January 21, 2026 at 2:15 PM
My copies have arrived and they are beautiful. Thank you @penandswordbooks.bsky.social
Pokémon Violet finished.
Glad I finally took the plunge on this one. I still prefer Arceus as an open world Pokémon game, but this was a lot better than I expected. Intrigued to see where they go with Gen 10
Glad I finally took the plunge on this one. I still prefer Arceus as an open world Pokémon game, but this was a lot better than I expected. Intrigued to see where they go with Gen 10
January 20, 2026 at 11:04 PM
Pokémon Violet finished.
Glad I finally took the plunge on this one. I still prefer Arceus as an open world Pokémon game, but this was a lot better than I expected. Intrigued to see where they go with Gen 10
Glad I finally took the plunge on this one. I still prefer Arceus as an open world Pokémon game, but this was a lot better than I expected. Intrigued to see where they go with Gen 10
10 DAYS TO GO!
The History of the Pokémon Games features:
🎮 Over 150 games
🧑💻 In-depth chapters on the making of Gens 1-9
🎤 Foreword by @theveronicat.bsky.social (the original Ash Ketchum)
❓Fun facts to fascinate any Pokéfan
Pre-order today: www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-History-...
The History of the Pokémon Games features:
🎮 Over 150 games
🧑💻 In-depth chapters on the making of Gens 1-9
🎤 Foreword by @theveronicat.bsky.social (the original Ash Ketchum)
❓Fun facts to fascinate any Pokéfan
Pre-order today: www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-History-...
January 19, 2026 at 1:28 PM
10 DAYS TO GO!
The History of the Pokémon Games features:
🎮 Over 150 games
🧑💻 In-depth chapters on the making of Gens 1-9
🎤 Foreword by @theveronicat.bsky.social (the original Ash Ketchum)
❓Fun facts to fascinate any Pokéfan
Pre-order today: www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-History-...
The History of the Pokémon Games features:
🎮 Over 150 games
🧑💻 In-depth chapters on the making of Gens 1-9
🎤 Foreword by @theveronicat.bsky.social (the original Ash Ketchum)
❓Fun facts to fascinate any Pokéfan
Pre-order today: www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-History-...
The History of the Pokémon Games, published by @penandswordbooks.bsky.social, is out in two weeks from today!
Want to know more? Ask me anything!
(I'll pre-empt the first question: you can buy it here - www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-History-...)
Want to know more? Ask me anything!
(I'll pre-empt the first question: you can buy it here - www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-History-...)
January 16, 2026 at 12:29 PM
The History of the Pokémon Games, published by @penandswordbooks.bsky.social, is out in two weeks from today!
Want to know more? Ask me anything!
(I'll pre-empt the first question: you can buy it here - www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-History-...)
Want to know more? Ask me anything!
(I'll pre-empt the first question: you can buy it here - www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-History-...)
Only 16 days to go! I cannot wait for you all to get your hands on it.
➡️ www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-History-...
(Pics by @penandswordbooks.bsky.social )
➡️ www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-History-...
(Pics by @penandswordbooks.bsky.social )
January 14, 2026 at 1:11 PM
Only 16 days to go! I cannot wait for you all to get your hands on it.
➡️ www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-History-...
(Pics by @penandswordbooks.bsky.social )
➡️ www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-History-...
(Pics by @penandswordbooks.bsky.social )
PSA: Keep scrolling when you get to the bottom of your #NintendoYearInReview and you get your most played games since the Switch first came out.
No surprises with my Top 3.
No surprises with my Top 3.
January 14, 2026 at 11:00 AM
PSA: Keep scrolling when you get to the bottom of your #NintendoYearInReview and you get your most played games since the Switch first came out.
No surprises with my Top 3.
No surprises with my Top 3.
I felt like I'd put more time into my Switch this year. Will just have to up the ante in 2026 ;-)
No surprises that Violet has been my most played game this year. A little surprised that Echoes of Wisdom is No.3 (thought I'd given up on that sooner)
#NintendoYearInReview
No surprises that Violet has been my most played game this year. A little surprised that Echoes of Wisdom is No.3 (thought I'd given up on that sooner)
#NintendoYearInReview
January 14, 2026 at 11:00 AM
I felt like I'd put more time into my Switch this year. Will just have to up the ante in 2026 ;-)
No surprises that Violet has been my most played game this year. A little surprised that Echoes of Wisdom is No.3 (thought I'd given up on that sooner)
#NintendoYearInReview
No surprises that Violet has been my most played game this year. A little surprised that Echoes of Wisdom is No.3 (thought I'd given up on that sooner)
#NintendoYearInReview
We've had Pokémon regions based on the UK, Spain/Portugal, France, Hawaii, New York and several bits of Japan. Which part of the world would you like to see Pokémonified next?
📖 www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-History-...
📖 www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-History-...
January 12, 2026 at 5:04 PM
We've had Pokémon regions based on the UK, Spain/Portugal, France, Hawaii, New York and several bits of Japan. Which part of the world would you like to see Pokémonified next?
📖 www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-History-...
📖 www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-History-...
22 days until The History of the Pokémon Games launches.
What was the best handheld era for Pokémon games?
Reply and let me know (and don't forget to pre-order your copy of the book: www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-History-...)
What was the best handheld era for Pokémon games?
Reply and let me know (and don't forget to pre-order your copy of the book: www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-History-...)
January 8, 2026 at 4:54 PM
22 days until The History of the Pokémon Games launches.
What was the best handheld era for Pokémon games?
Reply and let me know (and don't forget to pre-order your copy of the book: www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-History-...)
What was the best handheld era for Pokémon games?
Reply and let me know (and don't forget to pre-order your copy of the book: www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-History-...)
"No greatness comes from fear"
Loved this part of the Troy Baker interview on @thegamebusiness.com. It applies to every creative outlet: yes, make something that people will find familiar but if there's nothing truly new at the heart of it, it will be a shell of what it could be
Loved this part of the Troy Baker interview on @thegamebusiness.com. It applies to every creative outlet: yes, make something that people will find familiar but if there's nothing truly new at the heart of it, it will be a shell of what it could be
January 8, 2026 at 2:47 PM
"No greatness comes from fear"
Loved this part of the Troy Baker interview on @thegamebusiness.com. It applies to every creative outlet: yes, make something that people will find familiar but if there's nothing truly new at the heart of it, it will be a shell of what it could be
Loved this part of the Troy Baker interview on @thegamebusiness.com. It applies to every creative outlet: yes, make something that people will find familiar but if there's nothing truly new at the heart of it, it will be a shell of what it could be