Pokémon Snap features 63 Pokémon from the original generation of 151 species.
The Nintendo 64 game does not attempt to include every species available in Pokémon Red and Green. Instead, it places a selected group of Pokémon across several environments on Pokémon Island, including beaches, tunnels, rivers, caves, and volcanoes.
Players photograph Pokémon rather than catch them in Poké Balls. Different items can influence their behavior: apples attract or distract them, Pester Balls flush them from hiding, and the Poké Flute can awaken Pokémon or trigger special dances. Professor Oak scores photographs according to factors such as size, pose, and placement.
The number 63 is sometimes confused with the full first-generation total of 151. The smaller roster reflects Pokémon Snap’s focused photography design and the technical limits of its Nintendo 64 presentation. The game was also important historically because many of its Pokémon appeared in real-time 3D for the first time.