Players control the photographer Todd Snap in Pokémon Snap.
Todd is invited to Pokémon Island by Professor Oak, who wants high-quality photographs for his research. Rather than catching or battling Pokémon, Todd rides the Zero-One along fixed courses and records the creatures he encounters with an in-game camera.
Players can improve their photographs by using items such as Pokémon food, Pester Balls, and the Poké Flute. Professor Oak evaluates the pictures based on factors including the Pokémon’s size, position, and pose. The score-based system encourages players to revisit courses and search for hidden routes or unusual behaviors.
Todd Snap is also connected to the wider anime franchise: a character based on him appears in the television series episode “The Pokémon Photographer.” His name is easy to confuse with Professor Oak because Oak gives him the assignment, but Oak is the researcher and Todd is the photographer.