Pokémon Challenges

Jan is known for completing so-called "hardcore" Nuzlocke Challenges on Twitch, which are self-imposed challenges of Pokémon games aimed at increasing the difficulty of the game.[4][5] These "hardcore" Nuzlocke challenges weaken or eliminate some of the rules of a Nuzlocke while introducing other restrictions compared to the traditional ruleset; for instance, while the "hardcore" rules allow for risk-free leveling up through glitched items and break the rule that only the first Pokémon encountered in each new area may be caught,[6] the rules do force the player to not level up beyond the level of the next major battle and to never use items in battle.[7] In 2016, Jan completed a permadeath solo run of Pokémon FireRed using Rattata, one of the game's weakest characters.[8]

Jan's YouTube and Twitch channels significantly gained traction in 2020, following a reaction video to a Nuzlocke attempt by Jaiden Animations.[4][7] During the same period, Jan was attempting the Nuzlocke challenge of Pokémon Emerald Kaizo, a ROM hack of Pokémon Emerald, which he beat in 2021.[9] He eventually completed the challenge on his 151st attempt; coincidentally, 151 is the exact number of generation I Pokémon.[9]