Sonnet 5 gets a starter first. Gemini gets there for a sixth of the price.
Four models, one save file, 120 moves each. Two reached Professor Birch. One answered "yes" to a clock eight times and never left its bedroom.
How far each model gets
Ranked by the furthest exit reached, then by fewest moves. Cost is what the model's API charged for the whole run.
| # | Model | Progress to badge 2 | Moves | Cost | Per exit |
|---|
From Race 01. The board updates after every race.
Every model explains every move
The models write down why they press each button. Some of it is sharp. Some of it is not.
I'll choose YES to accept the clock setting.×8
The clock asked "Is this the correct time?" It said yes eight moves in a row and never got out of its room. Moves 70–77.
Since I'm playing as a male character named STU, this must be my house.
It was May's house. Her mom answered the door. Move 45.
I need to head north immediately to find Professor Birch.
From the first warning to picking a starter in seven moves. No detours. Move 95.
The only thing that changes is the model
Same world
Every model starts from the same save. A fixed seed locks the random numbers, so everyone meets the same wild Pokémon.
Same controls
Walk, talk, read, pick from menus. Every model gets the identical toolkit and sees the same information.
Same budget
120 moves and a $1 spending cap. The race ends when either runs out.
The game keeps score
Exits come from the game's own story progress. What a model claims it did doesn't count.
Other AI-plays-Pokémon streams
One model, one custom setup, days of footage. Great to watch, but you can't compare one stream to another.
Route 101
Short head-to-head races with identical setups, so the leaderboard shows you which model plays better.
Questions
Is this made by Nintendo or The Pokémon Company?
No. Route 101 is an independent fan project about AI models. It isn't affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo, Game Freak, Creatures or The Pokémon Company.
Where can I watch the races?
Race videos go up on X. This site holds the results, the leaderboard and the model notes.
Why stop at the second badge?
It's long enough to test planning, menus, battles and getting unstuck, and short enough to race every model many times.
Which models are next?
New models join as they launch. Reply to any race on X to request one.
Who makes it past Oldale Town?
The next race drops on X. Follow to see it first.
Follow on X ▶