<Tr> <Th> Genre (s) </Th> <Td> Role - playing video game </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Mode (s) </Th> <Td> Single - player, multiplayer </Td> </Tr> <P> Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon (ポケットモンスター サン ・ ムーン, Poketto Monsutā San ・ Mūn) are role - playing video games developed by Game Freak and published by The Pokémon Company . They are the first installments in the seventh generation of Pokémon games . First announced in February 2016 through a special Nintendo Direct, both Sun and Moon were released worldwide in November 2016, commemorating the franchise's 20th anniversary . Two follow - up games, Pokémon Ultra Sun and Pokémon Ultra Moon, were released for the 3DS in November 2017 as the franchise's final main handheld titles . </P> <P> As with previous installments, each game follows the journey of a young Pokémon trainer as they train Pokémon . This time, the game takes place in the Alola region--based on Hawaii--with the object of the game being to thwart the schemes of Team Skull, and later the Aether Foundation, all while attempting to challenge various Pokémon trainers of gradually increasing difficulty . Sun and Moon introduced 81 new Pokémon species, and includes new features such as Alolan forms of previous generation Pokémon, powerful moves known as Z - Moves, new, powerful creatures known as Ultra Beasts, updated battle and training mechanics, and improved polygonal 3D graphics . The games also adopted the previously introduced battle mechanic known as Mega Evolution, which was first introduced in Pokémon X and Y . Although Sun and Moon are mostly independent of each other, both feature largely the same plot, and while either can be played separately, trading Pokémon between the two games is allowed and necessary to complete the Pokédex, just like in previous installments . </P>

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