Pokémon Snap features 63 of the original 151 Pokémon.
The Nintendo 64 spin-off does not attempt to reproduce the entire first-generation Pokédex. Instead, it places a curated selection of species across Pokémon Island, where players photograph them from a vehicle moving along fixed paths.
The game was released in Japan in March 1999, North America in July 1999, and PAL regions in September 2000. Professor Oak evaluates each photograph according to factors such as size, positioning, and whether the Pokémon is performing an interesting action.
The limited roster helped the developers create distinct environments and scripted photographic opportunities. Players could use apples, Pester Balls, and the Poké Flute to attract Pokémon, disturb them, or trigger special behaviors. This is different from the main role-playing games, where the central goal is to catch and train creatures rather than document them with a camera.