Here are the questions Pokémon Snap players ask most often, each with a short answer and a link to the page that goes into detail. They reflect the real searches that lead to the site: how many Pokémon, how to unlock them, how to photograph Mew, where to play today.
The Game and Its Content
How many Pokémon can you photograph in Pokémon Snap?
Sixty-three species out of the 151 of the first generation. Six others (Kingler, Pinsir, Koffing, Cubone, Mewtwo and Dugtrio) appear indirectly in the form of Pokémon Signs, but Koffing and Dugtrio also exist as real species. The full list shows which course each one is on.
How many courses are there?
Seven: the Beach, the Tunnel, the Volcano, the River, the Cave, the Valley and the secret Rainbow Cloud. The progression page details the order and the unlock conditions.
Was Pokémon Snap released in France?
Yes, on September 15, 2000, at the same time as in the rest of Europe. The game was distributed on Nintendo 64 with a blue box and a French manual. See the spec sheet.
How many photos can you take per course?
Sixty: one roll of film allows 60 shots per run. The album, for its part, can hold up to 60 photos.
Unlocking
How do you unlock the Tunnel?
You just need to have photographed six different species on the Beach and shown them to Oak. Unlocks happen at the scoring session. See the Beach walkthrough.
How do you unlock the other courses?
The Volcano opens by making an Electrode explode at the end of the Tunnel, the River with 22 species photographed, the Cave by sending a Porygon onto a button in the River, and the Valley with 40 species. The Rainbow Cloud requires all six Pokémon Signs.
How do you get the Apple, the Pester Ball, the Poké Flute and the Dash Engine?
They arrive with your Report score (around 24,000 points for the Apple, 72,500 for the Pester Ball) and with the discovery of Oak’s hut in the Valley (Dash Engine), then around 130,000 points for the flute. The thresholds vary depending on the source: see the items page.
How do you reach the Rainbow Cloud?
Photograph the six Pokémon Signs (one per course) and hand the shots to Professor Oak. He then realizes they are constellations and sends you to the secret course. The Pokémon Signs page gives the location of each.
Photographing Specific Pokémon
How do you photograph Mew?
Mew is protected by a bubble. Throw six items at it (three, then three), then hit it when it pops up behind you: it turns around and strikes a pose. See the Rainbow Cloud walkthrough.
Where can you find Mewtwo in Pokémon Snap?
You can’t photograph it: it only exists as a constellation formed by crystals in the third chamber of the Cave. You just have to photograph those crystals; the shape only appears once the photo is developed. See the Cave walkthrough.
How do you get Muk?
In the Cave, photograph the first two Grimer: a third appears further on. Hit it with three Pester Balls, spacing them out to let the Pokémon finish its little dance between each throw. It then evolves into Muk.
How do you get Dragonite and Dratini?
In the Valley. Dratini jumps out of the water when you throw items into it, especially near the big whirlpool. Dragonite comes out of it after three or four Pester Balls depending on the source. See the Valley walkthrough.
How do you evolve Slowpoke into Slowbro?
In the River, lure a Slowpoke with an Apple to a spot marked by a Shellder sign: it fishes, a Shellder bites its tail and it evolves.
How do you get Dugtrio?
In the Tunnel, photograph each Diglett playing with Pikachu: Pikachu goes to see the next one, until a Dugtrio pops out of the ground, then a second and a third.
Where is the surfing Pikachu?
On the Beach, right at the start. With the Apple, lure the Pikachu on the right to the surfboard: it climbs on, and the photo is worth a 1,000-point bonus according to Bulbapedia.
Playing Today
Which console should you play Pokémon Snap on today?
On a Nintendo 64 with the cartridge, or on Nintendo Switch with a Nintendo Switch Online subscription and its Expansion Pack, since June 24, 2022. The Wii and Wii U Virtual Consoles are no longer available for purchase. Details on the playing today page.
Can you print your photos?
At the time, kiosks set up in Japan, the United States and Australia printed stickers. Our 2016 review noted that this system never came to Europe. See the history of the Pokémon Snap Station kiosks.
What is the difference with New Pokémon Snap?
New Pokémon Snap, released on Nintendo Switch on April 30, 2021 and developed by Bandai Namco Studios, keeps the same principle: 234 species, new tools such as the Fluffruit and Illumina Orbs, and no more unpleasant ball throwing. See the New Pokémon Snap page and our New Pokémon Snap guide.
Why is Jynx purple on the Virtual Console?
Because the Pokémon was recolored, from black to purple, following a controversy that arose in 2000. The Wii version of Pokémon Snap kept that change. See the differences between versions.
How long does it take to finish the game?
Our 2016 review noted that in barely two hours, you had taken at least one photo of around fifty Pokémon. Completing the Report takes considerably longer. At the other end of the spectrum, the Any% speedrun record shown on speedrun.com as of October 13, 2026 is 20 minutes 19 seconds. See the records.
