Hex Maniac

Hex Maniac's ''X'' and ''Y'' design has been generally well received, described by ''Inside Games'' writer Sushishi as "incredibly popular".{{cite web |url=https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2019/05/31/122601_3.html |title=『ポケモンマスターズ』に参戦したら嬉しいポケモントレーナー20選【女性編】 |work=Inside Games |author=Sushishi |date=May 31, 2019 |accessdate=December 11, 2025}} ''Inside Games'' writer "Tea Pudding" attributed this popularity to their design and dialogue, which they felt added personality to the game's world. They stated that the ''X'' and ''Y'' design was a particularly popular one, believing that the trainer class had a reputation rivaling main characters in the series.{{cite web |url=https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2025/02/28/164840.html |title=もしかして『ポケモンレジェンズZ-A』版のオカルトマニア？少し垢抜けた“新デザイン”に「可愛い！」「またホラーイベントくる！？」 |work=Inside Games |author=Tea Pudding |date=February 28, 2025 |accessdate=December 11, 2025}}

Hex Maniac's ''X'' and ''Y'' design has been generally well received, described by ''Inside Games'' writer Sushishi as "incredibly popular".{{cite web |url=https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2019/05/31/122601_3.html |title=『ポケモンマスターズ』に参戦したら嬉しいポケモントレーナー20選【女性編】 |work=Inside Games |author=Sushishi |date=May 31, 2019 |accessdate=December 11, 2025}} ''Inside Games'' writer "Tea Pudding" attributed this popularity to their design and dialogue, which they felt added personality to the game's world. They stated that the ''X'' and ''Y'' design was a particularly popular one, believing that the trainer class had a reputation rivaling main characters in the series.{{cite web |url=https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2025/02/28/164840.html |title=もしかして『ポケモンレジェンズZ-A』版のオカルトマニア？少し垢抜けた“新デザイン”に「可愛い！」「またホラーイベントくる！？」 |work=Inside Games |author=Tea Pudding |date=February 28, 2025 |accessdate=December 11, 2025}}

Starting with ''X'' and ''Y'', the ghost that became a mystery for players{{cite web |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/games/dark-pokemon-lore-that-will-change-how-you-look-at-the-games/ |title=Dark Pokémon Lore That Will Change How You Look at the Games |work=[[Den of Geek]] |last=Greenbaum |first=Aaron |date=October 10, 2023 |accessdate=December 12, 2025}} and the subject of speculation.{{cite web |url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/pokemon-fans-still-havent-solved-the-games-creepiest-mystery/ |title= Pokemon Fans Still Haven’t Solved the Games’ Creepiest Mystery |work=[[The Escapist (website)|The Escapist]] |last=Oaks |first=Amanda Kay |date=April 20, 2024 |accessdate=December 12, 2025}} Multiple critics considered it a particularly creepy moment; both ''[[Game Revolution]]'' and ''Hardcore Gamer'' ranked it among the most frightening [[Easter egg (media)|Easter egg]]s in video games.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/originals/446085-creepiest-video-game-easter-eggs |title=The Creepiest Video Game Easter Eggs |work=Game Revolution |last=Lozada |first=David |date=October 26, 2018 |accessdate=December 12, 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://hardcoregamer.com/articles/opinion/features/five-nightmarish-easter-eggs-in-video-games/80674/ |title=Five Nightmarish Easter Eggs In Video Games |work=Hardcore Gamer |last=Carlson |first=Alex |date=April 9, 2014 |accessdate=December 12, 2025}} Multiple fan theories exist, including that she was looking for another character that appears in the series, that she was the intended method to obtain certain unreleased Pokémon species, that she was related to a ghost girl from [[Pokémon Black and White|''Pokémon Black'' and ''White'']], and that a message found in the game, referring to a "usual location", is referring to the elevator.{{cite web |url=http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/55572/features/9-unsolved-mysteries-of-pokemon-x-and-y/?page=5 |title=9 unsolved mysteries of Pokemon X and Y |work=[[Official Nintendo Magazine]] |last=Zablotny |first=Marc |date=October 23, 2013 |accessdate=December 12, 2025 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114211604/http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/55572/features/9-unsolved-mysteries-of-pokemon-x-and-y/?page=5 |archivedate=November 14, 2013}} None of these theories materialized.{{cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/almost-a-year-later-pokemon-x-ys-ghost-girl-is-still-1646738916 |title=Almost A Year Later, Pokémon X & Y’s Ghost Girl Is Still A Mystery |work=[[Kotaku]] |last=Hernandez |first=Patricia |date=October 15, 2014 |accessdate=December 12, 2025}} Patricia Hernandez, writing for ''[[Kotaku]]'', sought to learn more about the ghost girl by showing video of her to [[Junichi Masuda]], the producer of ''X'' and ''Y'', who responded by saying "oOoOoOoO" multiple times while smirking and offering no clarification. She believed he may have been teasing her and had nothing to do with its inclusion, but determined that was unlikely due to her appearance on a page on the Japanese official site that was all about her. Hernandez also believed that the website may have been teasing a [[Halloween]]-themed event, and hoped that players would learn more about her in time. Hernandez also noted the Hex Maniac in ''Omega Ruby'' and ''Alpha Sapphire'', speculating over whether these are the same characters and whether they are looking for the same person.

Starting with ''X'' and ''Y'', the ghost had become a mystery to players{{cite web |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/games/dark-pokemon-lore-that-will-change-how-you-look-at-the-games/ |title=Dark Pokémon Lore That Will Change How You Look at the Games |work=[[Den of Geek]] |last=Greenbaum |first=Aaron |date=October 10, 2023 |accessdate=December 12, 2025}} and the subject of speculation.{{cite web |url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/pokemon-fans-still-havent-solved-the-games-creepiest-mystery/ |title= Pokemon Fans Still Haven’t Solved the Games’ Creepiest Mystery |work=[[The Escapist (website)|The Escapist]] |last=Oaks |first=Amanda Kay |date=April 20, 2024 |accessdate=December 12, 2025}} Multiple critics considered it a particularly creepy moment; both ''[[Game Revolution]]'' and ''Hardcore Gamer'' ranked it among the most frightening [[Easter egg (media)|Easter egg]]s in video games.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/originals/446085-creepiest-video-game-easter-eggs |title=The Creepiest Video Game Easter Eggs |work=Game Revolution |last=Lozada |first=David |date=October 26, 2018 |accessdate=December 12, 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://hardcoregamer.com/articles/opinion/features/five-nightmarish-easter-eggs-in-video-games/80674/ |title=Five Nightmarish Easter Eggs In Video Games |work=Hardcore Gamer |last=Carlson |first=Alex |date=April 9, 2014 |accessdate=December 12, 2025}} Multiple fan theories exist, including that she was looking for another character that appears in the series, that she was the intended method to obtain certain unreleased Pokémon species, that she was related to a ghost girl from [[Pokémon Black and White|''Pokémon Black'' and ''White'']], and that a message found in the game, referring to a "usual location", is referring to the elevator.{{cite web |url=http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/55572/features/9-unsolved-mysteries-of-pokemon-x-and-y/?page=5 |title=9 unsolved mysteries of Pokemon X and Y |work=[[Official Nintendo Magazine]] |last=Zablotny |first=Marc |date=October 23, 2013 |accessdate=December 12, 2025 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114211604/http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/55572/features/9-unsolved-mysteries-of-pokemon-x-and-y/?page=5 |archivedate=November 14, 2013}} None of these theories materialized.{{cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/almost-a-year-later-pokemon-x-ys-ghost-girl-is-still-1646738916 |title=Almost A Year Later, Pokémon X & Y’s Ghost Girl Is Still A Mystery |work=[[Kotaku]] |last=Hernandez |first=Patricia |date=October 15, 2014 |accessdate=December 12, 2025}} Patricia Hernandez, writing for ''[[Kotaku]]'', sought to learn more about the ghost girl by showing video of her to [[Junichi Masuda]], the producer of ''X'' and ''Y'', who responded by saying "oOoOoOoO" multiple times while smirking and offering no clarification. She believed he may have been teasing her and had nothing to do with its inclusion, but determined that was unlikely due to her appearance on a page on the Japanese official site that was all about her. Hernandez also believed that the website may have been teasing a [[Halloween]]-themed event, and hoped that players would learn more about her in time. Hernandez also noted the Hex Maniac in ''Omega Ruby'' and ''Alpha Sapphire'', speculating over whether these are the same characters and whether they are looking for the same person.

''Dexerto'' writer Scott Baird speculated that the unresolved nature of the ghost girl story is due to the existence of a cancelled followup called ''Pokémon Z'', which he believed may have expanded on it.{{cite web |url=https://www.dexerto.com/pokemon/this-unresolved-pokemon-plot-only-gets-scarier-with-age-2355705/ |title=This unresolved Pokemon plot only gets scarier with age |work=[[Dexerto]] |last=Baird |first=Scott |date=October 27, 2023 |accessdate=December 12, 2025}} In another article, Baird compared the ghost girl favorably to a ghost character in [[Pokémon Sword and Shield|''Pokémon Sword'' and ''Shield'']], stating that the former was so effective because players were never given an explanation for her motives or nature.{{cite web |url=https://www.thegamer.com/pokemon-sword-shield-ghost-girl/ |title=Pokémon Sword & Shield: Ghost Girl Was Disappointing Due To A Lack Of Mystery |work=[[TheGamer]] |last=Baird |first=Scott |date=December 14, 2019 |accessdate=December 12, 2025}} ''[[GamesRadar+]]'' writer Paul Cecchini also considered her lack of explanation a positive trait, stating that it made her uniquely creepy. He speculated that the ghost girl may have no backstory at all and was only added to be funny and make players invested in her.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/games/pokemon/pokemon-z-a-missed-its-chance-to-unravel-the-franchises-creepiest-mystery/ |title=Pokemon Z-A missed its chance to unravel the franchise's creepiest mystery |work=[[GamesRadar+]] |last=Cecchini |first=Paul |date=December 16, 2025 |accessdate=January 13, 2026}} Hex Maniac's ''Z-A'' appearance received a large amount of fanart,{{cite web |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/this-week-in-games/2025-02-28/heart-toheart-in-lumiose-city/.221556 |title=This Week in Games: Heart ToHeart in Lumiose City |work=[[Anime News Network]] |last=Lemus |first=Jean-Karlo |date=February 28, 2025 |accessdate=December 11, 2025}} and it was speculated that this appearance may continue the ghost girl plot from ''X'' and ''Y''.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/pokemon-fans-are-frantically-trying-to-work-out-how-pokemon-legends-z-a-connects-to-other-pokemon-games |title=Pokémon Fans Are Frantically Trying to Work Out How Pokémon Legends: Z-A Connects to Other Pokémon Games |work=[[IGN]] |last=Valentine |first=Rebekah |date=February 27, 2025 |accessdate=December 11, 2025}} ''[[Kotaku]]'' writer Kenneth Shepard, reacting to a trailer for the Pokémon [[Victreebel|Mega Victreebel]], believed it may be hinting towards the return of the ghost girl, stating there seems to be a "girl dressed in a dark purple outfit hiding outside a window" resembling the new Hex Maniac design.{{cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/pokemon-legends-z-a-ghost-girl-x-y-mega-victreebel-2000619524 |title=Is Pokémon Legends: Z-A About to Solve One of the Franchise’s Creepiest Mysteries? |work=[[Kotaku]] |last=Shepard |first=Kenneth |date=August 22, 2025 |accessdate=December 12, 2025}}

''Dexerto'' writer Scott Baird speculated that the unresolved nature of the ghost girl story is due to the existence of a cancelled followup called ''Pokémon Z'', which he believed may have expanded on it.{{cite web |url=https://www.dexerto.com/pokemon/this-unresolved-pokemon-plot-only-gets-scarier-with-age-2355705/ |title=This unresolved Pokemon plot only gets scarier with age |work=[[Dexerto]] |last=Baird |first=Scott |date=October 27, 2023 |accessdate=December 12, 2025}} In another article, Baird compared the ghost girl favorably to a ghost character in [[Pokémon Sword and Shield|''Pokémon Sword'' and ''Shield'']], stating that the former was so effective because players were never given an explanation for her motives or nature.{{cite web |url=https://www.thegamer.com/pokemon-sword-shield-ghost-girl/ |title=Pokémon Sword & Shield: Ghost Girl Was Disappointing Due To A Lack Of Mystery |work=[[TheGamer]] |last=Baird |first=Scott |date=December 14, 2019 |accessdate=December 12, 2025}} ''[[GamesRadar+]]'' writer Paul Cecchini also considered her lack of explanation a positive trait, stating that it made her uniquely creepy. He speculated that the ghost girl may have no backstory at all and was only added to be funny and make players invested in her.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/games/pokemon/pokemon-z-a-missed-its-chance-to-unravel-the-franchises-creepiest-mystery/ |title=Pokemon Z-A missed its chance to unravel the franchise's creepiest mystery |work=[[GamesRadar+]] |last=Cecchini |first=Paul |date=December 16, 2025 |accessdate=January 13, 2026}} Hex Maniac's ''Z-A'' appearance received a large amount of fanart,{{cite web |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/this-week-in-games/2025-02-28/heart-toheart-in-lumiose-city/.221556 |title=This Week in Games: Heart ToHeart in Lumiose City |work=[[Anime News Network]] |last=Lemus |first=Jean-Karlo |date=February 28, 2025 |accessdate=December 11, 2025}} and it was speculated that this appearance may continue the ghost girl plot from ''X'' and ''Y''.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/pokemon-fans-are-frantically-trying-to-work-out-how-pokemon-legends-z-a-connects-to-other-pokemon-games |title=Pokémon Fans Are Frantically Trying to Work Out How Pokémon Legends: Z-A Connects to Other Pokémon Games |work=[[IGN]] |last=Valentine |first=Rebekah |date=February 27, 2025 |accessdate=December 11, 2025}} ''[[Kotaku]]'' writer Kenneth Shepard, reacting to a trailer for the Pokémon [[Victreebel|Mega Victreebel]], believed it may be hinting towards the return of the ghost girl, stating there seems to be a "girl dressed in a dark purple outfit hiding outside a window" resembling the new Hex Maniac design.{{cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/pokemon-legends-z-a-ghost-girl-x-y-mega-victreebel-2000619524 |title=Is Pokémon Legends: Z-A About to Solve One of the Franchise’s Creepiest Mysteries? |work=[[Kotaku]] |last=Shepard |first=Kenneth |date=August 22, 2025 |accessdate=December 12, 2025}}