If nostalgia is your game, then there’s no better way to play it than with Pokémon ink. For over 20 years, millions of people across the world have been deep in the throes of Pokémon fever and the release of each game has brought a new resurgence in popularity.

Now that Pokémon GO has a firm grip on the zeitgeist, it’s never been a better time to get one of the pocket monsters scribed on your body.

One of the best aspects of any Pokémon design is the open-ended capacity for meaning. There are over 700 different Pokémon across all the games, each with their own unique character and attitude.

Purists will want a Pikachu or even just a Pokéball. If you want something more silly or fun, Jigglypuff or Wobbuffet can easily fill that need. If you’re more inclined to show off your inner strength against a world you don’t fully understand, Mewtwo can sympathize.

Another advantage of Pokémon related ink is the universal recognition. No matter where you go or what language you speak, someone will recognize your piece and instantly have a connection.

Though the possibilities are infinite, you can find something to inspire in our gallery of Pokémon tattoos drawn straight from your childhood.

1. Black & gray Pokemon tattoos

Just because the game itself is colorful, don’t feel restricted in your choices when it comes to Pokemon tattoos. As you can see, black and white and dotwork offers incredible ways to show off your love of the game without applying full–color ink. 

While many of the above examples are a bit on the darker side, black-and-grey doesn’t always mean spooky or frightening. It’s your skin – if you want a happy-go-lucky Pikachu tattoo rendered in black, go for it! However, if you do happen to want a Pokemon tattoo with a slightly dark-side twist, black and white is an innovative choice to make.